I have been getting this occasional problem on and off for years, just had another episode last night, and would like to know what it is. When my allergies flare up I get this terrible post-nasal drip that makes me feel like I'm choking. (Sometimes the sensation is accompanied by a dry/irritated feeling in the throat and sinuses, like I have inhaled a handful of dust and cannot dislodge it.) When the choking feeling comes on, it is sometimes accompanied by muscle twitches in the throat and chest area that can trigger what feels like a fluttering in the heart for about 2-3 seconds. If this happens while I'm under any kind of exertion, I will go into tachycardia for a few minutes, not irregular beats but very fast. Naturally this makes me panic, which makes things worse, and I have to go lie down for a few minutes till it passes. I only get this phenomenon about half a dozen times a year, but it scares the daylights out of me. I have panic disorder and asthma but no other serious problems. Could you please tell me what causes this, and what I can do about the symptoms? Thank You.