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forceful heartbeat

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For the past three months I have been experiencing what seems to be a very forceful heartbeat.  This is a constant forceful beating.  I can see my chest moving and my clothes moving at all times. When I put my hand over my chest I can feel strong vibrations. I can also feel my heartbeat down into my arms and legs.  I am also very short of breath. An echocardiogram showed minimal mitral regurgitation and minimal triscupid regurgitation.  A 24 hour holter showed my heart rate fluctuating from 53 to 168 beats every hour.  I was told I could go on a beta blocker to control the fast beats.  While sleeping it showed my heart rate fluctuating from 53 to 83 then to 112 within about 10 seconds. This happened each hour while I was sleeping.  When I got up in the morning it got up to 168.  My first question is 1. What is minimal mitral regurgitation and minimal triscupid regurgitation  mean?  Could this be causing my symptoms? (the strong heartbeat, and vibrations?)
2.  What are some other things that could cause a constant forceful heartbeat that can be felt throughout my body?
3.  Is is safe to take a beta blocker with my heart rate going down so low as it is?
4.  What is a ventricular triplet?  
5.  Is it normal for a heart rate to flucuate so much, even during sleeping?
Thanks for your time.
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Avatar universal
TSC,

(1) "Minimal mitral and tricuspid regurgitation" means that the mitral and tricuspid valves are leaking minimally.  This is present in at least 15-20% of the general population.  These leaks, when minimal, do not cause symptoms.

(2) Their are very few organic conditions that will cause a constant pounding heartbeat.  Aortic regurgitation (leaking aortic valve) is one.  Others would include ventricular bigeminy, a hyperthyroidism, chronic cocaine use, and a pheochromocytoma.  Anxiety disorder is the condition most associated with this type of symptom.  Many conditions can cause an intermittent or sporadic pounding heartbeat, the most common being a heart rhythm disturbance.

(3) The heart rates you detailed would not sway me from prescribing a beta-blocker.

(4) A 3 beat run of ventricular beats. Very common and unconcerning in someone with a structurally normal heart.

(5) Heart rates vary considerably; the pattern you described could be normal or abnormal. An inspection of the holter strips is the only way to sort it out.

You might consider an event monitor; this device allows you to press a button to record your heart's rhythm when you are experiencing symptoms.

Hope that helps.

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Avatar universal
A related discussion, Forceful, punding Heart beat in my Stomach was started.
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I get a forceful heartbeat every once in awhile, and most the time it is nothing more than anxiety. I have been slowly learning to conquer my nerves, which have been on end since I was a child! Irregular heartbeats don't help, but this site is definitely good for getting feedback from other people. One thing that really starts my heart pounding is a large meal, especially one loaded in carbs. I have cut out alcohol, and cut way back on caffeine, and that has helped, also. Any time you can feel your heartbeat or have an irregular heartbeat, it can be very disturbing. If you have your heart checked out and it is structurally sound, you really have nothing to worry about!
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Thank you Ianna!  That was so helpful!
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I get this feeling, I think what you are describing is the anxiety affecting the heart rate as it does. It's like a churning stomach only felt round your heart(the heart and stomach are very close)Any way I deffinatly know what you mean.
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Avatar universal
Hi kyky,

I think that what you feel IS anxiety.
And around the stomach and the heart....well these are the places were one feels the anxiety the most.
I experience the same at times.... with flutters and BUMPS etc etc.
It IS a funny feeling, cause one's heart can beat quite peaceful at that time.
If the Dr. said your heart's ok after all the tests, then believe him.
Next is to accept the feelings you feel. Now that's hard! But...
it will not disappear if you put anxiety upon anxiety.
It WILL lessen if you accept it for now and RELAX.
Go look for somebody who can teach you to relax and breath the right way; many people do not breath right. Try to find out why your anxious and work on that. Then there are the SSRI's..the anti-anxiety-drugs, but first try doing without, the drugs are addictive and hard to get off. Believe me, I know!!
I feel for you, cause I know what sensitive nerves can procreate.
But that's probably just what it is: sensitive nerves!
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Try and find the books of Dr. Claire Weekes, she is a wonderful writer about anxiety-problems. One title is: SELF-HELP FOR YOUR NERVES, the other is : PEACE FROM NERVOUS SUFFERING.
I really recommend those books to anybody having these problems!
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Goodbey Kyky, hope you are well!
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***Ianna***


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Avatar universal
When I take my pulse, with this anxiety feeling my heart is not racing.  It's just a feeling I get that makes me feel funny.  My heart flutters allot too.  I've been to a cardiologist and No one has found anything wrong.
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Do anyone experiance an anxiety feeling around the heart on daily occasions.  They say nothing is wrong  but my heart feels funny and I experiance allot of anxiety feelings.  I've had all the test.  Any suggestions?
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What do you mean by anxiety feelings around the heart?? Do you mean palpitations?
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anyone interstested in chatting??
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hi yeah, i frequently can. My heart rate is always elevated (resting rates usually 110 - 120) as I have IST....but any rates above 130 (ish) and I can see my pulse in my chest + several other places. Other people can see pulses in my neck from 1 meter away and also in my wrists and the arteries below my clavicles. I am not particularly thin, so I guess it varies between folks.....take care, Seska.
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TSC
Does anyone else ever see their clothes and chest moving with their heart beat???
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yes but i really have to sit there and look to notice it.  Ive always been able to see my heart beat
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Yes, TSC at times can see my heart beating.
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