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Heavy Beating / Palpitation

I am a 34 year old male, exercise regularily light smoker and drink on occasion. I have always had an irregular heart beat / palpitation. For the past few months, I have noticed that my heart is beating excessively heavy/hard for long periods of time, sometimes days. I feel it most when I lay in bed at night, throughout my chest and left side. Sometimes it makes my side ache terribly. I can not lay on my left side due to the pain it causes around my heart and the severity of the heart beat increases. It is so strong at points it keeps me awake. In the past I associated this with personal stress or anxiety, but now I am concerned that something else may be wrong. Mentally I feel relaxed but my heart is on over drive?

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

What is my next step?

Thanks to anyone who can help

Tim
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Avatar universal
I have had a constant, every beat, heavy heartbeat (palpitations) for 10 months straight.  Most of the time this forceful beat is not irregular, but I do have benign PVCs and PACs that I can feel because of the baseline force being so high.    I have benign ectopy, meaning I have PACs and PVCs.  The reason I feel every PAC/PVC is because of the magnified force of the heartbeat.  I've been though ECHO twice because of minor mitral regurgitation and have been told that it is unrelated to the punding and the ectopy. I have all the symptoms you've described and I've noticed that the pounding gets much worse after ingesting simple carb that quickly elevate blood sugar.  I'm going to ask for a glucose tolerance test because I read somewhere that IGT can cause palpitations.  If none of the tests are positive, I'll have to decide whether to try Paxil or a beta blocker.  Both have been offered by my docs.  Does anyone have experience with either of these drugs to help the contant forceful pounding?
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Avatar universal
Tim,

Thanks for the question, and welcome to the site.

Q1:"Does this sound familiar to anyone?"

Be careful what you ask for, 'cause you just might get it.  Get ready to read some responses my friend...

Q2:"What is my next step?"

You need a diagnosis.  This can be done easily at any decent internist's office.  If you are having the palpitations (defined as any abnormal chest sensation associated with the heart beat) at the time of the visit, then the internist can obtain an ECG during the visit to see if you are having an arrhythmia.  If you are having an arrhythmia, then therapy for the arrhythmia can be tailored to the particular type.  If you are not having an arrhythmia, then therapy exists for that as well, again depending on what is seen on the EKG.  However, don't delay seeing an internist until the symptoms start.  There are other ways to arrive at a diagnosis as well.

Some generic advice would be to keep a log/diary of the episodes with attention to time of day, duration, possible triggers (eating, exercise, awakening, stress), relation to caffeine intake, and other symptoms at the time of the episode.

Also, many people develop the first skipped beats in their lifetime in association with caffeine intake or other stimulants.  These can be hidden in drinks, pills, and food.  So take an inventory of what you have been ingesting to see if a stimulant can be found.

Good luck.


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Avatar universal
Hey I m 22 I m deaf I has anteriy from few 2. Weeks ago my heart was feel pound and strong  why what cause heart beat monsoon but I mean too feeling know I mean it from strees or what ?
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Avatar universal
A related discussion, Heavy Heart beat was started.
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Yes your right hails, the more you think about it, the more you get stress..and maybe palpitaton may occur because stress also one of the causes of that.  I got also lot of palpitation, and sometimes I got panic and I feel nervousness also come with me.  Right now, i am trying to ignore it (although it is really annoying)I used to have a sinus tachy but i was in lot of alcohol intake and smoker during that time thats why it was all not normal.  But after a year of no too much alcohol and cigarette, well my ecg now is good, but sometimes I still got palpitation.  

I try to lower my caffeine intake, and palpitaions also lessen.  I always try to relax my self and it also work to avoid that irregular heart beat.  Sometimes the palpitation happens when I am really emotional tired (Sometimes if I dont have enough sleep and stress out).  

So right now,I dont think  too much about on what does palpitaton really mean.  My ecg is normal..the doctor says i am healthy..I am just tired thinking about it, and you know what? My heart palpitation  got lessen now.  I think it is part of pschologically stress , if you think to much about it, the more you got stress. the more you worry...The more chance you palpitate.  All I know is I am tired on thinking that I have heart problem, All I want is to do what I want and live happyh (but ofcourse in healthy way)  here is my email add ***@**** to those who want to share their experiences.
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Avatar universal
Everyone, if you haven't seen it, take a look at the comments in the Q&A "PVCs and medication".  These people are ecstatic that low-carb diet is eliminating their palpitations.  Some of these people are also having forceful beating 24/7 and low-carb is really helping.  I recommend the book Good Carbs Bad Carbs.  Excellent resource to cut out the carbs that quickly raise blood glucose and cause those PVCs while keeping the beneficial carbs in your diet.  You don't have to go on Atkins to see PVC benefit.
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Avatar universal
This is a reminder to participants to stay on topic.  This discussion is for people with a constant forceful heartbeat that doesn't stop. It does not have anything to do with the "pop" you feel with a PVC and it doesn't have anything to do with tachycardia - quite the opposite.  There are other discussions on tachycardia and PVCs. It's not helping those of us who have symptoms similar to the original questionner.
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Avatar universal
I have had irregular heart beats and pounding heart and sometimes an accelerated heart beat for over 16 years. For a while it struck worse premenstrually, or during pregnancy and nursing, then phased out as the month or years passed between children. About eight years ago I started visiting heart specialists and took every heart test they had. I wore halter monitors and other receptive mechanisms to chart my heart beats. They all they could do for me was to perscribe Xanax and Propanynol. One even suggested surgery to implant a a pace maker- imagine, at only 38 years old! ( I am 47 now) I never took the medicationsexcept in an emergency if I could'nt get through an episode. They told me many people had "arrythmias" and I must just be over sensitive to them, and notice them more than other people. I didn't buy that explanation. The also told me to see a psychologist for my stress. I was at times incapacitated from these episodes of irregular, pounding heartbeats and couldn't speak sometimes. I called the ambulance once and drove myself to the emergency three times. I also went for 15 weekely magnesium injections, to no avail. I lived on KavaKava and other herbal and homeopathic remedies for months at a time.
Only one traditional doctor I met had started to suspect a slightly underactive thyroid, yeast, and mercury in my blood. But he left the profession before we could get a handle on anything much.
One afternoon I met a doctor at the Whole Health Expo and I made an appointment to visit his office. He asked me if I wanted to do this the fast way or the longer way. I said the short way-- i had suffered enough. He invited me to not eat any solid food for 30 days, but instead exist on three 12 oz "green drinks" per day (made up of grasses and algaes and acidopholus and about 50 other substanses) and 8 8oz glasses of fresh carrot juice inbetween. I also started taking some other supplements like oregano, a potent antioxidant, and a few other herbal and nutritional additions including flax oil and some instestinal cleansers. After a short six days my heart palpitations went away, never to return with the vengeance that they had plagued me for all those years. By the end of the 30 days I had so much energy and felt better than I had in decades. I still get a remnant pound or skip every now and then, but I can usually narrow it down to over eating, undereating, extreme anxiety, alcohol, ovulation, or high carb intake. I used to have them at any time for no apparent reason at all.
I have a feeling the depletion of all my energy and nutrition caused an imbalance in hormones and many other systems in my body. I had had three babies and one miscarriage in the past 21 years, had gone thru a stressful breakup after my third pregnacy, been a single mother for over 19 years, had a history of excessive party life in my sorrid past, had exercised like a crazy person most of the times, and was always "dieting". My reserves were on empty. I believe these repeated doses of daily mega-nutrition helped my body get back on track. I still drink both fresh juice and green drinks at least once a day, skipping only occasionally. Of course one has to avoid the culprits of caffeine, tobacco, refined carbs, processed and preserved foods, etc to get the most from anything. But the wonderful formula of green drinks was what I think helped me tremendously. Any questions please write. check out drcurran.com
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Avatar universal
hi. im 22 and i have experienced what you are experiencing. 6 months ago my heart went into sinus tachy @ 160bpm really suddenly. i tried to ignore it but it continued for 5 days straight. (i got so exhausted i decided i better go see a doc.) I went to ER and I had bloods, xray and ecg done which just showed my heart beating in a regular rhythm but just really fast. i was put on beta blockers which slowed my heart down. they made me feel rotten tho so after a few weeks i slowly stopped taking them to see what would happen. my heart stayed ok for a while but now every so often it will sit at about 130bpm. I constantly feel my heart beat in my chest inside my left arm and down my abdominal aorta which sometimes is really strong and annoying. sometimes i will just be sitting on my bed watching tv and my whole body is moving to the beat of my heart. i also get a stabbing pain right over my heart a few times a month which last for a few seconds. i literally fold over in pain but dr's dont seem to be concerned when i mention it so im not anymore. i sometimes wonder if i have a problem with my heart as when i went to ER no one checked my heart (other than ecg) they looked more into thyroid related problems. i guess if you are concerned go see a doc. better to be safe than sorry. The more concerned you are the more you will worry and then the more you will increase your problem. I used to worry about the whole tachy thing that happened to me but now i just try to get on with things. i keep an eye on my pulse. if i get really bad then i will worry but until then i enjoy my life.  good luck with it.
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Avatar universal
HELLO
I UNDERSTAND YOU COMPLETELY. I HAVE ALL THE TESTS DONE EKG,BLOOD,ECHO,TREDMILL ALL GOOD- IT IS SO BAFFLING TO ME I AM 35 ALL MY LIFE ACTIVE, LIVED WITH HUGE STRESS ATE WHAT I WANTED DRANK POP THEN ONE DAY IT ALL CHANGED. I SAW ONE DOC YEAP JUST FORGET HE SAID ITS STRESS, BUT THAT DOES STOP THE FEAR! EVERYDAY I HEAR MY HEART BEAT, I FEEL IT BOUNDING INSIDE MY CHEST IT DOESNT MATTER THE TIME OF DAY OR WHAT I AM DOING, AND WHEN I HAVE ATTACK IT LASTS 5MIN OR SO AND IT THE SCARIEST TIME.  SO I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR THIS FORUM AND ALL OF YOU FOR BEING UP FRONT WITH YOUR CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS IT HELPS ME WITH MY UNKNOWN.WENDY
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Avatar universal
Tim,

Your condition sounds almost exactly like mine. If I drink several beers like you, the next day, after I eat, my heart pounds hard and fast around 110 pulse rate. 6 months ago I drank a "Red Bull" and experienced palpitations. I panicked and drove myself to the hospital. Eventually I went to a cardiologist and had a stress test. My heart was ok but he put me on blood pressure lowering medicine and I did not have a pressure problem. Apparently, this medicine is used for palpitations also. Caffine definitely causes PVCs with me. My last 2 meals were Chinese and I have had PVCs again today. I will be checking myself to see if MSG is also causing a problem. I also smoke. I understand that nicotine, alchohol, and caffine can cause the palpitations, all 3 of which I do. I've been trying to revert to hot tea instead of coffee. My grandmother, mother, and brother all have the same problem. Today my pulse was 63, which is low for me and I have no idea why. Anyway, I would at least go see a cardiologist. When I showed up the DR asked, "Why are so many young people coming in today?" I was 42 when I visited the doctor.
Hope this helps.

Mark
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Tim,

Your problem sounds very similar to mine.

I have constant pounding heart with what I can only describe as "weird fleeting sensations of the heart".

My cardiologist has done the ecg and treadmill test and told me to forget the "problems" of pounding etc as they do not show up either via pulse rate or blood pressure or tests.

Anyone who has our "problems" knows this is easier said than done, so I intend to get further help and suggest you do the same.

There is a condition called Costochondritis which it seems as similar syptoms to many heart problems.

I am investigating this condition further and will let you know what I find.

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Avatar universal
I, too, am very aware of my heartbeat.  I take atenolol, a beta blocker and it's slowed my heart down to where I don't feel it as much.  You might want to talk to your doctor about that. Good luck.
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