Palpitaions after standing up

[kasey87]

Hi,

I am a 21 year old mother of two and I have had 5 episodes (that I am aware of) of what I guess is defined as palpitaions. The reason why I am concerned in the 1st place is because heart problems run in my family. My mother died in June due to congestive heart failure, she was 45. My grandfather has had at least 2 heart attacks. And my grandmother has had a stroke and is actually in arrhythmia as I am typing. I do not have health insurance, so I am trying to research if what is happening to me is normal, or if I should seek medical attention. I can say that although I can not make the palpitations start on my own, they do have one thing in common; they always start after I go from a sitting/squatting position to a standing position. As soon as I stand up my chest feels heavy, my heart begins to race, and I feel weak. They last about 20 seconds long to about 1.5 minutes long, and then its as if my heart pauses or one second and starts beating normal again. One of the 5 times that it happend was when I was in the hospital after having my 2nd son. I was getting up from using the toilet and it happend. I called the nurses in, they checked my heart rate and were so shocked at how fast my heart was beating they thought the monitor was broken. They said it was probably due to my hormones, and we just left it at that. Like I can't make the "episodes" just start on my own, they just randomly happen. So how is a doctor going to know how to treat me if they can't see the problem in action?

Please, if anyone has any advice please let me know!

Thank you!!!

[Cleveland Clinic]

If presented with your case I would proceed with an echocardiogram to verify that you have as expected normal systolic function, and then proceed to a Holter monitor. If you have a definitive arrhythmia during the Holter then we may be able to diagnose and treat it with medications and perhaps even an ablation if your symptoms do not resolve. One thing you should know is that the palpitations if present in a heart with normal systolic function are generally not a harbinger of poor prognosis. Another possibility is that you are deconditioned, and experience palpitations even related tot he heart rate increasing in an attempt to maintain cardiac output. This is sometimes seen in overweight people who are also out of shape. Is this your case?
Still another possibility is that you have inappropriate sinus tachycardia. Treatment for this disorder is similar than that for the first mentioned diagnosis.

[Fionajnz]

You will need to provide a bit more detail as to when you delivered your second child.  Sometimes you can develop heart related issues from and during pregnancy, but it has to be within a relatively common timeframe.  If your heart rate is constantly high, then you at least need to check in with your OB or a clinic if your delivery was relatively recently.  

Heart rate issues post partum (esp palpitations) can be as simple as thyroid changes which are relatively easily treated, or post partum anxiety/depression related palpitations or as complex as congestive heart failure, which needs more complex input.  The easiest way to have your heart rate checked is to wear a holter monitor for 24 hrs at home.

I personally had the more complex issue in 2005/2006.  I am sorry that you are having such a difficult time and hope you find some explanations soon.  Meantime know that you sound like you are managing things relatively well for now and being proactive about your symptoms which is a good thing, given you are a Mom of two and I suspect leading a very hectic life right now.

Hope that helps you out.  Add the info, it will be helpful to the forum Doc.

Fiona