Anxiety

[Mackker]

Hello,

I am a 21 year old male, in alright shape, weigh in at 200 lbs.  Since i was about 18 years of age, i have been experiencing problems with my heart. I can hear my heart beat all the time, and iam very aware of  my heart beating. My heart feels like it shivers, like when you are cold, it dowsn't feel good.  My heart feels like it is not attached to anything, what i mean is when i jump up and down, it feels like its just moving around in my chest, when i lay down on my back, it feels like it is touching my ribs in the back, when i am on my stomach, it feels like it is resting against my skin. My heart beats regulary 99% of the time, but occasionally feels like it is filling up with too much blood, then it has to pump it out in one shot.I am not very active and when i am active, like playing hockey, it feels like my heart is dropping into my stomach, and beats weird, fast and hard, and i feel weird, not to the point where i would pass out, but my body feels very drained, and shaky, weak, and i always have to catch my breath.  After my activities i still feel weird, for hours after, to the point where i should go to the hospital, and it makes it very diffucult to fall asleep, but then one second later, it stops, or when i have a bowel movement, but i don't feel quite normal.  My doctor said i should take my puffer before activities, but i don't, should i?? do you think it is my lungs??, even the smallest activities make me feel weird, like jumping on a trampoline for 5 minutes.  After i eat, my heart feels weird, like its full,and going to stop beating, and i feel shaky, and sweaty, then i take a deep breath and it slows it down temporarily, to i take my mind off of it.  If i don't pay attention to my chest, then i feel fine.

I have had all the tests, and nothing showed up except for my heart beating one time at 180, but i was playing baseball. my doctor diagnosed me as i  have anxiety, and prescibed me with ativan. it works, because it calms me down, i was also prescribed paxil, but i have never taken it.

Everything else is normal (blood pressure etc..)  I admit i have poor habit, i smoke (less than half a pack a day), drink (ten beers a week), and don't drink caffeine, or drink pop, because my doctor told me to stop.  I have poor eating habits, fast food,and i eat once a day.

Should i be very worried??, or start working out, and excersise regularly.

I have had to go to the emergency room,  beacuse my heart was pounding out of my chest, my heart rate was fast like 140bpm, they hooked me up to a few heart monitors in the ER, with leads all over my body, and they said all they could find was my heart beating fast, but i wasn't having palpatations, my oxygen level was 98% but i felt like i couldn't catch my breath, they gave me six ativan to slow me down, and it worked eventually.  I haven't returned to the ER lately, like two years.

Thank You Very Much

Bryan McEachern
Georgetown, ON
Canada

[Jonny M's]

I am 26 years old and have been suffering from anxiety and heart palpitations for 5-6 years now.  I remember always being axious as a kid but seemed to have gotten worse due to these heart palpitations.  One day I felt as if my heart had stopped and started again.  I thought that I was having a heart attack so I rushed to the hospital and they said that it was due to my anxiety.  I have had several ECG's and holter monitors.  I have never had any extra beats or weird sensations while wearing the holter.  And the ECG's all have been normal.  I still get extra beats every day and it scares the hell out me.  It seems like they are getting more frequent now.  Are these extra beats normal?  How many time a day is considered frequent?  I wish these beats went away or I didn't notice them because I feel that they have interfered with my life.

[HOBERRY]

OK -- here goes ---  first time posting a thought and a problem.  My wife will wake during the sleep mode as if in an axiety attack.  After taking blood pressure -- immediately -- the BP is normal 90/65.  But, she continues to wake during the night.   Changed eating habits so as not to eat so late -- but the systoms are as follows:

Numbness in right hand only
She feels her heart beating / but this is normal as well -- registers 60 per minute
Chest pain / pressure.
Sensation of very strong fast heart beat.
Last from a few seconds to several minutes

EKG is normal

Please any thoughts

Thanks in advance

[sheryl1945]

Hi Jeff -- Sorry I've driven you nuts!  I am in counseling for my obsession and just got started on a new antidepressants (I've been on several different antidepressants over the years.)  Your post actually helped me and I thank you.

[netrox]

Just eat fish at least twice a week. Take magnesium and vitamin supplements if you think you're not getting enough in your diet.

Omega-3 acids in fish oil is very potent and reduces heart attacks by up to 60% by stablizing the heartbeats. If you have a skipped heartbeat, it doesn't mean it will go astray. In rare cases if they do go astray, omega-3 acids can be released from heart cells and stabilize heartbeats which is exactly what reduces the risk of heart attacks.

Eliminate partially hydrogenated oils from your diet as best as you can. They contain transfat acids that can interfere with omega-3 acids (also omega-6 acids) and they are dangerous to your heart.

Get plenty of exercise. You don't have to be vigorous. Just be active for at least 30 minutes a day such as walking, gardening, mopping, swimming, etc. Vigorous exercise does somewhat increase the risk of heart attack but overall, it actually reduces risks of many dieseases such as many heart diseases and cancers.

Get enough rest and be sure to have a normal sleep pattern. Sleeping during the day and staying up during the night is not good for your heart. If you still have PVC's despite normal sleep pattern, you may actually not getting ENOUGH rest while you sleep. If you move a lot while sleeping, you are probably not getting a good sleep.

Sheryl, I've seen your postings and you have unhealthy obesssion about your heart. Please stop! That's driving me nuts! You're still alive after 9 years! Get over with your obession! :-)

I get occasional PVC's. Drinking green tea and eating chocolate doesn't seem to affect my heart significantly although some report that anything containing caffiene makes their PVC's worse. The more fish I eat, the less frequent my PVC's are.

-jeff

[sheryl1945]

Hi...I used to get palpitations but did not feel flushed; however, I know a person who does.  In my case and her case the palpitations were caused by anxiety.  I take xanax.  Also, my resting pulse used to be 120; I was put on tenormin which slowed my heart down to a very comfortable rate.  Perhaps you'll want to ask your doctor for that medication.  Good luck.

[pandora9049]

thanks, sheryl.  i too have xanax, which are not always helpful.  my doc gave me toprol to take for when it beats really fast.  i just wish i could feel normal :(