please help! rapid heart rate and fluttering in chest

hi guys , i had a 20-30 minute episode of rapid heart rate and fluttering in the chest yesterday. It was triggered while i was playing volley ball. i would say it was around 200-250 bpm. i stopped right away but my heart kept racing even after changing and sitting down! there was no pain and no paltipations, it was the fluttering that made me realize that something was wrong. when i was sitting down the beats wernt even that intense or 'hard' (didnt feel like my heart was going to come out of my chest'), they were just just really fast as if it was putting in an extra beat between every normal heartbeat. As far as i could tell from taking my pulse the beat was regular. NOTHING like this has ever happened before!!! Once in a while i do feel a fluttering feeling in my chest as if i am getting an extra/skipping ONE beat, but nothing so constant!

what do you  guys think?

[andrew0099]

Im guessing this episode was not simply your heart racing as a natural reaction to playing volleyball?  It sounds like you experienced a case of sustained atrial tachycardia or atrial fibrillation.  You mentioned that your HB was regular, whichmay rule out atrial fibrillation.  I would personally recommend that you go to the ER if this happens again.  Not so much because it is a dangerous episode, but more so they can catch and record the episode on an EKG.  Did you have any stimulants in your body during the volleyball game (alcohol, caffeine)?  This can contribute to a racing heartbeat.  In all likelihood, you are ok, but I would consult your doctor for more qualified feedback.

[bovairdb]

Hey Jammy21, I get these too!  You are probably experiencing PSVT.  I've attached a link.  I am 26 and have been experiencing these "episodes" roughly three times/year since I was 15.  I'm tall, average-sized and active.  They can be terrifying but are NOT life-threatening in a structurally-sound heart.  Your doc can of course confirm the diagnosis, and the best way to do that is by catching it on an ECG (which can be tough).  Just try not to freak out about it!  It seems scary but you are not alone.  Feel free to message me at any time because I know exactly what you are feeling.  Good luck :)

http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec03/ch027/ch027d.html

[jammy21]

thx for your replies guys
i dont see the fluttering though as a symptom on any of the web sites ive checked out, its the only thing that im still puzzled about

[rickdog]

google "atrial flutter" or "atrial fibrillation".
it is not life threatening and can be controlled with drugs.
i use magnesium instead of prescription drugs to control a-fib.

[awlright10]

No one on this website knows what you had. A heart rate that high should be looked into by an electrophysiologist. If possible an event monitor should be used in order to pick up the arrhythmia and see where it is coming from. I'm not suggesting that it is dangerous, but it is not normal and you want to know what it is and why you had it. I am not a doctor and cannot tell you what you had. However, I can tell you this from experience: when the heart goes into an arrhythmia of any kind there is an increased statistical possibility that it will happen again. If it happens a second time that statistical prabability increases to 50%, etc. So do yourself a big favor and see a cardiologist and if you feel it again go to the nearest ER.
                                                           All the best.

[slim179]

Ok ive had this exact same problem except mine happened while i was at a resting position tell me this isnt crazy i was settin down an my heart jumped out of rythem went from 80 prolly to 260 didnt hurt or anything felt very weird but this has happened several times since then and i have always been able to correct it on my own an  not have to get the medicine so anyway i was diagnosed with s.v.t and it ***** really bad my heart wakes me up at night and everything its horrible an very scary but some docs say u grow out of it who knows`

[Jerry_NJ]

I too think you should be checked out by a cardiologist, and one specializing in rhythm, an EP may be best.  Either is a good start.

At your age 200 isn't too frightening, but the 250 is way too high.

You may want to start taking an aspirin each day with a meal while you are getting this diagnosed.  

I have AFib, and am an senior age person, and at rest I've never seen anything higher than 130 bpm.  I"m taking a beta blocker (Metoprolol) and it holds my HR in the 80s at rest.