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.
hey ally, yee i get heart palps quite often and tightness of the hest and can even feel breathless from time to time…
this anxiety is making me feel very spaced out and odd though!? have u ever experienced that?
Hi everyone. I went back to the Dr. where they did my vitals and listened to my heart and said it didn’t seem abnormal. My heart has been beating very hard lately, not skipping so much, just beating so hard that I cannot sit still and have to keep moving. It’s been like this for about a week. The palps lasted for about 4wks.
Anyway, the Dr. suggested that the nxt thing I should do is go to a cardiologist because the skipping could be because my heart is too small, or a valve is broken. He said I need an echocardiogram. Unfortunately, I don’t have insurance so there is a problem. I am going to try to go to a county hospital next week and see what happens. It’s $140 just for an initial visit and that doesn’t include the echocardiogram. Which I hear is like 400-500.
Justin and Sammy, sorry it took me a couple days to get back to you!
Justin, Yes I have experienced the out of it dream like sensations, feel as though some moments are real but not connected to it or the people around like not in the moment, its a normal anxiety symptom called derealization it can also create that spaced out and odd feeling,If not derealization so much then mental exhaustion is a good possibility! The best way I can describe derealization in my own words is like this, Life is passing you by you know you are in reality and can cleary tell the difference between reality and not ( thus you notice you feel a bit off or strange), like you know you are in the moment and where you are etc but you cant connect to it emotionally, when your carrying a conversation or whatnot you feel as if you are on auto pilot, you can laugh etc but not feel the connection to it.. Its really tricky telling what is what with this anxiety business lol = ) Mental fatigue I think is more of a spaced out feeling, slow to follow conversations and just feel rundown, they say a fatigued mind is usually when one will feel depression and have less control over unwanted negative thoughts, same goes for muscle tension especially in shoulders and neck can contribute to anxiety and unwanted thoughts so if you notice tension try looking into progressive muscle relaxation, i first heard of it from the anxiety and phobia workbook… at first I didnt think it would work but along with breathing exercises and relaxation every night for a couple weeks I started to notice some improvement in my overall anxiety.. it takes practice, lots of patience and time.. at first I was so worried about doing it right i wasnt sure if i would ever get the hang of it lol!
Sammy, Getting off the medication for 5-10% of us who go on it can be difficult sometimes debilitating, you go to docs because you feel like crap all of a sudden after getting off of it even though you tapered and they label you with other disorders or depressions which you never had in the first place and try to prescribe again, a majority of people who do take the meds have good experiences and thats why so many docs are unaware of “withdrawal” happening for a period of time after. I did have some chest pains and breathing issues getting off the meds but in my case i was told it was just anxiety, when I felt faint coming off meds (which did subside and hasnt been back) I was told I was dehydrated when I drink 2 liters of water a day lol. They couldnt find a medical reason and so it got called anxiety, I think it was increased anxiety because of “discontinuation syndrome” my body trying to adjust to the loss of chemical from the meds.. Either way I believe it will work itself out in time.. I am in no means bashing meds though, they are life savers for some, I just wish docs would make more people aware that even though its a slim chance of withdrawal from ssri’s that it does and can happen (and im not 100% on my info but I read allot that it was 5-10% it could be more it could be less who suffer), If I would have been informed about what anxiety was and what it was doing to my body and that it isnt harmful I wouldnt have tried medication but I was in a desperate place because nobody took the time to explain to me what was happening.. I kept hearing the words anxiety but nobody told me what that meant.. was I losing my mind, was i indifferent from others, was it harmful etc lol… information is invaluable!
Again sorry if this is long, sorry if it doesnt make as much sense to read as it did to me when i typed it, I am exhausted did lots of exposure this weekend to stores and family gatherings! = ) Palps are back but the key is dont fear them, like any bodily sensation that is uncomfortable or scary you will get used to it, it took me a year and a half to take the fear out of palps and sometimes I still fear them but I know theres not harm being done!
hey ally, thanks for that:) ive read a little bit about derealization and yes it does sound very similar to what im experiencing, im also finding it very hard to accept that this anxiety can cause just sooo many diferent symptons!
ive just got back from hospital coz of a bad panic attack or 3 i had, convinced that somethings is seriously wrong with me and they tell me AGAIN that its just anxiety :/ I have to learn to control this… what do you do?
how are you now?
Multiple times I have wanted to go to the e.r because of my attacks, my very first panic attack I ended up in the e.r and after they did blood work and ekg I was told it was a panic attack and given ativan. Second time I went to e.r was when I was for sure my sugars were low cause i felt lathargic and general doom feeling along with head pressure and tingling in my face and extremities, that too was just anxiety my sugar levels were actually normal lol! Honestly it takes time to let go of some of the fear, I was tapering off an ssri when I went to e.r for the second time and they suggested I went back on full dose because all was just anxiety, I didnt though I was so humiliated I said enough is enough and started taking things in my own hands.
It took me to get really embarassed and upset with my doctor before I was ready to push myself to get better, I did go into therapy and completed the sessions and was told I had no reason to be seen anymore, so Therapy does help depending on how well the therapist is, some people have to try more then one before they find one who really works for them, My therapist was supposed to do CBT with me but we ended up doing talk therapy at first I was upset but him being a wall to me to vent to ended up helping as he would reflect anything I could do better in certain situations back to me and taught me allot.
Before therapy I was on my own with the gp and meds and whatever i was willing to do for myself, I got amazon and ordered some slef help books at this point in time it was all about heart palpitations and feelings of losing control and sense of doom and so many other bodily sensations that convinced me I was dying. I got a book called The anxiety & phobia workbook, It has allot of useful techniques and explains what can cause anxiety besides “chemical imbalances” the self help in this book is breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation,visualization meditation stuff and a bit more. I know it sounds cheesy that I blew money on books but I was desperate I didnt want to leave the house, I couldnt stand to be around people in the house and I was ashamed to be around my family because I felt like I was so different, I was in a state where I didnt want to be alone but couldnt mentally tolerate being around other people that could help, anything they did or said I would twist around and make it seem as if they were attacking me or putting me down, Very painful place to be!! Also claires week book is dead on about the whole anxiety process.. It really does go into a vicious cycle and you have to learn to accept cause if you can sit with a symptom that you have been told is harmless and just sit with it and let it be eventually it doesnt bother you and better yet It sometimes will leave all together.
Now I am doing allot better, I still have my days and I still have to go back to my books when I have a set back but I ALWAYS get through the worst, I have learned to conquer you have to push, if you dont face the things you are afraid of how are you supposed to get over them? For me the answer is you cant you will sit at home and ruminate how you could go about doing that thing or how you could face this fear but until you actually do you will sit there in a vicious worry/panic/ruminate/worry cycle! I exhausted myself and sat with my worst of symptoms, breathed through them at first with a phone in hand to call 911 just in case. lol (eventually was able to do it without the phone!)… different techniques work for different people so what I do may not work for you but there are so many techniques out there to help with anxiety you just have to take the time, It really is a pain and it sucks to set more time aside for a already time consuming illness but doing the work is worth it.
I have been there and I remember telling people or thinking to myself that oh this is bogus it wont work for me, or im a different case, I dont have normal anxiety, im scared, if it dont work then im doomed, I cant, I dont want to, Im afraid to try because if it doesnt work that could mean im really crazy.. etc etc I have said and thought them all. the worst was thinking there was something physically wrong with me causing all of this, that was my huge WHAT IF.. but I have learned when that what if comes up to challenge it and say What if I do have a brain tumor, K so I have a tumor, they can remove such things… but wait a darn sec whats the evidence that I have this tumor, I have headaches, My eyes go blurry I get dizzy, BUT eye doctor said eyes were fine, Headaches can be from anxiety and dizziness is a normal part of anxiety BUT my head feels so wierd, Yeah muscle tension can do that and that is from anxiety from worrying about things like having a tumor.. case closed.. lol Sad but that what I have to do to work out these negative thinking patterns associated with the physical and mental symptoms of anxiety!
You will get through this, You will find your own way, I still have work to do but it does get better, it may not feel like it will but it can!
Hi everyone!
Floey how are you getting on, Where you able to get that EKG done?We are so lucky to have a medicare system here.I hope you have been able to and all okay.Have been thinking of you.
Justin yes it is amazing that anxiety can produce so many symptoms.Yes i too experience derealisation.My weirdest symptom would be like an “electric shock” feeling thru different parts of my body. that one really stressed me out at first but not anymore!Hope you are doing okay?
Ally you have a great way with words.Thank you so so much for sharing so beautifully your journey.Reading your post was like reading my journey as well,such similar stories we share.Sorry you have been thru what you have but it is nice to know we are not alone.Thanks for you encouraging words.
My plaps have been pretty good the last few days.I have been trying breathing thru them and not giving in to move and get rid of them that way.I really feel it has helped. They are shocking tonight but I my little man has a small operation tomorrow so might be the cause I think. Now mine have settled i can really see how anxiety related they are.Sitting still is so hard,as soon as i stop they start several a minute for a half hour or so grrr……But this time is getting less which is good. Last week they lasted nearly two hours while I was sitting still.I asked myself today what was my biggest fear of them on the long plane flight. I think it is feeling like i cant control them,I am not a nervous flyer just nervous about getting the palps on the plane and them not stopping and me going into some weird rythym and we all know the rest of that silly what if……!!!So been doing lots of visualisation and lots of talking myself thru it all.I remind myself that they are benign extra beats that dont interfere with normal heart beat etc. and so not harmful .Just wish they would stop when i acknowledge that like they are meant too. two months practice obviously not enough.
Anyuway hope everyone else is doing okay.We will get there!
Hello Everyone. I am new to this site and just read this article and am looking for some support. Although this article helped me ease my mind just a little bit. I have been suffering from anxiety and panic disorder for 10 years now, off and on. I recently began again and this time its coming with a lot of heart palpitations.I dont recall ever having so many, so frequently, even when I am not feeling anxious. :/ In fact, the palpitations trigger a lot of my anxiety attacks. I am currently waiting for test results this friday the 30th from a Holter monitor, blood work and an echo I had done. This only makes me more nervous and anxious. My activity was high when I had the Holter on. Any insight or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Nicole.I feel the same way about my palps.They definately come when i am not feeling anxious. Like at the movies the other week, or sitting here writing this email,or trying to relax and watch something on television.Yes and mine too are the worst they have ever been, I have had palps on and off for the last 14 years but never as persistent and frequent as these. I can have several a minute for a long time.
I didnt do further tests with the dr as i knew it would only make me more anxious so can truly understand how you are feeling but it is so good you have had them . That way at least there can be no doubt in your mind if they tell you they are anxiety related.It is also good that you had lots of activity with your halter on so they can see exactly what is happening.
I agree my plaps make me anxious too.My chicken and egg theory.palps give me panic attacks yet anxiety is causing the palps.Oh the joy of an anxiety diorder.
I know mine are anxiety related as they are intermittant. I am sure if it was something physical they would be there 24 hrs a day.I can bring them on by thinking anxious thoughts!!However I do find they are worse after eating so some indigestion correlation perhaps?I started on magnesium about 6 weeks ago and i feel that has really helped and vitamin c as well. If you read back some of the older posts you will find some good supplement suggestions from the others.
I have found this site a lifeline. it is so reassuring to know you are not alone and can share with people who understand.I am over the fear of the palps but just fed up with them, tiring, distracting and crap!But hey it could be worse.met a man today who has multiple melanomas and it made me grateful my illnesses are imagined!
Hang in there everyone,it does and will get better.Day by day we are closer to recovering.Keep in touch Nicole.
Floey hope all okay?
Hi Jude, thank you so much for responding. It’s reassuring to know we are not alone. I am going to read the older post as well as you suggested. Our minds are so powerful and I second guess myself all the time asking ” how can anxiety cause all these “fake” symptoms?”. Just waiting for Friday for my results has me very panicky and anxious. It’s terrible. In my particular case, I was doing fine for 2 years, anxiety free and now just recently it has started up again. My boyfriend of over a year is seeing a side of me he has not seen. He is VERY supportive and understanding because I did tell him about my disorder from the beginning, but now that it is active, I feel embarrassed and crazy when I have a panic attack around him and find myself trying to hide it and hold it in more than anthing. He has even come over to help me get through it at odd hours of the night because I am a single mother of a 2 and 5 year old and I worry so much something might happen to me alone in the house with the kids 🙁 This is a hard battle but I am willing to fight it and help myself. Im looking forward to this site and to helping others who suffer from this.
Hi everyone. Strange things have been happening with my body since the palps started a month ago. At first my heart was beating very hard in my chest, a few days latter there were obvious palps that lasted about 4 weeks. 1.5 weeks ago my heart started beating very hard again, and the obvious palps during the day stopped.
About a week ago I felt like I was having a difficult time catching my breath. I had no idea what was going on. Since then it’s only gotten weird and more obstructive/uncomfortable. It feels like someone is pushing down on my chest, and it feels very heavy like I’m struggling for air. I don’t know what’s going on. I went to the Dr. and they couldn’t find anything wrong with me. Aside from the fact that he said I need to gain 5 lbs.
I’m really scared because it’s been over a week and the inability to breathe correctly and the heavyness in my chest isn’t subsiding. It’s even tough going for a walk (I can only last 10minutes), because I feel like I run out of breathe.
Has anyone else experienced something like this?
Hello every one my name is jenny and i am 26 years old. I have been suffering from these horrible heart palpitations for a couple years now. I have nooo idea what triggers them but i have them! Its such a horrible scary feeling everytime i get one i feel as my heart skipps a couple beats..i have had ekgs,echocardiogram, thyroid tests, blood tests, tread mill stress test.. And all come back normal.. I just have not had the holter moniter yet which i dont know if i should have.. I have anxiety all day everyday because of this… Im going to start taking slow magnesium which heard it might help,… I wish the best for everyone hope these horrible palps will go away for everyone!!! 🙁 god bless.
Hi Everyone! It seems you have to now log in if you want to post, so I’m not sure what my name shows up as, but it’s Gary here in case something shows up different. Sorry it’s been a while, been dealing with a $28,000 bogus lawsuit the past week. Talk about stressful!
Justin- I want to start with you…I know I’m just some “stranger” on a forum, but you have to believe me when I tell you THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU MENTALLY. I have been where you are. This whole thing started for me when I was about 23. I felt the same way you did at times. And I didn’t know what was wrong with me or what was happening. I had the arm and hand numbness, the “spaced out” feeling, and I’ve always been a thinker that everything is worst case. Like you though, I didn’t know where to turn and had never heard about any of these symptoms and all my friends couldn’t possibly understand. Justin, it WILL get better. Sure, I still have my bad days, but there was a time I wouldn’t really leave the house and couldn’t do my job. As you get a bit older and see that others have these problems too you will get better. I know it’s probably hard to see now, but you just have to trust me and everyone else here on this.
Rea- haven’t seen a post from you in a bit, how are you doing?
Susan- how did your Dr appt go on the 26th?
Ally- Glad to hear you are doing better! Awesome! Success stories are always nice. Also, thanks for your explaination on the derealization thing, nicely said.
Floey- Hang in there. You know, I can’t sleep on my right side or I get skips and palps. The left side isn’t much better, but it doesn’t happen all the time. And I can feel my heart most times, and have for years. My BP is fine. But if I stop what I’m doing right now, I can feel it. Sometimes if I eat too much it gets worse. I end up rubbing my stomach contantly so I can’t feel it. I’ve had that for about 5 years now, and it doesn’t worry me anymore. I would suggest maybe trying Mylanta and see if it helps.
Nicole- Welcome. Keep reading and doing research, it will help. You have a big ally with your boyfriend being so supportive, so that is great. My wife doesn’t get it all so I get virtually no help from her and most times over the years didn’t even tell her when I was having problems. And I know what you mean about being alone with the kids. I used to be nervous too when my wife went somewhere and is was just me and my daughter. I may be much better now, and you will be too in time, but I still keep showing my daughter how to call mommmy if there is an emergency. So I plan for the worst now, but expect the best, it helps.
Jude- When is the big moving day again?
Everyone- I’m thinking about you all. Hope you are doing well. I’m off to try to get past the stress!
Hi there everyone!
Hi Floey ,sorry late reply my internet has been down.You have had a rough month haven’t you.Floey obviously what you are describing could definitely be anxiety related but obviously you need a Drs confirmation of this.Did he siuggest it was anxiety?When i first got anxiety it would affect my breathing.That symptom actually led me to going on anti depressants as it was very distressing.When i read your posts with your stats you definately are underweight. I know anxiety doesnt help as loss of appetite and stress add to weight loss.I wonder too whether being underweight adds to the hyper awareness of your body?Just a thought.Have the palps stopped now? Sometimes once we conquer an anxiety symptom a new one appears.Just because we havent battled enough!!!!!!!!!Thinking of you and hope today a happy day for you.
Well I have reached the 2 months with these lovely palps.Joy of all joys grrrr……Anyway I do feel the magnesium has helped take the edge of them for sure. I feel they are definitely anxiety related as i only notice them when i try to relax now or think about them and the flight.several a minute for as long as i can sit still!That has always been when my symptoms strike,mustn’t relax obviously some hidden danger lurking!!!!!!!!!!!Only 2 weeks now till we leave so in 2 weeks time i will be able to hout out loud “I DID IT”!!!
To be honest I am absolutely terrified about getting uncontrolled palps on the plane but I am doing this.I am too chicken to use it but The dr has given mew a prescription for diazepam as a one off for the flight if i want it.Never taken valium before. I know the risks from being on it long term but has anyway had it as a one off?
Hey everyone. It’s been a week or so since i wrote. A lot of stuff about anxiety on here which i’m not really equipped w/any knowledge of it 🙁 but i have been reading the comments.
Floey i hope you can find some answers soon. I’m sure your life must feel like it’s in this weird pause mode where you are trying to figure this out while the world keeps moving around you and all you want is your normal routines and life back. I hope you get better.
I don’t want to jinx myself like i did last time, but my palps seem to have returned to normal. Yesterday i only had one through the whole day and today i think i’ve only had one or so.
I’m going to wait a little bit longer before i get back into my exercise routine and just see how my body feels.
Hi everyone
Hey there Mr. Chamomile,it is so great great to hear from you ,Gary.Sounds like you are having a big week,cant be much stress in that surely!!!!!!!No sounds very stressful!Good luck with that.It is funny how we can open up here to complete strangers but cant talk to those closest to us about what we are going thru.For me having you guys understand is so reassuring.I don’t bother trying to tell those closest about what i may go thru as you can tell they just don’t get it. I am sure we are all very good at suffering in silence as you have obviously done Gary.So good to hear from you.yes we leave in two weeks today,incedibly exciting and terrifying at the same time!!
Hi Jenny,nice to meet you. Sorry you have been having theses pesky palps though.I have certainly found the magnesium to be helpful for sure.Mine since i have been on it are much reduced in the morning and only reappearing late afternoon,evening when i try to relax or sleep or write posts on the computer!!Mine are anxiety related.I first got them 14 years ago but they have hardly been a problem for a very long time but having a big year and they are back,bigger and more meanacing than ever before!!!But I know they will pass.Yes they do cause so much anxiety but supposedly anxiety is the cause,confusing hey.I think it is the chicken egg theory.If you were to ask me why i was anxious i would say because of the palps but apparently anxiety is causing the palps!!I am glad you have had all the tests done to rule out anything as it makes it easier to accept them and recover from them.keep in touch and let us know how you are getting on.
Josh it is great to hear from you and that you are doing so well,awesome news!!
Hello to All. Thank you Gary for your post and understanding. It really does help when someone else can relate. Any how I mentioned in my previous post I had some test done. I got my results. Everything is okay. My ” Palps” are actually PVC( premature vascular contractions) however they are not harmful and are not causing an irregular heart beat for me. He said I was ” healthy as a horse and all blood work came back wonderfully”. That is reassuring and a huge breather. At least I know my Palps are not life threatening and this will help me against my battle w anxiety. I also seeked a psychiatrist who diagnosed me with severe GAD. General anxiety disorder. I was previously diagnosed with this once before as well. Now that this is all said and done i can begin my treatment to winning this battle. And all of you surely help in winning this. Thank you all again and hope to continue supporting each other
Hello to All. Thank you Gary for your post and understanding. It really does help when someone else can relate. Any how I mentioned in my previous post I had some test done. I got my results. Everything is okay. My ” Palps” are actually PVC( premature vascular contractions) however they are not harmful and are not causing an irregular heart beat for me. He said I was ” healthy as a horse and all blood work came back wonderfully”. That is reassuring and a huge breather. At least I know my Palps are not life threatening and this will help me against my battle w anxiety. I also seeked a psychiatrist who diagnosed me with severe GAD. General anxiety disorder. I was previously diagnosed with this once before as well. Now that this is all said and done i can begin my treatment to winning this battle. And all of you surely help in winning this. Thank you all again and
hope to continue supporting each other
Nicole that is wonderful news that all came back positive. Mine are PVC’s too!I am so sorry to hear that you have GAD but much better than a actual life threatening illness causing them.As you have said at least now you can begin the recovery and you will win this battle,we all will!Keep in touch and let us know how you are getting on.
Hi everyone. My palps were gone for about a week and a half, and I was just feeling the chest pressure. The palps were soft at night but that didn’t bother me. This afternoon they came back. I have no idea why :(. I’ve been taking magnesium everyday for the past month and started eating meat and fish again, but here they are.
I am hoping it’s just a one day thing and hopefully they’ll be gone by tomorrow. I’m going to try to see if I can see a Dr. this week just for a checkup. I’m wondering if I might have MVP or some fluid buildup around my heart.
Ugh.
Hi Floey, definately worth seeing the dr as you obviously aren’t sure yet whether they are anxiety related or not or they just are what they are like Josh’s with no real cause or reason.I think until you get that reassurance it will only make it harder. I am so happy that the palps are settling for you.What is your calcium level like?My doctor was saying that calcium is useful especially around that time of the month when palps can be worse.I have started having a soy milk banana smoothie in the afternoon to get some extra calcium and a bit of potassium for good measure! ( I dont do dairy so probably lack there!)
Hi everyone,hope everyone has a happy day.
Floey, have the doctors said anything about the chest pressure? Back in May or June i started having really bad chest pain almost every single day, so i went to the doctor and had an ultrasound and a catscan, and they showed nothing. I wasn’t having a heart attack or anything like that. Sometimes it would be there when i woke up and sometimes it was after i ate. Either way, it was getting pretty bad and unbearable so i decided to go to a specialist thinking it could be some severe effect of heartburn, like GERD or something. But once i found out how much the office visit was, i just couldn’t do it. I don’t have that kind of money, and i could only have imagined how much it would have been to have the scope put down my throat. So, i’m actually n the process of applying for a medical card, though it doesn’t look promising. However, i noticed a couple of months ago that the chest pain just almost disappeared after having it for months and months straight. Every once in a great while i will notice it but it usually comes and goes very quickly. It still worries me and i’m still seeking the medical card to get to a specialist.
Hi JUDE and JOSH. Thank you for your words. My palps started up again yesterday and weren’t around in the morning, but came back around 2pm today and are still going strong. It’s almost 9pm. I’m really scared. Not so much scared because I think I’m going to have a heart attack — but just scared and frustrated because I thought I had them under control and now my heart’s just skipping around again like it never left. The feeling makes me sick to my stomach 🙁
JUDE – my blood tests showed that my calcium and potassium levels were normal. I actually eat yogurt and drink a protein drink everyday — so I guess I’m okay in that area.
JOSH- Yes, the chest pressure is so strange. It’s good that ur ultrasound showed nothing, because usually that detects the bad stuff. How much was it? IF I may ask. I really want to get one done but I was told they run from 400-500 … something I don’t really want to drop a ton of money on (but might have to).
I’ll let you know how my checkup goes on wednesday. Although I have a sinking feeling that it will turn out like all the other ones — the Dr. telling me just to not think about it or have him rattle off a bunch of tests I can’t afford.
Hi there Floey. Sorry you are having a crap night.Yes we can all relate to that sick to the stomach feeling. I know mine aren’t harmful but sometimes if they do something different like today where it was like my heart was shaking!!it still scares the hell out of me,those what ifs this is different.As mine are anxiety related i know i need to get my thoughts back under control.Floey just know that today is a crap day,tomorrow will be better.Hang in there.You are going thru a rough patch but it WILL get better.Hope all goes okay for your check up Wednesday. We are so lucky in Australia with our health system.It is medicare funded making it affordable. we take for granted that if we need a test done,it is just done.Thinking of you and hope you can get some sleep.xx
Hi there. I’m new here. I would just like to say thank you to every one who has posted their experiences, it’s very encouraging. I started having heart palpitations when I was 12 and for 9 years doctors could not tell me what was wrong with me. They ran ECGs, and various blood tests but could not find anything out of the ordinary.When I have palpitations it feels like an elephant is sitting on my chest and I can’t get enough air and I’ll get dizzy. It was very frightening as there is a history of heart disease in the family.
I am 21 now and in May of this year I went to the doctor with stomach cramps and constant nausea. He said I was having an extreme episode of IBS which is most likely caused by stress. I asked him if my palpitations could also be caused by stress and he said yes and that I probably had an anxiety disorder.
When I asked him for advice on how to cope with the anxiety all he said to me was that when I have palpitations I should take deep breaths and they will go away (and after suffering with them for 9 years I know that doesn’t help). After doing more research on my own I discovered that I probably have General anxiety disorder. GAD accounts for all of my symptoms.
I still have to find a method of dealing with my palpitations but this article has been extremely helpful and I will definitely try some of the method the next time my palpitations surface.
I am also, for lack of better word, glad to hear that I am not the only one that suffers with horrible and unwanted thoughts. There is something comforting about knowing that I’m not the only bone.
So once again thank you 🙂
Floey, i know that my catscan was about $400, so i’m pretty sure my ultrasound was less than that, but i can’t remember exactly
@ CHARLENE: It’s so comforting to hear your words as well. I completely agree about the breathing thing. I wish that worked as well. Have you tried anything else that has worked for you? I just started having them about a month and a half ago.
JOSH – Yikes. Yeah, it should be around that same price. Your catscan didn’t show anything for you? Do you think it’s anxiety related with you?
Hi Charlene and thank you for sharing your story with us.It brought me to tears as you are way to young to have gone thru the scary stuff that you have.Please know you are not alone and we all understand here for sure.GAD seems to have no real rhyme or reason for who it affects.Although i am sure it only effects brilliant,wonderful,amazing,awesome sensitive people such as ourselves!!I do worry for my daughter who is 13 as i can see her showing little signs, not palps but general anxiety.She doesnt know i suffer from it as i hide it well from my kids but it means I am able to apply techniques I have learned especially cognitive therapy to encourage and help her. I pray that she will never develop GAD ,I would never wish that on anyone.
I have had it for over 9 years and Charlene it does get better ,it really does.It lurks in the background but doesnt interfere with daily living and you learn to recognise it and blow that feeling away. I didnt have a panic attack for well over 7 years till later this year. I have had a bit of a relapse due to some sad stuff and exciting stuff.But i know it will pass, I am riding it out.let us know how you are getting on.
Hope everyone has a happy day,hope to hear from you all soon.
JUDE – Thank you for always leaving such motivating and kind comments. I love waking up or going to bed and reading your comments. I hope you’re having a wonderful day and I wish your daughter all the best.
I’ve been having a weird morning as the palps are still around. I’ve tried walking around and washing dishes and doing other things but not much has helped. I feel very on edge. If I knew for sure this was anxiety then it would be a relief.
Hey there Floey.Thanks so much for your sweet and kind words. I really do feel for all of you as I too well remember the sheer fear first time around …it is good to know i will never go back there again and want you to know it does get better.It would be such a relief if you could be sure it was anxiety, do you think you will be able to afford to get those tests done?
Floey, the cat scan and ultrasound showed no gallbladder problems or anything like that at all, which is what they thought it could potentially be. I really don’t think it had to do w/anxiety. I had more palps today than normal after not having very many after a couple of weeks. I’m really starting to think that my palps could be caused if by anything in particular by lots of sugar intake?? I noticed a while back when i had my month long fit i had ate a whole bunch of Nerds candy around Halloween. Then last nite i ate neon sour gummy worms, and then today i’ve been having palps. I never really thought it could be from sugar, but maybe it is?
Hi JOSH. I am in your same boat. I went without palps for a week and since sunday they’ve been back as strong as ever. Once they start during the early morning they never cease. I thought it was so interesting that oyu mentioned chest pressure. When the palps stopped I really felt like I couldn’t breathe correctly, like someone had just stuck a bunch of books on my chest — and the only way I could get air in was to lie flat on my back with no pillows. I still feel like that now even though the palps are back.
Has anyone else experienced a palp free week only to have them come back randomly? Josh — maybe you can try not eating as much sugar and see what happens. Hopefully that would be it. Are you underweight by chance?
I really do think i’m going to start a food journal. I know Sylvia suggested it many many weeks ago but after i got better i decided against it. But i think i’m going to start on that tomorrow and record my palps in a notebook.
I’m not underweight at all. I’m about 5’11 and 220lbs. I’m probably 20-30 lbs overweight according to studies. I’m trying to lose 15-20 lbs over the winter. In high school i was 160, and i’ve been out of school since 2003, so i’ve gained a lot of weight in 9-10 years.
@FLOEY I’m so sorry all this is happening to you. It’s really frightening at first. I hope you get to the bottom of what’s wrong soon. It does get easier to cope with even if it might not seem so.:) I’ll keep you updated if I find a method that really helps. What I do find helps to a certain extent when a round of palpitations starts is to squat and put my head between my knees and just breathe and focus on my feet. I know this sounds extremely weird but it helps for me. It Doesn’t take them away completely but it slows them down a little and I don’t feel like I’m going to faint.
On a similar strand to what Josh has said I did notice that eliminating caffeine completely has helped. I still get palpitations but not as often. I hope this helps. I’ll keep you posted if I find anything else that works. 🙂
@JUDE Thank you so much:) I’m still trying to figure out how to deal with it since I only figured out what I have a few months ago. I’m sorry to hear about your daughter showing signs so young. At least you know what signs to look out for and how to help 🙂
It really helps to know that it does get better and I don’t have to feel so anxious 24/7 for the rest of my life. It’s very draining. But it helps to know why I feel the way I do.
Today was a bit of a bad day again but every ones comments have really helped:)
Sorry for droning on 🙂
Wow – having to register and log in now – perhaps that’s making people more anxious… LOL
I know I haven’t typed in awhile mainly because I’ve been feeling so much better and have had zero to maybe 5 palps a day the past few weeks. I feel it’s hard to sympathize now however the stories are still inspiring.
Charlene – there’s nothing weird about focusing on the feet. My aunt recommended several things to me including throwing a tray of ice down my shirt just to distract me and provide a shock to my body! I never tried it but she swears by it.
I know the Xanax was the best thing to help me through the most difficult times. Looking back on it every time I had a major palp episode I was terribly anxious, convinced I was dying, and was practically planning my own funeral. The medicine helped me so much for a short period of time and provided the relief I so desperately needed. I only took it as needed (sometimes once, others three times, and several days not at all). I haven’t needed the Xanax in well over a month now and it’s been great.
I’ve been taking the Natural Calm Magnesium daily and believe that it has too helped my palps. A lot of what I find online says a magnesium deficiency can lead to electrical issues with the heart… so it comes back to what Jude said a long ways back, which came first, the anxiety or the palps? I don’t think the palps are 100% caused by anxiety and believe that there are some medical reasons are hearts go funny, be it a vitamin deficiency or something else. But the hear palps definitely cause severe anxiety issues. Funny thing is I found another officer I work with who also has a heart issue and he isn’t even bothered by it. We were out on a call and he stopped for a second, I asked if he was alright and he said yeah, heart was just off for a sec, and went on about business. It was a great chance to talk to him about it. He’s always had it, always feels it comes and go, however he is not bothered the least by it. And here the rest of us are frightened so badly by it.
Continue to be positive guys and gals. Thanks for the continued advice and stories.
Sammy, check in sometime!
And wow – I just felt a palp… go figure….
God Bless.
Hey Everyone!
Charlene- Welcome. You are right, you are NOT alone! I’m just so sorry you started with this so young. I was scared out of my mind when I first got them and I was mid twenty’s, I can’t image at 12 how it must have been. I do believe that stress and anxiety cause a LOT of problems for us. I too get dizzy and don’t feel like I’m getting enough air sometimes when I get palps one after another. Thankfully (knock on wood) they have been few and far between and only last for a few seconds. I don’t have the elephant on the chest feeling though. I know the Dr. mentioned breathing for you. After dealing with this stuff on and off for a while, I really believe there is not just one cure all for these things. I think you need to take a complete approach. I think finding a combination can help a great deal. I know when I do the breathing, eat right, exercise, meditate, take magnesium & vitamins, etc. they tend to get better. So I wouldn’t give up on the breathing, just not only do it. I hope you are doing better.
Josh- I absolutely think the sugar could be a trigger. I noticed taking Omega 3’s was a trigger for me. Even my cardiologist was surprised at that, but said we all react differently to different stuff of course.
Floey- Yes, I sometimes go a bit without noticing a palp or skip, then they can come back out of nowhere. It can get discouraging because you go from such a high of thinking you kicked it, to a low when they come back. Hang in there.
Jude- getting closer!!! I’m sooooooo excited for you.
Stephan- Awesome that your palps are doing better!!!! And that was inspiring to hear how another guy you work with handles his palps. It reminded me of when I was talking to my psycologist when I first was getting palps and was afraid to fly. He told me that everyone on that plane has a fear about being up there, EVERYONE. The difference is, they don’t react to it and that’s what was separating me from the others. That is so true. Now (that I can again fly) I do tend to think about it, but I just let it go. Letting it go is the real fight I think for everyone. Everyone gets stress stimuli, it’s just how we deal with it that separates us. Again, so glad that you are doing better. And FYI, I’m still working out!!!!
Hope everyone is stress free today! Take care.
Gentle greetings y’all I hope everyone doing fine and Stephan thanks for mention me on your post I really appriciate that I’m not be doing well my main symptom are chest tightness chest pain arm pain and a choking sensation
Gary, i’ve read over the years other people saying the Omega 3 could do that to you.
Hi there everyone
Stephan so cool that you have found a workmate that you can share with,. Definately helps take away the fear.I am so happy that you have things under control,really wonderful.
Hey Gary,I agree letting it go is a big one for me.Since I have been able to justlet them happen they do not last anywhere near as long.It is like “bring it on ,lets get it over done with”.This is what i do with panic attacks as well. It helps them to pass quicker.Ditto with Josh about the omega, I read that somewhere too.
Floey I had had a fantastic few days with the palps very minimal.Then last night ugh they were relentless but I was so tired i just fell asleep.Mine definitely come when i am relaxed. Had a big busy day yesterday didn’t feel any.When i hit the couch at 10pm bang they started.So yes i can have really good days with only a few and then others with lots.
Josh that is really interesting about the sugar, I notice when i don’t eat properly mine are worse.I think i will start to take more notice of what i am eating and how it affects me.
Hi Charlene no i dont think the feet thing is silly at all.I would stand upside down if it worked,I would do anything!So glad the support here is helping,it has been a lifeline for me.We are all here to listen and support each other, good days abut ESPECIALLY the bad days.I hope you have had some easier days.It is so tough and exhausting but you will get thru it.I still have a good cry every now and then , feel sorry for myself, that is OKAY to do. the main thing is that we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, get up ,head held high and keep moving forward.
Sylvia how are you going,how was the book?with all the packing etc i havent had a chance to read it yet!!
Sammy would be great to hear from you.
Susan hope you are doing okay?
Nicole and Justin hope things going better for you.
A big hello to everyone else and happy day to you all.
JUDE <3 Thanks for the words. My palps were gone yesterday while I was at work. And I don't work today, and BAM they woke me up this morning. I tried to close my eyes and sing christmas songs (hah) but that didn't help. Usually when mine start they don't let out until I fall asleep so I'm bracing myself for the rest of the day. Unfortunately. I called a friend to go on a walk tonight — so I don't know if that will help or not. Usually it doesn't.
Jude, have you (or anyone else here) — ever tried anxiety medication? And has it helped? My Dr. that I saw on wednesday mentioned it (bc he couldn't think of anythingelse to say most likely) — but I said I wasn't sure. Back in college I was on effexor for a bit but that was 2.5yrs ago about.
I don't know if it would help with my palps at all or if I'm ready to commit to antidepressants again $$$.
Hi Floey
You can read my concerns and previous post. I just recently was diagnosed for the second time with GAD( general anxiety disorder). With the scary Palps and panic attacks I decided to do more than just therapy and accepted my psychiatrist’s meds. Just started taking Remeron 15 mg but I am not taking my full dose yet. Only half and Floey it has been 8 days and I am starting to feel better and Palps have gone done 30-40%. Im still feeling some and still am not 100% but ill take any improvement. It was confirmed my Palps which are really PVC( pretty much the same as Palps) were stressed/anxiety related. I have been struggling with anxiety for 10 years and have been off and on many meds mainly because they weren’t right for me but I’m ready for a permanent change now and ready to help myself at any cost. I hope this helps a bit and answers your question 🙂
Nicole — thank you so much for your words. My Dr. recommended 20mg of Prozac for me. The thing is, I haven’t done an ultrasound or a chest xray because I don’t have insurance and it is too much $$$ for me to handle right now. However, when the Dr. did listen to my heart (of course I wasn’t having palps) but he said he didn’t detect anything serious. Did you have all those other tests done to check your heart before you were diagnosed with GAD?
I am so glad to hear that they are working for you, and I’m sure as time goes on they will continue to work their magic 🙂
Thanks Nicole!
Also, the Dr. I saw mentioned that the palps were probably not anxiety/stress if they’ve been continuous throughout the day the past 2 months. Thoughts?
Hi Floey, yes I did have a holter minister for 24 hours and an EKG. I just did this 3 weeks ago. It was determined I have Premature Vascular Contractions PVC but it is not serious or affecting my BP or rhythm. I can tell you that the cardiologist told me before my results that if you are able to go an entire day without Palps then it should not be anything serious. Also does heart disease run in your family? That’s a huge factor as well to a potential serious issue and if your blood pressure is usually high or too low. Check all of these factors out before you freak yourself out
Nicole – do you have an email address? I’d love to e-mail you and tell you some more stuff. I’m curious about what the Dr. told you. Do you live in the US? I’m only working PT so I don’t have health insurance so I haven’t been able to see a cardio yet.
Do you often go an entire day without palps as well? I had zero on wednesday (coincidentally when I had my appointment) — but they bolted me out of bed this morning and haven’t died down since. I feel that sinking feeling in my stomach whenever they happen. And I’m not sure if that’s adrenaline or something else — or related to the palps.
I had an EKG done which showed nothing b/c I never had any during that time. I also had blood work done and my lvls are relatively normal (except enlarged red blood cells) which could be a B12/folic acid def. However, the Dr. said that wouldn’t cause the palps.
Btw, I’m 27/female.
Hey Floey in a previous post you probably read my experience with anti anxiety meds. it was a positive result for me but make sure if you do you start off ever so slowly to reduce any possible starting side effects and never come off them quickly,most important.If you Google I am sure you will find many negative experiences no doubt about it but for me they were a lifesaver.They got me to a state where I could begin healing.Sorry Floey have to run out the door but will post later!
Np JUDE, thanks! Have a wonderful night! Or, whatever time it is over there. Which anxiety meds were you on? And are you still taking them?
Hi Floey yes it’s sardinanm0125@yahoo.com I’m in Florida 🙂
Hey everyone I read all the posting I have not been feeling well at all with bad plps chest and arm pain I really dnt what else to do now I have a cold make things worst I’m glade I heard some good post from some of you and Stephan I’m for you keep it up and do you still exercise? Gentle greetings to you all!!!
Thank you 🙂 Just e-mailed you Nicole.
Floey, i don’t know anything about antidepressants but i think gary or stephen one commented on how they would take a small mg of xanax and it would dramatically help them out. I know it’s more of an anxiety med or something. I’m actually prescribed Vistaril for my anxiety, which i had prescribed before i knew how harmless the palps were. I still get a prescription of it though because from time to time they help me sleep or calm me down. I know what i take can be used for other things, including a antihistamine and some don’t get a calm feel from it, but i do. To me it actually works better than a xanax. However, it doesn’t get rid of my palps when i’m having them, but it makes it easier for me to sleep while having a fit of them at nite.
Floey I was on Luvox (fluvoxamine).I went on it after about a year of trying to recover from panic attacks and GAD.I stayed on it for a year,then slowly weaned myself off,that was about 7 years ago now.I haven’t needed it since as now I understand more about anxiety and panic attacks and know I am not dying,so I haven’t needed them. I thought about it 2 months ago when these palps flared up but decided to get thru it as I am hoping that once we are on our big adventure they will settle and i didn’t want to risk any side effects while trying to get organised and my partner overseas.Josh it is great you have found something that helps you sleep thru them and just take that edge off. Have you been palp free now,I hope so !
Sammy so so sorry you are having a bad time. Has something happened to make it worse or just a part of your withdrawal from the benzos ?Sounds like you are doing it really tough at the moment.hang in there Sammy,you have been thru a lot and will get thru this as well.Wishing you peace and happiness.Thinking of you.Keep in touch and let us know how you are getting on.
My palps have been going strong for 2 days now non stop. I am so exhausted…
Any advice? :/
Jude-The palps went away for a couple of weeks, came back for a day or two, went away again, and the last 4 or 5 days i’ve had few more than usual, but once again they seem to be settling. I have just come to terms w/the fact that they now seem to follow no pattern like they once did in terms of when they return and go away.
JOSH- did u try cutting out the sugar?