heart making me feel faint?

[DennisJerner]

I'm 18 , non drinker non smoker for 6months. 6ft 3 and 68kg. I have been having palpotations for 3 months now mainly in the mornings for about 15 mins to maybe a houre.I don't know why and my heart raises very quick at any type of excertion even getting up and walking up the stairs. I'v had a heart echo and multiple ecg's then came back ok but they problems still continuing what could this be?

Today I'm feeling really anxious and almost like bloods just rushing through me i had palps in the morning today for about a houre and a half and I felt really bad during the day because my heart started pouding hard and quite hard. I sorta get this butterfly feeling and I feel very faint when my heart beats what could this be? Maybe lack of sleep? Or something else. I don't intake any caffine at all.

Please get back to me

[NME562]

Sounds like anxiety to me.. I have the same thing.. I have an anxiety disorder.. Plus I don't exercise so I'm out of shape.. You should check with a cardiologist to make sure there's nothing going on with your heart..

[Janpes]

Hi

An electrophysiology study (EP Study) is a test that records the electrical activity and the electrical pathways of your heart. This test is used to help determine the cause of your heart rhythm disturbance and the best treatment for you. During the EP study, your doctor will safely reproduce your abnormal heart rhythm and then may give you different medications to see which one controls it best or to determine the best procedure or device to treat your heart rhythm.

Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)
This term describes several other types of fast heart rhythms that are not typically dangerous, but can cause symptoms of palpitations, fatigue, or shortness of breath. They typically start suddenly and stop suddenly, and may last for minutes or hours, with a rapid but steady pulse during the episode. The fast rhythm is usually caused by either an irritable spot that fires rapidly (atrial tachycardia, or AT), or by an electrical “short circuit” that involves an extra electrical connection between the top and bottom chambers of the heart (atrioventricular node reentry, AVNRT, or atrioventricular reentry with an accessory pathway, AVRT). Treatment options include medications or a catheter ablation procedure.

I started to feel ill about 1½ years ago. I suddenly would go dizzy and my heart would start racing and then it would stop. I would then feel tired after the episode. As it always stopped I never thought more about it until about a year ago it started to get worse and worse. I had just been through surgery and had a blood clot in my leg that the doctors gave me anxiety pills and pushed me out of the door.
Eventually the SVT would get worse and worse until each episode was going on for longer and longer. I tried to convert myself using the valsalver but I couldn't do it and ended up in the ER getting a chemical cardioversion. Finally they caught it on the ECG and I was diagnosed with SVT.
Then everything went so quick, heart echo, stress test meeting with doctor who told me that as I am young he wants to send me for an EP study with a possible ablation procedure. 3 weeks later I was in a private hospital having the procedure for SVT /AVNRT.
I am now 4½ months post procedure and after the heart settled down...took a while :( things have been good. have been now about 1½ months without any issues.

Beta-blockers are good if you can find the right one for you. As you are so young I would recommend the EP study with the hope of finding what is wrong and the possibility for a cure. (ablation can cure SVT) The meds while they do serve a purpose do eventually stop working and then you have to find another one. SVT progresses as the years go on, albeit it is not life threatning or dangerous condition but it is a quality of life issue. Those darn palpitations used to come and go as they wished and I didn't want to live like that. I took my chance for a cure. So far it is holding :)

Ask you doctor to refer you to a cardiologist. If you have a cardio already bring up the subject of an EP study. It is an easy procedure I was awake the whole time and also through the ablation too. They make a small hole in the crease in the groin and enter the vein. you can't feel anything other than the injections to numb the area.
Give it a go!
Sorry for the long post :(

[DennisJerner]

Ok what's a EP? And do you know anything about svt's? Are they dangerous? My doctor says I'm young and it might be due to me growing up I don't really think he knows what he's on about cause. The palps have been there for ages and fast heart rate, also slight chest pains sometimes after taking medication did ur heart become ok? I'm thinking of asking about beta blockers?

[Janpes]

Hi

I have had the same symptoms as you, rapid onset of raised heartrate ...mine went up to 230 bpm and needed to be chemically cardioverted to come back down.
I had an EP study and an ablation 4 ½months ago and so far it is holding out.

I would be asking your cardio to send you for an EP study, especially if you think it could be SVT.

[DennisJerner]

Well I always used to do my own reaserch on stuff but the doctor told me not to google cause it might paranoy me and worry me more. Anyway I'm waiting to see a cardiaologist on the 9th of march do you think he will find the problem ? What tests should I ask him to run?

I have a rough idea what it might be a circulation problem or pvc's or a  super ventricular tachycardia.

[DeltaDawn23]

A large meal, sometimes a cold drink, lack of sleep, stress can all cause irregular beats.  I agree caffeine should definitely be out -- no point in asking for trouble.  I have several problems, AFib, PAT, PAF.  You definitely have to keep going back and telling them you have a problem.  I like Dezwithabat's comment "Don't give up, get better."  It is very discouraging sometimes.  You have to take charge.  There are some breathing exercises that will slow your heartbeat and restore rhythm if it hasn't gotten too bad.  Hard to explain -- I had a handout from the heart clinic.  Roughly, it's expel all air, then breathe in to the count of four, hold that breath while counting to 7, breathe out to a count of 8.  Repeat 4 times until you're used to it, then you can do it 8 times.  Cold water in the face is supposed to stop an attack, although it's never worked for me.

Delta Dawn  

[Dezwithabat]

Hey. I'm a 21 year old female, 6ft and never smoke, but have been around smokers my entire life. I also have palps in the morning and night. If you had an Echo done and nothing came back then it may be time to look for the problem elsewhere. You could have a circulation problem.

My best suggestion for you is to keep doing your research! Being young, many doctors will assume nothing is wrong with you. It will be easy to diagnose you with anxiety and never solve the actual issue. If I hadn't demanded I had my heart looked at, we would have never found my Mitral Valve Prolapse. I was being my own doctor! Listen to what your body is telling you. Start writing things down and learning how your body works. If you are afraid, maybe let that doctor give you something to take the edge off...but don't give up. Get better.

Don't let all the info out there overwhelm you. See what seems the most relatable to your situation and suggest it to your doc. You'll find teaming up in solving the issue is far quicker.

Good luck!!

[chipsanddip]

Hi... Sorry you are feeling awful. I was just mentioning to someone else that the heart rate going up when you stand can be an autonomic nervous system disorder. Look at this site, and go to 'postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome' and see if it sounds like you.
http://www.dinet.org/
That is what I have. Symptoms include heart rate going up upon standing, but it would be in the normal range laying down. Fainting, palpitations, nausea, dizziness, etc are all symproms. A tilt table test would confirm the diagnosis.
But if you have a sleep disorder, you need to look into that as well. They commonly overlap with autonomic issues.
Good luck!