Heart problem? or anxiety?

[ChrisR23]

Hello out there I am wondering if feeling you heartbeat in your throat is a concern. I am 20 years old and have been afraid of having some sort of heart problem for the last 3 years. I have done all the tests and have come out perfect. Only thing that has ever shown up is trace mitral regurgitation and trace tricuspid. I am very scared that something is wrong. I have been to 3 cardiologists and al say its anxiety. I have acid reflux and gerd and hiatal hernia. and alot of the times i feel weird feelings in my throat and tightness and feels like something is there. I worry everyday and have fears and phobias. Someone please help. Could the trace have turned into something serious. I even had a 3d thalium ct scan of the heart and that came out perfect. and just recently had another holter monitor for 30 days they found nothing. please help!!!

[sweety_jp76]

Hello, I am 31 years old. I had a heart attack at 27. It runs in my family really bad. I too suffer from anxiety! I worry about every little thing. I too have fears and phobias. These could all very well be signs of anxiety. I often get the heart beat feeling and burning in my chest, I feel like I have a lot of acid. Then of course the feeling gets worse because you start to "panic" about it. Then you have to wonder if you are having panic attacks. If you have been checked out by all of those doctors, I would just say it is anxiety. It can do alot to your body! Have they put you on anything for it? Get back to me and let me know. But see with me and knowing that I have a heart condition, I just hate it because I never know if I should go to the doctor/hospital. I have these feeling often and I hate to run there every time! They just say to get rid of all the stress in my life! Easy for them to say!

[Momto3]

Hello back to you : )

Feeling your heartbeat in your throat is very common.  Since you have had such extensive testing, the chances of you having a heart problem are very, very slim.   The crummy thing is that if you have anxiety, you will probably still worry.  Darn anxiety!  I also have anxiety and sometimes it really gets the best of me.  Knowing it is anxiety helps me to be a bit more rational, but the symptoms of the anxiety can be a little more frustrating (aches, pains, lightheadedness, nausea, etc).  I take Xanax for especially difficult days, but most of the time I just try to refocus and redirect myself to something else.  

Trace mitral and tricuspid regurgitation are very, very common.  In fact, some doctors will classify it as a normal variant.  Are you being treated for the anxiety or the reflux?  I've noticed that a lot of people on the forum have acid reflux and also get some of the weird heartbeats and palpitations.  I think that's pretty common also.  Althoug nothing is impossible, I can't imagine that the trace regurg. would have "turned into something serious."  I have known I have mild-moderate mitral regurg. for about 30  years.  I have echocardiograms to be sure things are the same.  Do your best to try and enjoy the fact that you have such a strong and healthy heart.  Talk with your doctor about help (counseling and/or medication) with the anxiety...you're likely to feel sooooo much better.  How are you doing today?

connie