Anxiety/Heart Flutters

[Dave1987]

Hello, I am a 23 year old male in great shape, and exercise  4 to 5 times a week.. In April of 2009, I was diagnosed with anxiety disorder. I began to encounter a wide variety of different symptoms, but the symptom I was most concerned with were my heart palpitations. I eventually scheduled an appt with my primary doctor, and she referred me to see a cardiologist. I was given a 24 hour holter monitor test, an ekg and an echocardiogram. The doc said everything was fine and that my palpitations were anxiety related. Before, my heart palpitations were random and came on unexpectedly. Now (August 2010), my heart seems to flutter/jump/skip beats when I am running. at the gym or outside. I may run a mile or so before i start to experience them. They scare me and make me feel like I'm having heart trouble. In addition, I occasionally get a very rapid, pounding heart beat out of nowhere, then it stops after 1-2 minutes or so. I also experience flutters when I get home from work around 3 am (work at a nightclub) and sit down or relax/get ready for bed. On top of all this, I am expecting to ship out to boot camp for the army in november of this year, and I dont want to tell the army because they will give me a hard way to go and postpone my ship date. When it comes down to it, I will just push myself through it, but want to make it as easy as possible. Does anyone know if  any of this associated with my anxiety disorder even though it occurs now primarily when I'm  running? Are there any home remedies or anything I can do to limit the occurrence of my palpitations/arrhythmias (I wont have medical insurance until I enter boot camp for the army)? Has anyone else had similar experiences?


This discussion is related to Anxiety and the Heart.

[Dave1987]

Thanks on response Ally, and congrats on your son joining Air Force. My cousin was turned down for bunions too as your friend was, and had to get them removed before he joined. But as far as everything goes, I will just keep to myself about it because I completed the medical review already. Thanks again!

[ChatterAlly]

I had the same "fluttering" when I was your age, and the doctors were right.  It was nothing to worry about then.  I will give you some advice though.  Pay attention to your heart and health.  If only someone had taken the time to tell me then what I know now, maybe I would have been able to make some life saving changes then.  Don't ever take up smoking!  Drink in moderation.  Eat right and continue on your exercise routine. I feel so much better when I walk at least 2 miles a day.  I go for 3 or more.  And I have PAD & CAD.  A lot of the damage to my heart & circulation may have not happened if only I had made some better choices in life. As far as the Army goes, I don't know what to tell you there.  I know my friend was going to ship out to Iraq 2 years ago.  She got all the way to Fort Hood the day she was to leave and they stopped her because of a BUNION of all things.  They wouldn't let her leave until she had surgery.  She ended up in various assignments stateside. My palps still come and go even at my age.  They still get my attention, but I try not to worry about them anymore.  Take care, chin up and keep your head down when you do get in the army.  My youngest son is joining the Air Force in October.  Ally