palpitations extending to both arms

[gonziiii]

34 m, hypertensive, slightly overweight, This is the second time this is happening, the first time, just over a week ago, i took half a glass of gin and a half a bottle of beer, and after a while i started feeling my heart racing, later it slowed a bit and that night i couldn't sleep cos of palpitations extending into my arms, have never felt them so strong b4, taking over my chest and arms. Then last night it happened again, afer two bottles of beer, 6 hours later, just after having sex with my wife. i feel my heart beating heavily and extending into both arms, I can actually feel my pulse in both arms without touching them. It makes me so uncomfortable and scared that i can't sleep. I don't feel any heart pain just my heartbeat vibrating into my arms, and the beat is rather slow and irregular...I am hypertensive and currently taking atenolol, amlodipine, moduretic (K sparing water pill) and captopril. My Bp is usually under control and when i checked it during the palpitations it was 140/90. Its usually about 130/80 but last night i had two bottles of beer and a pack of cigs so i guess that brought it up a bit. Also Usually 4-6 hrs after a few bottles of beer, my pulse increases and my bp goes up to 150/95 despite the anti-hbp drugs. I had to cut down to not more than two bottles a day and not more than twice a week. So these palpitations is a new experience to me, I went to the doctor and he didn't find anything wrong, altho when he checked me the palpitations were absent, a recent ecg was ok although an echo revealed a slight enlarged lv which my doc explained is as a result of the hpb and that i shudn't worry about it. I am very worried about it cos i couldn't sleep all thru last light, almost made a dash to the nearest hospital before i noticed that when i sit up or stand and move about it subsides, only to return if i lie down, also during that time i felt extremely weak, sort of muscle weakness, can anyone explain what is happening to me? I've decided to stop drinking and smoking completely to avoid any future episodes, i play football and jog and i don't experience any probs, only after drinking a little alcohol that i have these irregular beats and heart pain, I've decided to quit smoking and alcohol

[gonziiii]

Palpitations stopped when i ran out of Captopril for 3 daysand restarted after i got a refill, i am ok now and staying away from ACE inhibitors cos i had d same prob with enilapril and lisinopril, they cause me palpitations and increased chest pain especially when i take a little alcohol

[Dr J Singh]

Hi,
Alcohol is known to produce palpitations. It can also produce arrhythmias. The amount of alcohol required to produce the same varies from individual to individual. In some, it can occur with very small amounts of alcohol whereas in others it may not be the case. In majority, the palpitations are benign & thus are not serious. The confirmation of the presence of any disturbed rhythm of the heart can be done by doing a holter monitoring. This is a continuous 24 hr ECG monitoring. I’ll suggest I’ll suggest I’ll suggest you to avoid alcohol if it is causing the problem. Please do consult a cardiologist for the same. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care.