Pounding heart, chest pain in the evenings

[potatolover]

Hello, I'm a 26 year old male.

For many months now I've had problems where between 6pm to 8pm I've had this issue where my heart rate is near 95 (normal 75-80) accompanied with a pounding heart. I've posted about this previously, and thought my problem fixed after stopping a medication. It has returned.

Back in August I had an echo, a nuclear stress test and bloodwork done. And, aside from having an MVP, all tests came back normal and, aside from slightly elevated LDL, bloodwork came back fine. So, I've been given the all clear as far as blockages are concerned.

However, in the evenings, like clockwork, I have these episodes. I will try to explain the symptoms.

- A pounding heart with an elevated HR around 95.
- Weakness and increased respiration can accompany this to the point that I have to sit down to rest
- Chest pain(!!!) can accompany this almost like angina but it only lasts a few seconds until I stop
- The chest pain happens usually when I'm "exerting" myself (i.e. vigoriously whisking something in a pan for several moments)
- The chest pain is almost like squeezing.
- BP is usually fine but I can feel it fluctuate during these episodes (body pressure followed by head pressure for a few seconds) very quickly.
- Inside or outside of these episodes I experience a burning pain on the left side of chest that I can not pinpoint.

Since spring I've been eating as healthy as possible (no processed foods, whole grains only, unsaturated fat, NO trans fats, lots of fiber from veggies and fruits as well as oatmeal and beans, I cook 90-95% of all my meals in a month from scratch).

I've been wanting to get active, but these episodes prevent it out of fear. When I do get cardio, my HR stays elevated and "sensitive" until I go to sleep at night. What I mean by sensitive is that any little movement will cause my pulse to overcompensate and shoot up to maybe around 100 for a few seconds before settling back down.

Someone suggested it had something to do with peak plasma levels of a medication I was taking, so I quit it. It stopped for a couple days but has since returned. I usually try to take it easy during this time unless I'm cooking. It's ruining my life and I'm afraid my heart will give out every time it happens. I experience the chest pain and it sets off my anxiety.

Doc cleared me of issues directly related to the heart (supposedly) but I know the pain I experience is coming from my heart, not from another area).

Any ideas?? I'm at my wits end.

[potatolover]

See, I've had ideas that my stomach could play a part. Here's the thing, though. This has been happening since February, which was before I made any changes to my diet. I was still eating everything out of a box without hesitation. I do take omeprazole but went from 40mg to 20mg several months ago with no change.

Plus, this happens even when I haven't eaten for a long while. Say, I skip lunch or have a light meal/snack and then don't eat until 8 or 9p. It still happens with the same intensity. I've gone through several medication dose changes (I completely stopped taking the stimulant Nuvigil and am working on stopping atenolol, which I started at 25mg and am now at 6.25mg). So, regardless of medication changes or meal habits, it remains.

[MichelleP_3811]

Quite frankly I think it is your stomach.  A healthy diet can also bring with it foods that are high gas producers.  it is possible that your dinner meals are causing some indigestion or reflux.  Maybe try drinking less with dinner and trying an antacid and see if it helps.  It would be good to rule it out in any event.