Just when I thought I was getting better ... my heart starts acting up again!

[gothic_beauty]

How frustrating!

I've suffered from bouts of tachycardia in the past that varied in severity and affected my life on a daily basis. I saw a cardiologist who did a series of tests and proclaimed my heart to be healthy and my troubles to be the benign result of anxiety. After receiving a clean bill of health from a specialist, I felt a lot better and have gradually been getting back to normal. Until last night, that is.

After a hearty Boxing Day dinner, I was taking a shower when of a sudden I felt oddly queasy. My hands started to shake, my knees went weak and my heart put the pedal to the medal. It beat so fast that I was forced to turn off the shower and sit down. I felt that my heart rate would continue to rise until I fainted or died. My heart rate slowed once I sat down, but I felt dizzy for quite some time afterwards. I was too afraid to turn the shower back on; hopefully I don't smell too bad today! This morning, I continue to feel queasy, and my heart rate seems quite rapid although I'm just sitting here. I'm so afraid to do anything too strenuous, but on the other hand I don't want this awful problem to ruin my life as it did last year.

Why would such trouble suddenly recur? Is it because of the large meal I ate? Could it be hormonal? A simple case of a panic attack? I would appreciate any help from people with similar issues or simply from people with large amounts of wisdom to share. Thank you so much!

[cindy707]

I think alot of us can truly relate to your situation....the description could have been any one of us...i found that monitoring what goes into my body helps alot...i know for sure the rules of engagement for avoiding this situation is : no caffeine...not just coffee but iced teas, iced mochas, etc,..no colored sodas except root beer, no red wine, absolutely no energy drinks supplement meds that are used to boost energy, no red wine, limit the chocolate intake, one of the number one things is to stay hydrated...not vitamin water but plain water because not drinking enough sets these episodes off like crazy believe me, get a full nite of sleep and no burning the candle at both ends as its called meaning wearing yourself out thru work, school, social engagements...those are just a few of the basics but i think it is super important that you let the heart doc know what the heck is happening and hopefully he/she will put you on a holter monitor for about a week to try to catch these and get a diagnosis....especially if it seems like this is happening closer and closer together...it could very well be electrical based and in alot of cases there are cures for that too if not treatments...i think its safe to say we know how you feel.....good luck w. this....

[gothic_beauty]

My heart rate was 150 when I checked it but I had to get out of the shower to put on my heart monitor watch so by that time it had slowed a bit. I would say it was 160-170 at the highest point. I did do some exercise yesterday, and since then, things have been better, so that seems like a really good idea. I've also been eating less, which can't hurt, either! Looking back, I was sort of stressed out about some stuff on that night, so maybe my palpitations were simply a result of my worries.

My cardiologist suggested beta blockers but said that since I'm young (22) and my heart seems healthy, he'd rather work through my trouble with natural methods. He thinks my high heart rates are due to anxiety, so he suggested I find ways to reduce my stress levels instead, and see how that works.

I think I need to continue to work on that, which is difficult in itself, but I'll make an effort to calm down and see how it goes. It's just so scary to feel my heart leaping out of control like that!

[is_something_wrong]

The heart rate can increase after a large meal, and if the anxiety gets you, it can continue to increase and it feels somewhat violent. The effect can sustain for days, as your body is constantly alerted.

I get this all the time. In my case, the only "cure" is light exercise, until my mind clears up and the anxiety goes away. When increasing intensity after half an hour or so, the heart stays calm for at least a couple of days :)

A beta blocker might help, but the best way to cure your problem is regular exercise. It really helps. No need for running or doing heavy exercise, some miles of walking 3-5 times a week is enough

[CFS56]

I have had panic attacks just come completely out of the blue for no apparent reason.  Maybe that was all it was.   How high was your heart rate? It could definitely be hormonal too.  I have ended up in the ER a couple of times right before my period because my heart is going goofy.  Most likely nothing to worry about but if you continue to feel queasy and dizzy I would contact your cardiologist.

[Jerry_NJ]

You didn't mention you heart rate, i.e., a resting HR of 100 or even 120 is high, but not very threatening in most cases.

I don't know what a "hearty Boxing Day dinner" is, but maybe it had something to do with your high HR.

Anxiety? Did you experience any stress, or think about something that is stressful?