Heart palpitations. Don’t these two words make you shudder with anxiety?
Well, maybe the words don’t, but the sensations caused by heart palpitations certainly do scare people.
In fact, it’s the main topic of emails that I get from people who contact me with questions.
And given that this anxiety symptom is so common among anxiety sufferers, I thought it would be helpful to do a “how to” article on palpitations.
First, a few basics. A heart palpitation is an abnormal beating of the heart AND your heightened awareness of your heart beat. Palpitations can cause your heart to beat fast (tachycardia), slow (bradycardia), flutter, or to even have ‘skipped’ heart beats (PVCs).
Heart palpitations can be caused by electrolyte imbalances, adrenaline, anemia, heart disease, arrhythmias, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and of course, anxiety disorders. There are more causes, but the ones listed are common.
Now, because heart disease could be involved, it’s always a good idea to see your doctor if you’re experiencing new or ongoing heart palpitations.
No need for fear, this is mainly a precaution to safeguard your health and your sanity. When you go to your doctor he/she will run an ECG and take some blood. If the results come back negative, then you can start your efforts to stop your heart palpitations without having to worry about having a heart attack.
How Palpitations Work
When related to anxiety, heart palpitations are triggered by the fight or flight response. If you’ve had problems with anxiety for any length of time then I highly recommend that you get acquainted with this term.
This is because the fight or flight response is the source of much of your misery, and a detailed understanding of it can help you to reduce stress. Because with knowledge comes less guess-work, more facts, and less anxiety.
So then, the fight of flight response is essentially your sympathetic nervous system gone wild. When you become scared, nervous, and worried, your brain will trigger a fear response, which, in turn, causes your body to undergo a few changes, like:
- Palpitations
- Cold/Hot flashes
- Dilated pupils
- Urge to urinate
- Diarrhea
- Tunnel vision
- Muscle tension
It’s also important to point out that palpitations are almost always accompanied by anxiety and panic.
Part of what also happens when the fight or flight response is triggered is that the brain signals the body to release stress hormones, like adrenaline and cortisol, in preparation for violent action. But, in your case, there is no action to be taken.
The adrenaline and cortisol however still get injected into your bloodstream, where it acts on the nerves of the heart and causes palpitations. So, in most cases, it’s adrenaline causing all the havoc but, there could also be other causes.
One such cause is electrolyte imbalance. Electrolytes are electrically charged ions. They include elements like: sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, sulfate, phosphate, bicarbonate, and magnesium.
These elements are important in maintaining proper voltage levels in the body, and are also critical to muscle function. The heart, as we all know, is a big muscle. If these electrolytes become imbalanced then palpitations can occur.
This is because electricity and contraction are what makes your heart beat and keep a rhythm. If there is a disruption in the electrical impulse, or the contraction of your heart muscle, then you get things like a fast, slow, or weak heart beats.
How to Stop Heart Palpitations
There are several ways to stop palpitations. If you’ve been cleared of heart disease by your doctor the following techniques can be effective.
1. Balancing electrolytes: When it comes to matters of the heart, the four most important electrolytes are potassium, calcium, sodium, and magnesium. If any of these electrolytes become too high or too low then palpitations may result.
A simple blood or urine test will tell your doctor if this is the case. If you have excessive/deficient levels of electrolytes then you can speak with your doctor about how to bring them back into balance.
In general, this would mean taking supplemental vitamins or increasing/decreasing the consumption of certain foods.
List of foods rich in the four major electrolytes include:
Potassium – See full list here.
- Bananas
- Apples
- Milk
- Orange Juice
- Potatoes
- Raisins
- Wheat bread
Calcium – See full list here.
- Dairy Products
- Almonds
- Beans
- Tofu
- humus
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Oatmeal
Sodium – See full list here.
- Meats
- Dairy products
- Frozen foods
- Snack foods
- Canned food
- Spices
Magnesium – See full list here.
- Nuts
- Cooked soybeans
- Peanut butter
- Yogurt
- Milk
2. Diet: Diet is an important part of any anti-palpitation strategy. Here are a few more examples.
Foods that you want to eat more often would include:
- Grapes
- Guava
- Honey
- Fresh fruit and Vegetables
- Whole wheat foods
Foods and activities that you should try to avoid include:
- Foods that contain caffeine like chocolate, soft drinks, etc.
- Sugar
- Alcohol
- Smoking
3. Hydration: Water is a fundamental part of what you are. If you don’t drink enough water then even mild dehydration can create palpitations. You don’t need to go overboard and start walking around with a gallon of water, either. Many of the foods you eat already have water in them, but it’s still a good idea to drink about 5-8 8 oz cups per day.
4. Medication: You may also want to talk to your doctor about medications. Doctors will usually prescribe beta blockers, which block the effects of adrenaline on the body. This would be a good option after experiencing palpitations for a prolonged period of time.
5. Valsalva Maneuver: This technique can be used to stop a fast heart beat. First, pinch your nose and close your mouth. Next, breath out forcibly. The idea is to strain as if you were trying to defecate while holding your breath. This will cause a quick spike in heart rate, followed by a slowing of the heart rate. If you have heart disease, or are advanced in age, please do not try this maneuver.
6. Coughing: Coughing vigorously causes pressure to build in your chest, which “squeezes” your heart back into a normal rhythm. This is not a preventative measure, so do it when you’re actually having a palpitation.
7. Cold Water: Splash cold water on your face. This technique works well for palpitations and panic attacks. The idea behind this is that the cold water shocks your nervous system back to normal. The water should be as cold as possible.
8. Relax: Palpitations can strike at anytime, even while you sleep. As a result, they tend to startle you and make you feel as if you’re going to die at any moment.
This is why it’s important to not rush around in a panic, thereby adding stress to your racing heart. It’s best to have a seat, breath deeply from your stomach, and chill out for a moment.
9. Exercise: Exercise might sound like the opposite of what you want to do when you know that palpitations can occur. But after a good workout your blood pressure and heart rate will generally decrease.
This is why it’s not unusual for highly conditioned athletes – like Lance Armstrong – to have very low resting heart rates. A normal resting heart rate is between 70-80 beats per minute. People that have conditioned bodies, on the other hand, can get their heart rates down in the 50’s or lower.
Let’s not forget that the heart is a muscle, and if it is worked, it will get stronger and more efficient and what it does. So despite the apparent contradiction, exercise is a great way to cope with palpitations absent any heart disease.
Caution: If your palpitations are accompanied by dizziness, blurred vision, chest pain or shortness of breath, then it could be something more serious. The unfortunate reality is that panic attacks and intense anxiety can mimic symptoms of a heart attack.
One of the tell-tale signs of something serious is severity and duration. If you have chest pain or the like continuously for more than a few minutes, and if the pain is severe, you likely have a problem. Always err on the side of caution though and get checked out if you’re just not sure.
If, on the other hand, you’ve already been screened for heart disease and nothing was found, wait. Be patient and wait about ten minutes and the symptoms will usually die down on their own.
I know that heart palpitations can be frightening, but they are usually not dangerous. That’s why I encourage you to see your doctor if you haven’t already. Because once you’re cleared medically, you will have the confidence needed to cope with the fear tied to palpitations.
Understand that heart palpitations are a very normal part of having an anxiety disorder and stress in general. When they happen don’t over think things and start jumping to conclusions. Instead, try some of the techniques outlined above and try the best you can to not shock yourself with fear. I hope this helps.
Not me, Sammy.
Hi to all
Floey yours seem to have a similar pattern to mine currently.In the past when mine have settled I found it to be quite gradual.One day would be a good day with hardly any then gradually the good days would be more and the bad palp days less till hardly noticed them at all.They have never gone completely but were a palp here and there not worthy of any attention! I cant tell you how long it took as that was years ago now but mine were anxiety related and so i had to deal with issues first,it really took me a couple of years to deal with my anxiety disorder and get the panic attacks under control.But that is a different story to what you are dealing with fortunately!!!I so so hope that yours are nutrition related and with the right supplements and foods yours shoo quickly!!I I have a really good balanced diet but apparently some absorb the nutrients, electrolytes etc different to others,which is why I am trying the supplements.Have you tried exercise?
Hope everyone else is doing okay?Thinking of you all and wish you a palp free evening!
@JUDE
Thanks. They seem to be more sporadic now– mostly midday and closer to the evening.
Does anyone notice that they get pals if they are tired/hungry?
I’m trying to form some connections btwn mine even though they are so sporadic.
Thanks 🙂
Also, do pals make anyone’s stomach feel queesy or am I just imagining things
Can anyone explain how their heart palps sensation and chest pain feel like
Hey FLoey sounds like they are settling for you,yeah!Mine are definately worse when i am tired or unwell,but so are my anxiety symptoms. The stomach queasiness could be from anxiety about them. You know like a nervous stomach,does it feel a bit like that?
I am sure mine are starting to ease up.The bouts of them are definately reducing in duration and as with floey more sporadic.With the heaps i have been having lately do you think when I was at the drs today (for something else)i got one!No of course I didnt!!!I had a chat to the dr about them whilst there about their reappearance and she was very reassuring,didnt make a fuss and told me i was doing all the right things in ignoring therm and just getting on with it.I spoke to her about my concerns re a long haul flight and the palps and she was positive and encouraging.Ahhh anxiety gotta love it …not!Anyone have some good news international flight experiences with anxiety.NO BAD ONES PLEASE!!!!
Sylvia my book came today!Havent had a chance to look at it properly yet but it looks excellent!
Happy day everyone and reassuring wishes sent to those having a bad day.
Hi Jude, I can’t wait to get my book! I ordered it off Amazon, so it should get here soon! Let me know what you think about it and I will do the same!
Hi Floey, Palps would often make me very nauseous, so you are not alone with feeling that way! Sorry you are having to deal with this! I would not wish this on anyone!
I hope everyone has a palp free night or day depending on where you live!
Hugs 🙂
Sylvia
Hey Sammy –
My palps have had so many different sensations. Sometimes it’s a quick little flutter, sometimes it’s several flutters in a row. The more unnerving ones feel like my heart is literally flip flopping in my chest like a fish. sometimes in feel pressure along with it or mild chest pains and on my first major episode my hands went numb. There have also been times where my pulse rate would go from 75 to 115 and right back down, it would go back and forth for hours like this and each time it went low or high I would have several skipped beats. Those were the episodes that turned me on to the Xanax (which I know you don’t agree with) but it worked for me and I’ve had no side effects or withdrawals.
I do want to thank you for the natural calm magnesium powder recommendation. I’ve been using it for a week and a half now and I am feeling less then 10 pals a day now, in fact I only felt 3 today when I went for a 4 mile run and haven’t felt anymore.
Beyond that I had a follow up with my doctor today. He said I’ve made great progress since I first saw him with the anxiety/palp issue. I know when I had my first few episodes I was on the floor terrified I was dying, but as I’ve found my healing everything has gotten easier and the palps don’t scare me that bad. Of course I haven’t had a full blown episode of palps every other beat in two months now and anytime I feel anything coming on a take .25 mg of Xanax and my body calms down.
Gary – how have you been, you haven’t posted in a good while??????????
Oh – Sammy, sometimes I also have this tickling sensation at the bottom of my throat, it’s different from the fluttering sensation, it seems to go away if I rub it. It happens just above the top bones of the rib cage right where my throat hits the chest.
Keep fighting the fight! This stuff can be beat!
Gracious – I was just reading some of the other posts and flutter flutter… sheesh…..
Hi Sammy
I dont get chest pain but i will try and explain my palps .I have two kind of feelings with my palps. One is that I feel two or three quick beats then a gap and a big thud as my hearts normal rhythm kicks in and takes over. I get extra beats thrown in there picked up as premature ventricular contractions on an ECG.I may get several runs of this a minute at its worse or just one or two.The other feeling i get is like my heart fluttering or shaking a bit?Don’t know what that is but it is what it feels like. Hope this helps or reassures you.
Sylvia yes i definately will share my thoughts on the book cant wait to read it!Big hugs back your way!
Stephan you brought tears to my eyes,I have been thinking of you and you made me feel so so happy for you that you’re winning this fight,yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!You must have walked out of that drs office walking tall,well done you.That is just wonderful news.You are empowering yourself and taking back control.Yes!
I too get palps reading these posts I think it is as we are so reactive and balancing a bit on the edge at this time of our healing that we are really susceptible to react when reading about them,it is very very normal.My psychologist that a saw a few times use to be able to make me have a panic attack purely by the power of suggestion!I find breathing thru mine helps in situations like this.I too get the throat symptom ahh the joys of anxiety!
Gary I too have been wondering how you are going , hope all okay?
Ahh Better go (Floey i will be late again picking up my gorgeous kids !!)
HI Jude,
I thought mine were starting to ease up but they’re kinda back at it today. Maybe because I didn’t eat enough protein today or didn’t drink enough water? Even though I felt pretty hydrated. Not sure.
What field do you work in/what is your day job? I wonder if that has something to do with it? haha.
JUDE haha just read that. I’ll hear from you once you get back! 🙂
Floey, i notice a lot when i don’t get enough sleep they can be more persistent that when i get sleep. I know when i use to work morning shifts and stay up all nite and run on 3 or 4 hours of sleep that they would be a little crazy.
My palps can be very faint in the afternoon when i’m having them for long periods of time, that is, they will be faint and light, hardly noticeable. Then at nite, they get to where they are either quick and very thuddy as i call them, or quick and many at a time in a short amount of time. Like 3 or 4 in just a matter of seconds.
I notice my “2 week run” of craziness seems to be ending. THe palps are hardly there in the day time now, but at nite they can still be bothersome, but nothing like they were in the weeks before.
Hope everyone is ok 🙂
STEPHAN
Hello, I was wondering if you’ve tried magnesium supplements and think that those might work aside from the powder.
And how long did it take before you started noticing effects of the magnesium powder?
@JOSH
I slept for about 6hrs last night, but I would wake up sporadically on and off. The palps started becoming more frequent around 2 when I started getting hungry and tired. I did eat and drink but that didn’t seem to rememdy them.I am still feeling them right now, as yesterday at this time I was not =/
Hi Floey i was right on time ,phew!I notice when mine are easing that i will have a good day then a bad day but eventually more good than bad then they go,so dont worry too much yet tomorrow you may find they ease up again.However if you have not eaten enough today i am sure that wont help a bit.How are your sugar levels?I think from memory you are a fellow vegetarian but are you a vegan as low calcium intake wont help either,and how are you iron levels and maybe you should try upping your protein and seeing if that helps.I try to have some at each meal.It can be hard i know but well worth it!Do you like nuts?I snack on almonds,sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds full of all the good stuff.I am not sure if it coincidental but since taking Vitamin c my palps are easing. I have a doozy of a cold so brought some and mmm maybe coincidence.Sylivia might know about the role of vitamin c in this? I need to check my book.I take olive leaf extract too, can highly recommended it when you are feeling a cold or something coming on.
I use to be a nurse before the panic attacks and anxiety disorder hit!It was just impossible to heal through that when working in an environment where people were genuinely sick and dying. I think I mentally contracted and displayed the symptoms of every illness known to man during that time!!Those who have suffered from an anxiety disorder will know what i mean.I loved loved loved nursing but it want going to work .I had my limits.so I then got a job in horticulture, living , growing ,thriving plants,flowers and trees!!Plus i love working outdoors and independantly.So ,no my work brings me nothing but joy and pleasure!!I am truly blessed there. I only work part as i have a beautiful young family so just do school hours a couple of days a week ( spoilt I know). I am truly blessed in life in general, I have an amazing partner,awesome kids and yep there have been a few sad traumas on this journey which have led to my anxiety disorder but i think I have had it all my life. As a kid I would often feel like I was choking on something etc.but my mum died when i was little and young so i am sure that was a precursor.Well I make myself feel better by saying if 1/10 people will suffer from mental illness sometime in their life then i have saved another 9!!!!!!!!! and much better to think I have a physical illness than actually having it lo!l!We all have our lot in life but it is how we respond and what we do with it that counts.
Have you had those bloods done yet Floey?
Floey is your work stressful?
I am going to try to get my blood work done tmrw.
I am working in Marketing right now, and yes, it can be stressful at times — but I feel that is true with any job. and when my pals first started, I was just getting ready to lie down and relax for the night.
Floey are you still having a bad run of them at the moment?Have you tried some exercise? maybe you have a bit too much adrenalin running around your body at the minute and some exercise might help work it off?Mine always come when i try to relax, the nature of the beast i think.Let us know how you are getting on.
JUDE —
Yeah, I tried going on some walks but that didn’t help it. I went out and got a Calcium/Magnesium/Zinc supplement today with 133mg of magnesium in it. I took one tonight and I’ll continue taking them. It says up to 3 a day, but I guess I’ll start with one. Does anyone have any recommendations on how many I should be taking? Never taken them before. Does anyone also know how long they take to kick in?
Yeah, the palps are still going on tonight =/ Praying for some relief.
Jude do you suggest use the sauna are you able to exercise
Flo you need to take natural calm 250mg
Hello Everyone, Vitamin C is great for the heart and very helpful for palpations! Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant that strengthens your immune system and protects your heart from harmful free radicals that can damage it, according to Nicola Reavley, author of the book “The New Encyclopedia of Vitamins, Minerals, Supplements, & Herbs.” Reavley explains that vitamin C also lowers your risk of heart palpitations, heart attacks and strokes, improves heart function, relieves symptoms associated with heart palpitations such as dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain and fainting, transports oxygen and blood to your heart, regulates your blood pressure and balances fluctuating hormones, a common cause of heart palpitations. The recommended daily dosage for vitamin C is 1,000 mg for adults. Foods rich in vitamin C include strawberries, cranberries, kiwifruit, tomatoes, broccoli, spinach, kale, turnip greens, pineapples, oranges and grapefruits.
So as you can see here vitamin C is a very important nutrient for help with healing palpitations.
Hope everyone is doing well!
Hugs 🙂
Floey my heart goes out to you.It sounds like you are having a hard time with them tonight. Is their someone home who can distract you.Sometimes having someone distracting grounds you and breaks the cycle. but hang in there it will pass.Try some deep breathing exercises or a shower ( a cool one as the heat increases heart rate)Wishing them away for you.
I take about 150mg in the morning and about the same in the evening of my magnesium powder.I think it is helping definately with my anxiety as well. I am less reactive which is a good thing!!
Sammy i definitely would avoid the sauna personally. I avoid them as they always make me feel yuk anyway.I dont like the heat from them. ,Maybe others have personal experience with this and can help you? I really dont know!Sorry I am no help at all.And yes I am able to exercise fortunatley it is my saviour!!! I can wake up feeling anxious and a go for a run or walk and feel so much better after.Are you able to exercise ?Thinking of you and hope you are doing okay.
@ Sammy.
You don’t think Nature Made Calcium/Magnesium/Zinc would help any?
Floey I started the magnesium slowly as it did give me a laxative effect!I started with 100mg the first couple days.
The naturecalmmagnesium I’m taking come with calcium google natural calm magnesium you see so many
No Jude I haven’t able to I used workout alot actually a pre-workout drink started my palpitation and anxiety no shotgun and superpum250 since than plus doctor was feeding me with Xanax and Valium now mine is like a drug withdrawal to more undrstand my story check benzo withdrawals symptom on line let me know and Ty for I value your kind mention I’m getting to the gym in 2 weeks
Sammy sounds like you have been to hell and almost back.No wonder you were worried about benzo’s. I have heard that about energy drinks,I steer well clear of them as i am very reactive to any kind of stimulant.I have nothing with caffeine at all, even chocolate.I am so sorry you are going thru the withdrawal symptoms.I googled it as you said and would never wish that hell on anyone,I hope you have a good dr helping you through this and you are feeling better soon. Hang in there sammy,you will get through this,it takes time but you will.
Floey, mine fits w/palps started exactly like yours did: Laying down at nite and almost asleep and then they awoke me. Do you find any or more relief while standing rather than sitting/laying? I find that i do, not that you can constantly stand or sleep standing up lol. I just remember the first nite years ago before i understood what was happening. I have a fear of hospitals and definitely did not want to go, so i just walked in circles all nite long in my room so the palps didn’t come one, and i did this until morning came. However i do still get them while standing when i’m having them, but not as much as when i’m sitting.
From experience, i’ve noticed that sometimes a hearty meal or even just a snack can flare up palps in certain people. Food doesn’t usually bother me when it comes to the palps, but when i get in some of these fits where they go on for days/weeks, i do sometimes notice the palps can be more ramboncious after i’ve eaten. Obviously one has to eat. The thing i’ve learned is different people have different triggers, so we can’t avoid every single thing that one says causes them their palps. I know chocolate doesn’t really bother me, but for others it does. Like everyone has told me, just know how you feel when they do go away, and it will. It may take some time for them to disappear, but they will calm down.
Thanks For the kind mention jude I’m much better now
Hi Everyone!! Wow, what a crazy week it’s been. Been doing a ton of crap at work, working on a 50th birthday present for my dad, and trying to get my house remodeling in order before baby #2 is here on 12/31. However, I’m happy to report (knock on wood) that my skips/palps have decreased. I would say less than 5 per day, and even had a day free!!! I think the magnesium helps some, the breathing helps some, the exercise helps some, but most of all, I think this forum has helped the most! You guys are all wonderful. I feel a sense of calm that I haven’t had in years. When a get a few bad ones, I’m reminded of how Sammy, Josh, and Floey have them much worse and they fight through them. I’m reminded that Stephan is running his butt of and is working through them and Jude is in a much more stressful situation and working through them, and on an on. Thank you ALL so much! I may not have been able to get near a computer to write lately, but I read every comment as it goes through my email and I’m thinking about you all on a daily basis! And I would encourage any new people reading to join in and check in from time to time. I’m hoping that maybe in a year or 2 or 5 or even 10 that we will all be in a much better place and maybe even fly somewhere and all get together in person. I really feel like I almost have another family here. So keep posting, long or short, they all help!
Stephan- Soooooo happy to hear you are doing better! Awesome!! I’m happy to report that even as busy as I’ve been, I have been keeping up with the working out. I haven’t stuck to a program this long since I was in college. There have been nights where I’ve thought about skipping, but I always think to myself, what would Stephan do? And then I get my behind in gear!! I can’t thank you enough for your encouragement!
Jude- Thanks for asking about me too! Stephan hit the nail on the head…you are a Rock Star and a calming mother figure to the group. I always look forward to your responses and feel better that you are always looking out for the group on a daily basis. Thank you for that.
Josh- You watch a 4 year old every day!?!?! No wonder you have skips!! Ha ha. My daughter is 4, and if I was around her all day, I’d have them all day too.
As far as my PVC’s/Palps, they are almost exactly like Stephans. They come in all flavors, from the flip-flop in the chest, to a small quiver in the stomach. I have the increase in HR sometimes too. It’s like my heart get worried and increases. I can go from 70 to 140 like that, but it usually comes back down in a minute or 2. I also sometimes get a quick light-headed sensation too.
I was very interested to hear what some of you do on a daily basis, so I thought I’d share for anyone interested. I’m a financial planner (yes, can be stressful). I have a wife of almost 10 years, a 4 year old girl, and one on the way! I’m a musician by hobby and am age 33 and this heart thing started for me around 25.
Keep posting, keep fighting, and again thank you all for my relief! I’m so grateful to all that post and those reading that are going through the same thing. You are not alone!!
Oh, and Sylvia B…can’t believe how much time and effort you’ve put in to figuring your palps/skips out. You are an inspiration and reassurance that me going back through all I’ve done that day to see what may have triggered is normal. Your postings about what you specifically do have been very helpful to me. Thanks!! Hope all is well with you!!
Hi GARY
It was wonderful reading your response. I’d love to know what type of magnesium supplements that you take. I just started taking Cal/Mag/Zinc from Nature’s Path yesterday. The palps are still around for me, so I’m thinking that’ll it’ll take take awhile for them to kick in if they were meant to help me in this situation, and if it is a vitamin deficiency or whatnot.
I got my blood work done this morning, so I’m just waiting on the results right now, not sure how long they’ll take.
Hope everyone has a successful day 🙂
Hi Gary, Thank you so much for your kind words! To me it was a matter of survival to figure out what was causing my palps/skips, I just did not want to live like any longer. I spent many years living with them, and I was not going to stop until I figured out a way to stop them. I don’t believe that these palps/skips just happen, I knew there had to be something or somethings that were causing them. Keep looking Gary and you will also find what is triggering yours, whether it is something you ate, drank, too much stress, chemicals you breathe in, lack of certain nutrients, etc., or even a combination of more than one thing. Like with myself it was a combination of things. Once you find that right combination and make the proper corrections, you too will be free of these awful palps/skips! I would not wish these on anyone! I hope you and everyone here has a palps/skips free day!
Hugs 🙂
Hi Silvia.
I’m interested to know — what was your cause of pals, and how did you figure them out?
And what have you been doing to prevent them?
Would love to hear your story.
Also, does anyone here have arrhythmia?
My Story: Hello Floey and Everyone Else, It is wonderful to meet you all! Sorry that any of you are having to live with these dreadful palps! I suffered with palps/skips, panic and anxiety for many years, it started in 1988, that is when I had my first attack that had me calling 911 and ended up in the ER! I spent many more years calling 911, ER visits, hospital stays, doctor visits, many, many test done over the years. It was awful sometimes having daily attacks where I thought for sure that I was having a heart attack or stroke. I would have this terrible sense of impending doom. Sometimes I would go for weeks with no attacks, and then “boom” they would be back with a vengeance, sometimes having them many times a day! After years of not finding all the answers I needed from doctors, I started out doing research trying to find some answers. It took me years and hours of researching books, the Internet, and any other source I could find.
After doing all of this research for a long time, it started to dawn on me that many certain things were triggering these attacks.
I keep all my research in large three ring binders, many files on my computer, and external drive, and a library of helpful books, cds, and dvds.
I also started keeping a journal of everything from, foods, drinks, chemical exposure, medicines, stressful situations, and even the weather (feeling over heated can make me feel anxious and bring on palps/skips), , and for women hormonal problems can be a factor, as well as lack of sleep, not enough to eat, low blood sugar, electrolyte imbalance, foods, drinks and chemical sensitivities, MVP can cause palps in some people also. Lack of certain nutrients, any of these could be triggers. I use a large 3 ring binder filled with paper as a journal. Besides writing down everything you are exposed too, consume, and everything else I have mentioned, you also need to right down any sensations, symptoms, etc. that you experience. You also need to put in the date and time for each entry, as sometimes you may have a delayed reaction, meaning you could have a reaction anywhere from two hours later up until 72 hours later. That is not to say that you cannot have reactions right away, I have on some occasions, but most of my reactions were delayed. By gathering this information, you can look back later and see if you can see any connections between any of these and any symptoms, sensations, palpitations, anxiety or panic attacks that you are experiencing. The better records you keep, the faster you will start to uncover what is triggering your attacks and palps. And armed with this information, you can address the problems and correct them. You might have only one trigger or many triggers such as me. Before I started keeping track, I never realized that I had a problem with any of these, or that they could be possibly causing my palps and anxiety. It just never dawned on me. If I had known I could have corrected my problem long ago.
I am sensitive to orange juice, cranberry juice, grape juice, and many other juices, certain berries, coffee, pizza, any high acid foods or drinks and others that I can’t think of right now. Sometimes it is just too much of a food or drink I am sensitive to, or a combination of foods or drinks I am sensitive to in the same day. These will set off symptoms in me sometimes right away and sometimes hours later (delayed reaction). Sulfites, MSG, artificial sweeteners and other food additives can all cause reactions to sensitive people. I also cannot take any cold medicines as they cause me to have palps, anxiety, and panic attacks. A lot of cleaning products like bleach and Lysol spray will cause me to have palps and anxiety. Some perfumes and cosmetics will also set me off. I am also very sensitive to smoke of any kind. Stress is another big factor in my symptoms, sensations, anxiety, and palpitations. Just remember that it could be anything that you drink, eat, consume, breathe in, or touches your skin (because anything that touches your skin can absorb into your bloodstream. Any of these can cause you to have a reaction which can cause many different symptoms, and the reaction can be right away or delayed by hours or even by several days later.
I take Toprol twice a day and klonopin only as needed (which has been a long time since I have needed any klonopin). But just the medication alone did not stop my attacks. It was not until I uncovered my triggers and corrected them, and added nutrients that my body needed.
I also noticed that heartburn/GERD also triggered palpations and anxiety in me. So I also corrected this problem as well. I do believe that for some people there is definitely a connect between heartburn and palps and anxiety. So also keep in mind that some other medical condition might be triggering your palps.
Well to make a long story somewhat shorter, I have been free of palps, anxiety, and panic for two years and one month now! This has been the longest I have been free of any of these. The longest before this might have been a month or two, but they would always come back, and I would be again dealing with this nightmare on a daily basis.
The reason I am sharing my story because if it can help anyone else be free of palps and anxiety, it is all worth it!
Supplements And Medication I Take: (some of these are everyday and some I use as needed) It might look like a long list, but some of these are as needed only.
Magnesium -twice a day
Calcium
Folic Acid
Vitamin C
Complete B Complex
B6
B12
Probiotics
Enzymes
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Co Q 10
L- Carnitine
Hawthrone
1 baby aspirin a day
L-glutamine
D3
Fish Oil
Zinc
Multi Vitamin Multi Mineral
Milk Thistle
Melatonin – night time
Niacin
Passion Flower Extract – as needed for anxiety, panic and palpitations
Remedy – as needed for stress and anxiety
Benadryl – as needed for allergies, sensitives, and bad reactions to food, drinks, chemicals, etc.
Heartburn Out – as needed for heart burn or irritated esophagus
Klonopin (Clonazepam) – as needed
Beta Blocker – Toprol – twice a day
Tri-Salts – as needed
Alka-Seltzer Gold ( Good for bad reactions from foods and chemicals which cause palpations and anxiety and other symptoms for me) – as needed
Buffered Vitamin C – as needed
Pedialyte or Gatoraide as needed
I also drink Chamomile tea to help me relax.
I have probably left some things out, but this is what I can think of now.
My hope and wish is that everyone here will soon be free of palps and anxiety.
Hugs 🙂
SILVIA
Thank you so much for such a lengthy and detailed response. You are so encouraging. I’m going to write down certain instances when I get them and record what I’ve been doing differently, etc. as you said. For now, the only thing that I can equate with them might be my low protein problem, as I hardly eat any meat. I’ve started eating ham, chicken, and turkey again, so we’ll see how long it takes for me to see if there’s any effect.
Were the COq10 pills very helpful? My friend recommended them to me, but I wasn’t sure if I should take them yet.
Thank you so much!
Sylivia again you are my hero.Thanks for sharing your story and the vitamin c info. I think i will keep it up post this cold recovering!I actually have a really healthy diet as i am sure you do ,so do you think some people just utilise or poorly absorb theses minerals, nutrients,vitamins differently?Do people with anxiety disorders absorb them poorly or burn them up quickly?It really interest me as i eat very healthily,dont drink alcohol,have a fish eating vege diet ,exercise etc .
Gary it is so so good to hear from you!Hey congratulations on baby no2,what a very special christmas season you will have,how beautiful!!!yep sounds like a very busy week .Hope your dad has a great 50th!!That is such brilliant news about your palps almost gone, how exciting I am so happy for you !!!Sounds like you are in a really good place,empowered and moving forward.From now on Gary you will always be in a better place as you are winning and you wont go back “there” ever again,yeah!!!!!!! They wont cause you the anxiety they did before, you will be able to blow them off and move on!Great work with the exercise,it helps me so much. I haven’t been able to run this week as i have a doozy of a cold and breathing a priority and it really does make a difference.Never thought I would miss running though lol! I love reading your posts.You are like a cup of chamomile tea, so calm and site too and a lifeline right when i needed it.It really helps so much to know you are not alone and the kindness of an understanding stranger can really bring hope.That would be very cool to all catch up one day!
My partner is already in the UK for 7 weeks so I have been going thru this alone over the last month.I have a amazing twin sister but I really don’t like worrying her as she is quite sensitive to how i am feeling so i keep it to myself. The same with my gorgeous kids, I hide it well from them too, just hug them a bit tighter!!They are just amazing!.So that is why i ramble on here so much and I appreciate you all for putting up with me!!!It really helps ground me as I spend a lot of time on my own ( I like being alone but it can give the imagination to much free reign!)So I cant thankyou enough.Also i have finished up at work to have the time to get us ready for the big move. We live on a small rural property so plenty to be done.
But even if my partner was here i would still need this!!You have all been there and understand and we bring hope to each other and that is a beautiful thing!!!
Sorry Gary that was meant to read you are like a cup of chamomile tea, so calm, reassuring and kind. This site has been a blessing for me too and a lifeline ……(obviously accidentally deleted line there!)
Hi Floey,
You are very welcome! It could very well be the lack of protein or other nutrients that are found in meats. That is the thing about triggers, they could be hidden and we could be totally unaware of them. A trigger could be something we are exposed to, just as well as something our body is lacking. So keep looking for clues and never give up looking until you find the source of your problem.
I think the COq10 is very helpful, that and a combination of other supplements. CoQ10 or coenzyme Q10 is a substance that your cells naturally make. It helps your body produce energy, it is involved in making protein, it must be present for your muscles to contact properly and it has antioxidant properties. And since your heart has muscle, this could be another reason CoQ10 is helpful. Taking CoQ10 may help to reduce the risk of some forms of heart problems that can contribute to palpitations. CoQ10 is beneficial due to its antioxidant properties, which may prevent damage to the blood vessel walls and the fact that it inhibits the blood from clotting. A general goal is to take approximately 30 to 200 mg daily but your physician can recommend the proper dosage.
Hello Jude,
Thank you so much for your kind words! Yes, like you I also eat a healthy diet, exercise, etc., I have even won grand champion in a national fitness contest, I have always looked the picture of health, but that still did not stop me from having the anxiety and palps, it took a lot of different things before I became palp and anxiety free. For some reason either we are not absorbing nutrient properly, or for some reason our bodies require more than other people. Everyone is different, and our requirements are probably just different then the average person. And of course it could very well be that people who are prone to stress and anxiety burn up nutrients faster therefore requiring more nutrients then most people.
I hope everyone is having a nice day!
Hugs
Hugs 🙂
Wow Sylvia I wish i was as fit as you!But that does all make very good sense re our requirement ,absorption and useage.Big hug to you!
.
I just had a laugh re this anxiety stuff in that I was out mowing the lawn by the pool and came face to face with a red belly black snake.Calmly I backed away, got my beautiful dog out the way and watched him slither off back down the creek. Not One palp, not one little flutter ,calm as anything I was.But put me in a big social situation or a imagined or perceived threat and off go the palps!!! Crazy i know, give me a venomous snake anytime,how silly is that!!It is good to be able to laugh about it though!
Hello Jude,
Your snake incidents made me laugh! It is funny when you think of it, things you would think would cause us palps don’t, and things that should not bother us, will cause our hearts to race! I don’t know if we will ever understand everything about palps and anxiety! But it is good we can laugh about it sometimes!
Big Hugs 🙂
Sylvia
Hi everyone,
I took today off work to get my blood work done which I did this morning. What’s weird is that on Tuesday I thought the palps were slowly down and getting better, but today they’ve just been back at it (since yesterday evening).
I wish I knew why that was. I had really put my faith in them starting to die down.
I’ve been really tired today and just fell asleep for an hr, randomly. Actually, since the palps started I’ve really been tired a lot. I don’t know if that’s mental or what.
Today I started taking CoQ10 and Cal/Mag/Zinc supplements.
Hope everyones having a good evening
Sylvia it is funny isnt it, you understand!
Floey i am sure everyone would agree that palps are exhausting. We devote so much mental time and physical energy they are consuming and draining.Tiredness makes them worse too.I am usually so full of beans but when my palps and anxiety flare up i lack energy. As you had a bad day with them yesterday you are going to be tired today. I am glad you had a nap you needed it!If your palps are worse in the evening try taking some magnesium late afternoon/early evening.Hopefully they are still on the way out and yesterday was just a bad day.Thinking of you.
Hi Floey, Jude is right, palps are very exhausting! They take everything out of you! Palps would always make me feel completely drained! Glad to hear that you are starting on some supplements! Let us know how they work for you! Hope you feel better soon!
I hope everyone here has a great night or day depending where you live!
Hugs 🙂
Floey- I’ve been taking Solgar Magnesium Citrate. I got it on Amazon after reading good reviews. Each tablet is 200mg but it says to take 2. I only take 1, but I also take a multivitamin which has mangesium in it as well. I’ve heard it can take weeks for something like that to kick in.
Thanks all for the kind words everyone. And I love the chamomile tea comment Jude!!
Hope everyone had a great day!
does anyone here suffer from MVPs? i keep reading up on stuff and wondering if I have it…haha. UGH
Floey did you mean mitral valve prolapse? I have read that this can be picked up by the dr with a stethoscope. I am sure they would have checked for this when you first saw them re the palps.The heart makes a clicking sound or a mumur may also be heard.An echocardigram also rules them out. Did the dr have a good listen to your heart or do an echo?Dr Google can scare us that is why it is important that if you are really worried you go back and get reassurance.When we self diagnose when can stress ourselves out and increase anxiety and palps.I know it is easier here to see a dr as we have medicare public health system so our visits and tests are subsidized. When you go to get your blood results have another chat. You are more informed and aware now and so can ask the dr. Take a list of concerns and questions with you.Write them down and don’t leave till they answer them.Floey I wish i could make them better for you i really do but keep focussed. Don’t let Dr Google get you down,I am sure we have all been there done that.Stop searching now!!
Hi JUDE,
Thanks for the reassurance. I had a EKG done (not sure if that’s an echo cardiogram) — I don’t think so. And the Dr. did listen to my heart and the only thing he confirmed was that it was skipping. Like others mentioned, he did say that it wasn’t anything immediately serious, but that I should have blood work done and some other tests perhaps if they prolonged.
I’m really praying that this episode won’t last longer than 2wks, because I’ve never experienced one this long before in my lfe =/ So weird…I am hoping I can get some rest tonight, but the palps get really annoying when I lay down on my side, so since they’ve started I’ve basically been sleeping on my back sitting up a bit.
floey you dnt have mvp mvp it when your make a tickle when the doctor listen to it
Floey many people find theirs are positional. Mine are definitely especially if I hunch over,sitting,lying on my side,positions i like to relax in!.So yes prop yourself up on some pillows.maybe there is a mechanical cause for this,If i have indigestion mine are worse too,is that mechanical?Not sure??
With regard to the magnesium mine are definatley easing. I have heard the supplements can take a few weeks.I have been on them for nearly three and the last few days have been heaps better.So keep it up it may just take time.I have also started vitamin c as well and maybe coincidentally better since then.Hope you get some sleep Floey,sweet dreams!
Very glad to hear you’re doing better Jude 🙂 How often do you feel them throughout the day now? Thank you for your response, have a goodnight as well.
You are not having a stroke or a heart attack you gonna be ok things that help with this are I eat only organic food valerian tea a cup of hot water with lemon first in the morning no greasy food or white bread no white rice exercise help if you can do it or a 30 min walk in the mall will help I hope everyone get their life back to normal this anxiety symptoms thing is like hell you guys need to try the linden method
How did everyone’s Friday go? Mine are still off and on. And I cannot pin point what is putting them off or on yet…