paroxymidal tachcardia

my son had been rushed to emergency room, heart rate 170 at work (stressfual job)  all tests were negative.  saw cardiologist, had ecchocardiogram and wore holter monitor.  cardiologist said it showed a very benign case of proximidal tachardia and that it would probably go away once he went off to grad school in california.  (lot going on in his life) is this something that can come and go due to anxiety?

[dolfnlvr]

Sure is.  While it is not necessarily CAUSED by anxiety...it can be brought on by anxiety/stress.  The reason for the fast heart rate is not stress, it's a bunch of cardiac cells that are super sensitive to adrenaline and adrenaline like chemicals in the body.  They respond by increasing heart rate.  Obviously, the more stress you are under, the more adrenaline pumps through your veins thereby eliciting these cardiac responses in your son.

If your doctor diagnosed them as benign, then count your blessings and breath easier.  But be aware that sometimes these things happen for NO APPARENT REASON AT ALL and that if his symptoms change or get worse, he should visit with the cardiologist again.

Take care.