It feels like my heart beats very hard for one second

[Amesketches]

So I already made a forum post about this, but for some reason I feel like the answer that was given about it just being PVC's and anxiety (even though I said I wasn't anxious about anything) just didnt feel correct. Anyway, here is what has been happening for the past few months.

So sometimes, this can happen randomly like while i'm laying down or walking or running. It feels like my heart just beats incredibly hard, just one beat. It kinda takes my breath away (probably from shock). It usually only happens once a day but will rarely happen twice. Recently I have found some kind of new discovery about this. So I was running laps around a gym (6 laps) and after I had stopped I was breathing very hard from running so much since I hadn't done anything like this for a whole summer. When I was breathing very hard, I crouched down while I was breathing, it happened. Now as this happens almost once a day, I realize most of the time it happens when I take a breath. Now, I take breaths very frequently because there always seems like there is something wrong with my breathing. It always feels like there is something heavy pressed down on my chest, I also can't seem to find out whether there is a wheeze, because when i breathe, I think I sometimes feel a faint fuzzy feeling in my upper chest, but I can never really tell anyway. I'm always making tiny coughs because it strangely helps. I dont really know, I have had this weird breathing thing for like possibly 2 years, it is always changing how it works, either it only happens at night or its faint but annoying, its only right now that I feel like its happening everyday. Its fine if you don't know anything about the breathing thing, i'm not entirely worried about it. By the way, I am a 13 year old female.

[2210485]

Sounds like something not easily diagnosed on a single office visit. Don't worry though! Your symptoms certainly sound like something worth investigating, especialy given your age, however these sorts of issues in young people rarely ever pose any sort of immediate threat. That said, shortness of breath sticks out as something of interest more so then the feeling of a singular forceful contraction. If your symptoms continue to cause you concern or discomfort it is always within your right to return to your primary care physician and request a refferral for additional testing. Likewise youre always free to seek a second opinion elsewhere.

Most likely a doctor will need to have you wear a device called a holter monitor for a period of 24 hours in order to make an accurate diagnosis.

If pvc's were viewed on previous ekg, a holter may help a doctor better understand how many pvcs you have when you go about your day to day life, especially when you're exercising. It also helps rule out other problems such as avnrt/avrt, which are conditions in which an individual may be born with a "wire" of sorts thats not where its supposed to be. All of these problems are easily treated if they are discovered. Hope this helps!

[Amesketches]

Thank you for replying!! I'm going to talk to my father about it soon, but I still am more worried about the heart thing. Recently today I had it but it felt a little different. This time instead it felt as if something closed then opened (it takes my breath away). It also seems that my shortness of breath only happens sometimes. Like while i'm writing this message I don't feel short of breath as I would normally. I'm sorry to reply again, but I just can't get this off my head, i'm afraid to even think about it and one of my worst fears is dying. Thank you anyways.

[2210485]

See a doctor, but don't spend too much time worrying about dying!

Changes that would be a bit more concerning would include:

1. Loss of Consciousness/Fainting/ 'Pass Out' from an episode
2. Noticing that the strange feelings in your chest/ Shortness of breath begins to last a long time (more then a few minutes
3. Noticing any reduction in your ability to physically exert yourself


Remember 13 is a pretty safe age for your heart! You're too old for the majority of serious problems you could be born with, and too young for the ones that develop over time.

The way you describe the feeling in your chest, the fact that it gets better with coughing or bending over (we call these 'vagal maneuvers', and they are known actions that slow your heart down) definitely sounds like it should be investigated. However it does not sound like something you need to be losing sleep over at 13!