Heart problems?

[ilkm]

I am a 20 year old female who lives in Greenville, South Carolina.  For 2 years now i have been taking 25 mg of Metoprolol (12.5 mg at 7 am and 12.5 mg at 7 pm) everyday.  I was taking a stronger dose, but my blood pressure was way too low.  I was given Metoprolol because of Tachycardia.  The doctors have all told me i have Sinus Tachycardia, but dont seem to give me a reason as why i have it. I saw a Cardiologist who did an ultrasound of my heart, stress test and echocardiograms and all that shows up on my EKG's are Sinus Tachycardia.  My symptoms are as follows Fast heartbeat, shortness of breath, chest pain and dizziness.... once the "episode" of tachycardia has past i am left with EXTREME fatigue.  I have gone to the ER 2 times and the two times they dont seem to pay that much attention to me.  They just say its probably stress or anxiety, but i KNOW my body and something just isnt right.

If you have any idea as of what i might have please give me your opinion. Or if you know of any doctor that might be able to help me please inform me.  I am desperate and am tired of living with this.

-Ilka

[Dr J Singh]

Hello,

As all the cardiac tests have come clear,it is important to emphasize on other possibilities.Sinus tachycardia is usually due to sympathetic over activity which may be caused in anxiety and panic attacks, but the other causes like  anemia,hyperthyroidism,phreochromocytoma,chronic pulmonary disease and hyperdynamic circulation also need to be ruled out.POTS(postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome)which is common in females also needs valuation.In my opinion,you should discuss these options with a physician and get them investigated.

Hope it helps. Take care and pls do keep us posted on how you are doing.

[grendslori]

Sinus tachycardia is something that all peopkle have at one time or another. Breathing can cause sinus tachycardia; as you breathe in the heart rate increases, breathe out and it decreases. Anything with caffine in it can cause this problem. You don't have any kind of heart disease and that is why the doctors don't pay much attention. Because there is no underlying heart disease, you can't possibly be having true, heart related, chest pain. You aren't old enough to have blocked arteries which is the primary reason for chest pains and the other forms of heart disease which would give you chest pain, if you had those types of heart disease, it would be hard to miss. Sinus tachycardia is a heart rate up to 140bpm. ; that may seem fast, but when you put it up against heart rates into the 200-300 bpm range, that's when there can be risks involving the heart. The heart is capable of handling even those fast rates for quite awhile. try not to worry anout a sinus tachycardia, the worrying about it will make it much worse; be happy you have a healthy heart and go on and enjoy your life.  

[Encephalomalcia]

What could be causing this is adrenal problem.  Triggers are caffeine, black licorce, and exercise.  The Metoprolol blocks this.  There is a drug that is a beta blocker called "Coreg". Coreg blocks more receptors.  You may want to talk to your doctor about Coreg to see if that drug will make you feel better.  Stay away from the triggers and if it happens during exercise, rest.  I have episodes of this also, but my episodes are only a few times a month. Sometimes my episode are for 48 hours, that has been the longest.  I know the feeling of being totally wiped out after the episode.  It takes a couple of days to rest up.  Makes it hard to work at my employment when I am having episodes.