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.
thank you everyone for your comments they help me know that I’m not alone. I have been dealing with anxiety for as long as I can remember and I am now 33. In the past month or so I have been expiriencing heart palpatations ,, it feels like a extra beat or something and last week I was rushed to the hospital with a 230 heart rate along with the fluttering and all that it was one of the scariest expirences of my life.. anyways they did blood work and a e.k.g and a eco-test and they all came back good,, so they kept me in the hospital and monitored me over night and started me on 2 medications they are metoporol and norvasc(amlodipine),which are both blood pressure meds and the metoporol works on your heart rate cause my resting heart rate normally was around 105-110 and now with the meds its around 80, but I still expirence palpatations somewhat especially in the morning so I just put a call into the doctor to see what he says,,, all I know is I wouldnt wish this on my worst enemy, and to everyone dealing with this hell I’ll keep you in my prayers. thank you for giving me your time.
@cc
Thanks for standing up for us all!
reading this has made me feel less scared and less alone. Ive been suffering with Anxiety and heart palps I have two babies and Im so scared to die and leave them alone. On top of it all, I have OCD and that makes my symptoms so much worse. Im so glad to have found this website! Im so gratefull for the info this doctor has written for us to read!
Thanks guys i feel better ive been having heart palpitations for the past 7 yrs went to heart specialist had stress tests done and every other test done on my heart blood work and all everything came back good
I’m so glad I found this website! I’m 32 yrs old and have been suffering from heart palpitations for years. My Dad also has this problem so I figure I must of inherited this from him. Sometimes I’ll go months without any and then all of a sudden I’ll wake up in the middle of the night feeling like I’m going to die! I’ve had several ekg’s and they all come back normal. The one thing I have noticed is that they seem to increase whenever I workout. I didn’t exercise for about 6 months and didn’t have a single palpitation. I started working out again 2 weeks ago and then all of a sudden I’ve been having them every other day! The really bads ones that have lasted for hours have always happened while I’m sleeping. Trying to stay calm and holding my breath while bearing down have actually helped a little! I hope this will pass and I can just feel normal!!
Went through the Holder monitor test, one episode of bradycardia where I almost passed out. First time it ever happened, hasn’t re-occurred. Getting an event monitor test Monday. We’ll see if there’s anything new w/this one. I don’t understand how electrolytes and thyroid and blood work can be fine, but a person is still plagued w/these palpitations.
I have had these palpation’s since I was 10 yrs old lastly from minutes to a couple of hours,the palpation’s come on at any time, no rim or reason for it, I have been through all the heart tests and the result is I have a healthy heart. I am now 40 years old and have found on my own that the following helps and makes the racing heart stop: Lay completely flat on the floor next to a wall and walk your feet up the wall so that your legs are above your head. Next just breathe and try to relax, usually within minutes my heart will feel back to normal rhythm. This helps me 95% of the time. As far as trying to help preventing them of happening I eat 1 potatoe, 1 banana and take 99mg of potassium supplement a day, I also drink 1 bottle of Gatorade to keep hydrated a day. I really hope my self- remedies help someone else out there. You are not alone and I also get very scared when they happen.
I have had them for about 2 years now. I have gone through a bunch of tests. All were normal except the EKG, where a whole managery of beats are seen. A tiny bit of AFIB, but lots and lots of PVCs and PACs. 6000 to 15000 a day. There isn’t much info on this out there. I had a bunch of blood tests, and ECGs and stress test. The result is that they say my heart is in perfect condition, but my electrical system is all messed up. They have said it is harmless, but I am on a med, and it seems to help. It makes it less noticable. However I still have boutes where it gets bad, and I get a bit of dizziness. There has been a series of shugar tests, and I read a bit high, but not out of control. A1C is 5.7. We were looking for low shugar, but there hasn’t been a smoking gun. It’s still a mystery. It’s a bit disconcerting.
I have recently been experiencing these pappitations, mostly at night and sometimes during the day. This is a very scary feeling and two days ago I told my husband that if I die before him or know that I am dying that he should donate my organs to science. I am 63 years old and I am suffering from high blood pressure which I take medication for. I have a lump on my right leg and I am supposed to see a Surgeon on Monday for a consult and then a biopsy and maybe this could be the cause. I keep thinking that I could have cancer as my Mom died from this almost 2 years ago and I am very scared. I try to keep down my salt intake because of my high blood pressure so I am not sure if this is a contributing factor. I have stopped taking calcium, vitamin D and (centrum) my multi-vitamin supplement. I also have a dry cough since November 2011 and I have tried all sorts of over-the-count remedies and it will not go away. I beginning to feel very depressed.
I am a 38 yr old mom of 2 boys. I have been suffering with anxiety for over 10 years. I am on Effexor and it helps but I have noticed that since I was taken off my BP meds because of weight loss I find myself having horrible bouts of palpitations. I have these episodes where they last for hours. I just went to the ER 3 weeks ago and had the whole work up and was told the A fibs I am having are not dangerous and that I can’t have caffeine and I need to not stress out.
I haven’t had any caffeine and today I feel horrible. Even though I just went to the ER I am still scared and I want to jump out of my body and run away.I hate the feeling and most everyone at the ER looks at you like your crazy and the first thing they wanna do is drug you. I don’t want to take any tranquilizers I just want to know how to deal with them and slow them down. They skip and I feel them in my throat. Then the anxiety kicks in and makes it worse.
I am sorry that any of us here have to go through this. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. I hate it and I feel like I have to live my life around it, scared to do anything for the fear of the palpitations returning. I am having these as I write this. I have had them on and off today but tonight they are clustering together and making me anxious. I hope they go away soon and I hope everyone here gets better.
Hi I saw my psycologist from 3weeks ago she gave a special breathing technique it’s to 5 deep breath thru your nose out from your mouth it have to be from the stomash do this five breathing every one hour and see how you go I try it my palps is gone completely it’s work for me guys hope can work for u too
Beacause our nerveuse system hungry for oxygen try it you not going to loose nothing and please please let me know if it work
Thanks all the best
Hi everyone… I suffer from heart palps and rapid heart beat too, for a couple years now (I’m 50) …. about a month ago I had an episode at work and a friend said very simply – looks like low blood sugar to me. So, I went to Walgreens and picked up a $10 blood glucose tester kit and some extra test trips. I tested my blood sugar when I woke up, before each meal, 1 hour after each meal and 2 hours after. By the way, my A1C is 5.8 Anyway, I found that after I eat, my blood sugar would DROP! Your blood sugar is supposed to go UP now down after you eat. I noticed that when the blood sugar drops, my heart rate would go UP…by the 2nd hour, blood sugar went up to normal levels (between 80 & 120) After a week of self testing, I found that these episodes with the heart palpitations only happened after I ate!!
So, after doing a lot of research, I found that this is a natural process your body goes through when it senses a drop in blood sugar – the low level signals your adrenal glands to produce adrenaline which makes your heart race… this in turn signals your liver to produce glucose, raising your blood sugar back to normal levels. It’s not hypoglycemia, and it’s not diabetes, for me anyway…. I’m scheduled to see an Endocrinologist in a few days, so hopefully I’ll have some answers as to why this is happening…
In the mean time, this is what I do to stop the palpitations and racing heart… There is a breathing technique that calms the heart. Breath slowly (its hard to do when you are panicking) but you can do it… breath in slowly through your nose… and HUM on the exhale. Do this 10 to 15 times, or longer, and your heart WILL calm down and so will you. The humming causes your body to produce a chemical call Nitric Oxide, which calms your heart and opens blood vessels.. try it – it really works. Here’s some more information:
https://www.healingnaturallybybee.com/articles/treat12.php
I wish you all luck – I know what each of you are going through… by the way, all of this has sent me to the ER 3 times now and after every test under the sun, I was also told my heart was just fine… I hope this next doctor visit will uncover the reason this is happening…
Hello everyone~I have had Heart Palpitations for several years off and on and i also have problems with Anxiety and Panic~Under alot of Stress mostly caused from the Palpitations ! I have had all kinds of Blood Work,Monitors,Stress Tests,Echos,Ekg’s and they always come back normal and i am very thankful for that, but still makes me wonder what causes all these Palpitations…They have told me i have a Premature Heart Beat,PVC,PACs…They mostly happen in the evening just after sitting down to rest and enjoy TV or whatever…I do have them during the day, but have noticed if i keep moving doing Cleaning,or just walking around i dont have them as bad…I really think thats odd to think if im active i dont seem to be bothered by them to much, but in the evening when i sit down or just after getting in bed they start…The Doctors say they are harmless, but how can you rest with these things buggin like they do…How can they expect you to feel its just normal and nothing is wrong ? I am 47 and have had this trouble for the past 5 to 6 years…Seems to be worse now that they are sayin i am premenopausel and i read on a site that Menopause can cause Heart Palpitations…Mine are just now starting to calm down a bit…They were really bad for the past two months seemed to be all the time except when doing something…I think its odd, but i try to stay busy all day to keep from having them as bad…Sometimes i get pain in my left arm or when i get one of the THUDS in my Chest from one i have a second of pain in the center of my Chest or on the left side of my Chest when the beat hits and then the pain is gone and i also get a small rush of dizziness that is gone in a second with the pain..Very scarey…Doctors say my Heart is fine, but im still scared by these things…Anyone else have that second of pain when the Palpitation hits or pain in left arm or a small rush of dizziness ???…..Hope everyone has a wonderful day !
hi my names is mike i also have heart palps up and down heart rate and weakness muscule soreness and shortness of breath follow. this all started about 3 months ago and its efecting every thing i do work sleep etc i cant even sit on my couch and play a game without having a problem. i just realy cant take this any more ive tryed to stay possitive and shake it off but nothing works at all. ive gone to the hospital 6 times for this but of course by they time i get seen its not as bad and they tell me everything is normal. i cant deal with this anymore i have a daughter who is only almost 2 that i dont even have the energy to play and spend time with. this is ruining my life and im at the point were i just wana give up can any1 help me?
Hi my name is Edie and I have really bad panic attacks at least a few times a year. I had a bad one in January where I called 911 because I was home with kids alone and started panicing when I woke up suddenly and my heart started racing and I couldnt slow it down so when they got there they told me to breather slowly and bare down like I was trying to go to do number two so did that and it stilldidnt help so they took me to hospital and all tests came back okay so got sent home. Then just a few nights ago I couldnt rest and kepted having face numbness so I had hubby take me to the er. They hooked me up to an IV and the machines did an ekg and that came baack fine so they gave me a gi cockatil tohelp with acid reflux took that fell asleep then woke up with my face going completely numb and it felt really hot my face and then the alarm and lights was going off in my room my heart rate got up to 180 scared the crap out of me so my blood pressure was really high so they ran and ekg then gave me meds in iv then gave me a pill to take and it eventually made me feel a llittle bit better. They gave me meds to keep my heart rate under 110 so I went home and I just felt horrible all day so hubby took me to a different doc to get a second opnion on meds and when I went my bp was really low and it was because of meds. Doc said I didnt need them because the meds they gave me was to lower heart rate or blood pressure so she just told me it was panic attacks and that i should see a therapist and def get out of house by myself a few times a week because I have had a lot of stress lately Im 35 with three children ages 9, 6, and 2. Im hoping to see someone soon and definately going to get out by myself starting next week and gonna start exercising. ! Praying that they get better with diet and excercise. Im trying to eat healthier and Im definately earting more bananas and yogurt and taking vitamins.
Mike, I too have heart palpitations, I have been given a clear bill of health also, my vitamin d levels are deficient but that is minor. I too have a child, and everyday it is so hard to get up to take care of him, I am constantly exhausted, But I keep going because i look at my child and realize he needs me, when we have anxiety we focus on ourselves far too often and miss out on allot. I missed the whole year of 2011 living in fear, Im not saying i’m cured but my panic has gotten better. You have to learn to accept and flow with the symptoms of anxiety.. ITS HARD trust me I am still working on it, but if you tell yourself that you’ve got through it before and you’ll get through it again, and that they aren’t dangerous you will start noticing a difference in how you feel. You have to breath always remember to breath, It is the most powerful tool you can have when it comes to panic attacks… stop, observe, breath, dont judge,use positive statements and let time pass. They are a pain I hate palpitations, If i didnt have them I think over half my worry would be gone!!!!! In case you we’re wondering I have generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder, I have had it for a year (the panic disorder that is) and it can rob you of your life.. it literally can suck the life out of you, if you let it…I have been on both sides of the fence, I have gotten better, but i have also gotten worse, Relapse is always expected with panic disorder, so dont beat yourself up if your feeling good one week then horrible the next, I wasnt expecting it when I started feeling better and i hit the most horrid depression i thought “im never going to overcome these attacks”but i got through it and i started to force myself to get up and active i still have attacks but being positive has def changed how scary they used to feel.
Im 33 female and mother of 4. Suffered from heart palpatations on an off for 6 years an after my car accident got rear ended at a red light I started having anxiety and panic attacks in the past year. I thought I was going crazy because I never had anxiety and panic attacks. I started to notice more of the heart palp after an anxiety attack/ panic attack because I knew my adrenaline was so high. Yes, I too been to the er many times and have done all the test an of course nothing was found! I’m tired of dealing with this and I don’t know why no one has the answer. I have tried everything…. These are the things ive stopped… Smoking, alcohol, fast food, caffeine, soda and even watching violent movies! It’s like I eliminated almost everything in my life! I feel so depressed because I feel like I have no one to relate this to. I hope one of us can find a cure to help each other out. I don’t want to live my life like this confused and at the same time trying to raise my kids, it’s very difficult. Thanks for reading
Iris, I too stopped all the caffiene..chocolate and everything, I quit eating stuff that has msg in it also, I cant watch scary movies which used to be my favorite, And I too have a son to raise. I am Tapering off meds now because of The fact that it makes me feel emotionally numb, and it started giving me racing thoughts that i didn’t have before meds…totally freaked me out. I am 22 and have gotten the attacks for this last year, I can’t imagine having to live the rest of my life this way I am trying everything, Breathing and progressive muscle relaxation help. I think vitamin deficiency’s can have allot to do with heart palpitations.. I am vitamin D deficient, and I havent had my magnesium checked but my other vitamins and minerals are ok being b12 potassium and sodium. Its Definently something to check into. I hope all is well, Just know that it will get better, I am in the process of working on it now,Therapy helps. remember to accept and flow with the feelings as uncomfortable as they are, It will help you take the fear out of the palps.
Hi everyone especially Tonya and the other mommies in here. I’ve been suffering from palpitations ever since I was pregnant of my first son who is now three years old. At first the feeling felt so strange and it would make me jump at how weird it felt. As I made some research about it, and learned that it was palpitations I became very anxious. I started becoming more in tune with my body and that made things worse. I went to the ER for gallstones right after i delivered my first son and just thinking about what else I might have makes me scared. I think I’m becoming a hypochondriac. I have gone to the ER because of these palpitations that are becoming an everyday thing and the doctors always ask me “do you suffer from anxiety?”, “is there a lot of stress in your life?”. Doesn’t everybody have stress??? Not everybody has these palpitations though. I ask myself.. “why me, Lord?” I have two children, my three year old and my 18 month old. Taking care of them is not easy, specially when I’m feeling scared for my life. Whenever I have the palpitations I feel my heart stopping for a few seconds and I feel breathless, then my anxiety kicks in, I start panicking…. It’s terrible to be living this way. I dont have health insurance and that just makes things worse. 🙁
ive been having very similar symptons, im a strong willed person and can tell myself to get over things, but when the physical symptons hit, i feel hopeless, if u have severe anxiety, u know how hard it is to believe even the most practiced doctor when he tells you “everything looks normal” but u just gotta push through it and thank god for each day you are given, even if u do feel shitty within the first 20 minutes of ur morning
I know and feel exactly what everyone here is feeling. I have done everything! What I forgot to tell everyone here is this.. When I get palpatations which turns into anxiety then leads to a panic ( same routine ) I try to do some breathing exercise and then I start writing to myself and vent out on that sheet of paper which really helps me out! There is always that high peak where we forget how to breathe then once we pass that hill of hell we start remembering how to think again. I’m not saying I’m over this but it does help me. This time I have a better idea… I use to write post up on my quit coach.com when I was in the process of quitting smoking and when I had that huge craving I would vent all my feelings and no one would judge me, they would send me feedbacks on what to do when the time was now and after I read the feedbacks I didn’t feel I needed to smoke anymore it made me calm! So now, if you all don’t mind I’m going to vent out in this site when my palpatations hit so hard or when my anxiety hits because of it…and same for you guys I’ll send feedbacks too because I know it will all help us out in some way until one of us or someone else finds the cure to help stop palpatations, anxiety and panic attacks.
i had psvt when i was a child. had a catheter oblation when i was 12 and have been good since. 3 weeks ago i started having bad heart palps, i mean hundreds through the day. has anyone else who had a catheter oblation had this problem?
You have to be careful before experimenting with electrolytes as a possible cause of your palpitations. The reason is, is that a low or high potassium level can cause palpitations and arrhythmias. A potassium overdose can kill you.
Thank you guys so much. I have recently been dealing with anxiety issues to the point where I have been admitted to the hosp twice. First time i had an anxiety attck while there which caused my heart rate to sky rocket and every since then I am so aware of my heart beat and my pulse to the point it is simi ruining my life. The second time I was admitted for palpitations at work…it was so scary. It helps me a lil to walk through the palpitations and to talk, it helps me feel alive and like im not dying so I’ll walk around and try to calm myself down w/ breathing techniques, my worst fear is passing out because I feel like if I pass out I wont wake up. The thing I hate about anxiety is that you can never identify what caused what…was it anxiety that caused they physical symptoms or was it the physical symptoms that caused anxiety. All my test like most of you guys have come back normal, every blood tect, heart test, radiology and nucleur test have come back normal and i am completely fine and healthy. I still want them to check my brain tho and i know thats just the anxiety talking. Ugh! I don’t want to get to the point where I am scared to leave the house or anthing like that. Its so reassuring when you read about ppl going through the same things, if any one wants to chat more please email me at
est.elle@rocketmail.com
I’ve been dealing with panic attacks since I was 24 or so. I’ve been hospitalized countless times. I was also having SEVERE chest pain with along with the attacks. I had to go to 3 different hospitals before I got a decent answer. I was dignosed with costochondritis (where the cartilidge in between your ribs becomes inflamed) and basically having panic attacks. I would get palpatations every now and again and it never bothered me. It was about 3 months ago when they started getting bad, REALLY bad. So went back to the hospital, again was told panic attacks. Then I started fainting every once in a while and about a month ago I fainted and was out for half an hour… My fiancee took me to the hospital where I was admitted and had almost every test done on my heart. The only thing they didn’t do was an angiogram. They didn’t find anything wrong, but did an EEG to check my brain. Low and behold I was having seizures. I was diagnosed with Epilepsy and Panic attacks and sent home with meds for the seizures. Two weeks later at my regular doctor appointment, my doctor changed my meds and put me on Dilantin. I do my homework online and come to find out that dilantin can also help some irregular heartbeats. My palpatations are all but gone now. I get one every so often but not bad. I do have another text to go through sometime in the future, a tilt table test. I’ve had bad attacks to the point where I get a sharp pain in the center of my chest and have had pain going down my left arm, numbness in my arm and shoulder area and instant nausea. Scares the hell outta me. However things are getting sort of better now that I’m on the dilantin. I hate that overwhelming sense of fear and panic and its always good to know that you’re not alone. I’ll be 30 in November and have always been a worry wort lol. I’m always on my computer and if anyone needs a shoulder or an ear, I have both. I hope this will help someone in knowing that that YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!!
I am having heart palpations because I got 2 different surgeries for severe nosebleeds I bleed horrible now they have me going to penn state hospital but I think I have post tramatic stress the new dr has me using oitments 3 times a day & saline every waking hour my friends & family feel so bad cause usually I’m a strong person but I’ve been suffering sine the first dr gave me the operation for pollops and diviated septum which after cause such nose. Bleeds and other drs acted like no big deal till the blood wouldn’t clot now the 2nd. Dr tried to help and it was ok after his operation for a month then it bled again he couldn’t help me anymore so that’s why I’m now at penn I’m so distraut and getting the worst heart palpatations if anyone knows what else I can do to feel stronger and not so afraid help I’ve takin valium but it does not. Help
I am 19 and have been dealing with these heart palpitations (skipped heart beat) for about 5 or 6 months.. I am told its anxiety and have had heart tests done.. I am going to get cognitive behavioural therapy for my anxiety and i hope and pray it gets rid of this skipped heart beat feeling.. it all started after a night of drinking, i didnt drink that much but as i was not a party person or a drinker at all it had a bad effect on me.. i had a racing heart for about a week. This is when it all started, i cant remember the first time i had the skipped beat feeling but ive had it bad now the last 3-4 weeks. Its absolutely horrible i wouldnt wish it on my worst enemy but im trying my best to get out and do things and when im distracted i dont seem to have it that much. I think it all startd from that nite of drinking and i believe that could have done damage to my heart rhythm, id do anything to go back and change that nite and i would never have drank anything at all.. 🙁 i want to go to college and do all the normal things other teens my age do but im so afraid this will hold me back..im always at the doctor i just want this to go away, im not depressed and i try to be as positive as possible all the time but i dont want this to take over my life. Can anyone tell me if theres any possibility that it will go after a few years? and was it from that nite of drinking that caused it?.. i know some people say that things could be a lot worse but for someone experiencing this it seems like the worst thing in the world constantly living in fear that i am going to die and i really dont want to die 🙁 living in fear all the time 🙁
More frustration. My event monitor showed I have PACs. This can develop into something serious, but my primary physician doesn’t think it warrants a referral to a cardiologist. What crap. I don’t tell my husband how frequently I have these palpitations because it would worry him.
ATTN ASH-
Have you ever had a histamine reaction to liquor? Try red wine. Anything else jacks my heart rate up for hours. I’m having palpitations which NO ONE can explain. My blood work indicates my electrolytes are balanced but I’m taking extra magnesium, which is good for the heart, since it’s a big muscle. If you can get a script for a benzo, ask for one.
Hi guys! I’m also suffering from palpitations.First I thought that it was just a bad dream, just a rough night. My first “hit” happened when I was 18, I thought I was just having nightmares, so my heart beats like hell. But suddenly it become worse weekly.I deal with it every night when I’m in the middle of my sweet sleep. I woke up like I’m gonna die. So years have pass and I got used to it. My biggest “kick” happened just last month, I thought I was going to Cardiac Arrest, but thank God I survived that night.What I did is, I pour some cold water to my head. I washed my face with it. And “Viola” I’m as healthy as cow! By the way I’m 24 now and I’m still single because I’m a bit “eccentric” I’m even afraid to tell my family about my conditions. Maybe because I don’t want to be branded as “freaks”. I live in Asia, and this is a poor country to live on with Anxiety Attacks.I’m not saying that this is the cure, but guys why don’t you try to take a large dose of Vitamin C.It helps me cope up, it’s been almost two months now since my last attack. I take 3-4 grams a day. Just don’t forget to pray to God for everything, after all He is the owner of our lives. Always pray to Him, and remember “you are not alone”. Always Smile : )
Just reading all these posts about other people experiencing the same sensations that i have felt makes me feel better. just realize that you’re not alone and that its OK to experience palpitations sometimes.
our brains control every single function in our bodies (i think…)
just like how we can control our own breathing, we can control our hearts. when we freak out we cause are hearts to freakout with us
I went through a hellish time fearing for my life because of heart problems that i didn’t have. after a while i finally mustered up the courage to get an echocardiogram and they told me i was all okay and fine. I still had symptoms from anxiety but it really helps to ease the anxiety by reading all the posts on here and understanding that i am normal.
when i was getting my echocardiogram, the lady told me that my heart rate was really high and told me to just calm down. i did exactly as she said and she was so surprised at how fast i was able to lower my heart rate. i did it with my own conscious mind ! !
remember that YOU are in control of your own heart and if it palpitates, its because you made it palpitate with your own brain.
try to learn how to take control of your own brain. its like a car and you have to be skilled at driving it. we can become more skilled at controlling our own brains
hope this helps other people with heart anxiety to ease themselves.
Just remember, that if the doctors tell you that your okay then you should be fine!!! its just you not having enough control over your own mind.
now you can’t just instantly take control of your own mind. it takes lots of practice and has helped so much for me.
just believe that you can take control of your own mind and try to feel good about that fact.
Will going to the gym and doing the sauna will help with all anxiety symptom
That’s I’m found now going gym everyday light training I’m fine so I think that’s a very good idea thank u Sammy u make me confident :))
Hi. I also experience palpitation. It all started when I was working rediculous hours at work and then my first Son was born. I’ve always flitted between depression and “normal thinking” and I guess these 2 events tipped me over the edge. I ended up in hospital and had the usual ECG, since then I have had 3 other ECGs and a 24 hr monitor.
My wife was getting fed up with me constantly complaining (and when I say constantly I really mean that – but I was frightened of course!! ). I also suffered from agrophiba (although I have to say I am much better than I used to be).
At the worst I was having 24 hour palpitations and no matter what I did it didn’t go away and it was on my mind constantly ( no films or going out etc would actually take my mind off it ).
I went onto medication which helped a bit, but I knew the rest was up to me. So on strong days, I tried to relax, tell myself it’ll all be ok and generally try to think positively.
I then came off the medication when I felt I was ready and then “took the bull by the horns” and really concentrated on getting better. I went out on my bike more to get fit and generally went out (even though I felt anxious).
After 4 years of “just doing it regardless” I am getting better. I now have around 5-10 palpitations a day (sometimes non at all) and when I have it ( and start to worry ) I change my mind set to one of positive thoughts.
I also go out on my bike most days, I’ve lost a lot of weight and look the best I’ve looking in years.
I think what worked for me, was to deal with the issue on strong days and when I felt I couldn’t cope I just didn’t try to make myself better (because it didn’t help). Then after a while the number of strong days started to increase (becasue I put so much effort into getting better when I felt strong) and now I have far more strong days to weak days.
I can honestly say, I didn’t think I would ever see this day. I still want to be better, but I’m still taking it one day at a time. The best thing for me is that I only get worried for short periods and I hope one day to be truely free of it (but then again, I think I can cope at this level to be honest).
So my advice would be to wait for those strong days (believe me at first the strong and weak days appear to be the same, but there are subtle differences – such as “I haven;t thought about my palpatations for half an hour”). CLearly, having had that thought I then start to worry, but it gave me hope and gradually that period got bigger and bigger.
I am now 36 and suffered from Agrapohia for a long as I can rememeber and anxiety for (probably) 10 years and palpatations for 4-5 years.
My mind is still full of dying and heart attacks, but I am in a better place to deal with it now and so the thoughts are short lived.
I wish you all the very best with your problems, you are not alone (I know it didn’t mean much to be at my darkest hour either, but as you get better day-by-day, it starts to make sense!
Just remember, it’s better to be 0.00000001% better each day than 0%. Every little step will get you close to getting better. Those 0.00000001%’s will turn into 0.001% and eventually 0.1%. Accept that you have moved on (when you do) and congratulate yourself at every step (even “I haven’t thought about “IT” for 20 minutes – well done”).
You’ll get their, I didn;t think I would and I a very negative person – so if I can do it, you can too.
God bless!
Ive had my heart palp since 2006 and struggled with anxiety and panic attacks since Jan 2011. I thought I was going to die and after all the test done it just kind of went away. Last year I had a bad car accident and that started my anxiety and panic attacks and guess what came back… Lots of heart palp. I mean, it never really went away but I didn’t notice it as much. I thought I was going crazy and going to die and I wanted to kill myself because I couldn’t stand what was happening to me. I mean, who the heck wants to live like this? Bu I had to because I thought about my kids and my husband… I never grew up with my biological parents and I know how that feels so why would I do this to my children… I really haven’t been cure yet and I don’t think any of us will especially with all the research I been doing and reading.. We all just have to live life and accept what’s happening. It is really scary but I try my best to just not honk a out it and when it does happen.. Heart palp or anxiety or panic attacks, I take time to myself and keep myself busy. It helps. Question: does anyone get like a palp or a flutter when they walk up hills and thier heart rate starts going up?
Hi Dan I’ve been thru about what u said about heart attack done lots of ECG blood test nothing comes bad they cleard me from heart desease I’m 32 seeing psycologist she is help me a lot
Dan try to do five deep breath every one hour coz I try it trust me it help and I start to think positive and Im start going to the gym but my problem is when I had any pain chest shoulders back straight away think inability heart attack that’s my thick brain can’t help it lok hope all the best for u Dan please let me know if the technique helps u
:))
Hi iris yes I do have fluttering sometimes go upstairs or on the treadmill it happen my docs cleard me from heart deseas my test all normal nothing to worry about just have a PVC very rare
All the best iris
hi guys last week tuesday i was ina car with my mate going to our destonation when i come to a point where i could feel my body going and then a wierd undiscribable shiver from head to toe as i rapped both arms round my shoulders to hold on to myself anyone no what this maybe? like not no normal shivers!!
then i got sweats and dizziness pass out stage almost. .went docs and blood test all okay
i was okay for a week then i was at work n then started feeling wierd again then went docs again and still coundt find nothing and now i feel like iv always got chest pains and my concerntration is poor and i get like tunnel vision legs and bum going numb sometimes and tension around the neck and shoulders is this deffo anxierty oand how to deal with it asap ???????
IM WORRIED!!!
WOW…the same story over and over. The dox don’t find anything, despite many tests. My PACs have been going on for almost a year. My doc just shrugs it off. But it’s creepy and disturbing. Do we just have to live w/them?
Unfortunately we do… I just think they don’t have an answer for it and still doing research on why there are so many of us like this. I was born with a murmur which of course the doc said it wasn’t serious… But didn’t have the palp til 2006. I use to smoke and drink a lot but quit because to better myself. I also quit caffeine because these are the things that cause it but why do I still get it? It’s Unbelievable how they don’t have the answer. But I still try my best to ignore it and take vitamins and do breathing exercises, it helps.
Came here to read myself “down” from spiraling anxiety and palpatations. Have been having palpatations since lunch, and I feel every one, and panic.
Have taken 0.125mg, and will take another 0.125mg before I retire for the night. I go for periods and have NO palpatations, then whamo, My husband has no clue about anxiety, and today mocked me re palpatations, which hurt my feelings and made me angry. We are “oldsters”, having been married only 2 1/2 yrs. I had been widowed for 10yrs and he had been divorced 18 yrs. He has apologized, but what a blow! My first husband learned all he could about this malady, and was supportive. I do not think one is ever “cured”. I have gone for long periods of time without any problem, then out of the blue it hits again, usually AFTER a stressful event in my life. I am happy to have found this site. I have all of Dr Weeks books, and just purchased the CD of her tapes.
Hi Liam looks like its anxiety take a five deep breath every one hour see how u go but better visit ur doctor again for further test like ECG just to make sure everything ok
All the best
@Liam, ya it does sound like an anxiety attack that turns into a panic. That’s how my anxiety first started then it went into a panic mode and every morning when I woke up I felt this wierd shiver/ shaking all over my body with a weird heat feeling in the back of my head. I get it once in a while but I am able to control it enough to where it doesn’t go into a panic mode…. But when it does, I try my best to do breathing exercises and walk it off! I’ve done some reading and some say it has something to do with adrenal glands or hormone imbalance for woman…. ( reading, breathing exercise, walking it off, keeping busy) all of these help me. Good luck
I have had palpitations since I was 17 had every test in the world 3 years ago had a heart spasm had 2 angiograms, now I went from having 2-5 palpitations a day to 40-80 some days went back to doc told me to double up on beta blockers and I took magnesium and they just about stopped but next day they are back, I just ordered Mag. Cal, Potassium as a wholefood vitamin as I read it could be your electrolytes which are off that could be causing it. Mine has nothing to do with anxiety as I always had that and all of a sudden it got worse. I think I am on the right track with the vitamins. If you think it is disturbing a few times a Day try getting them 50 or more times a day you never can used to it, I would rather try Ablation Procedure!!! That works most of the time I understand sometimes has to be repeated. Try the Vitamins not high doses..not necesary
I’ve had flutters since I was about 14 yrs old, I’m now 23. I went to the doc back then and he said it was nothing, just anxiety. Years down the road (basically beginning a few months ago…)I begin to have them again and bad. 5 ER visits and a cardiologist appointment later, I’m still told I’m fine. I’m about to go get a 2nd opinion from a supposedly “great” cardio doc that a lot of people I know trust and I fear that yet again, I’ll be told nothing and will waste my money again. This is getting stressful. I’m at Starbucks right now just to be around people because I had another one while I wasn’t even anxious at home, so I decided to come here, as being around others (even if they’re strangers…) helps with my anxiety. Does anyone else get them even when they’re not anxious and they’re trying to focus on other things? I’m thinking of taking my .25 prescription of Xanax, but I try to reserve it. I was actually having a good day and now this….
Hi Don, hang in there! I leave the house too when I feel anxiety kicking in and being around people calms me down and the fact is I have nothing to be anxious about. I feel scared when I’m alone and I don know why. I was given meds but I have not taken 1 at all. When I feel like this I just walk it off but of course I have to walk at a normal speed or else my palp will start up lol… Crazy isn’t it. Try not to drink caffeine because that will start it up too. Good luck
Hi Don, my doc tells me to use the Xanax when necessary. When I start getting really anxious, I take 0.125 with some food (keeps it from hitting all at one and making you sleepy) –that’s just enough to “take the edge off” for me, and I can keep on going. Get Dr. Claire Weeks CD–I find it very calming–can get from Amazon.com.
Hang in there!
I’ve been having palpitations for 5 yrs now. I’m 39 yrs old. I started having them at work & it continued for 10 mins straight. I went to my husbands work & he hooked me up to an EKG machine.(he’s a firefighter/medic) My PVC’s were thru the roof!! I went to see a cardiologist to make sure nothing else was wrong. Turned out to that my thyroid was way out of whack. I’ve been on thyroxine for 5 yrs now. It helps, but it doen’t. I’m still having anxiety palpitations & its very frustrating. No one that I talk to understands that feeling. I refuse to take any other meds for it. I workout regularly, eat right & all around take good care of myself. But they still happen. Like this week, I’ve been having them since Monday. Sporatic, but still a scary feeling.
Any natural meds that work just as well to relieve the anxiety I get once in a while?
Dear All,
Well firstly i Thank all for sharing details of your health, well for me i was a heavy smoker for almost 12 years and for the first time i decided to quit and i did quit its been 5 months not even touched the cig and have no intenstion of touching it again, but after quitting smoking after a week palpitation started and a panic attack and ofcourse like any other without thinking i went to the ER in a hospital and after all the possible test or blood, ECG/ EKG and X-ray the reports were normal infact i asked the doctors if it was related to quitting but the doctors had no answer, then from that time i have seen all the possible doctors, every alternate time i have been doing ecg but fine the doctors checked even for my urine and it was normal but the medicine they give me is for muscular pain i don understand what is the problem
One of the doctor i went in the night in Emergency he himself is a smoker and when he investigated me he asked me if i use to smoke and then told me it is because of that and it will stay for sometime but also advised me that not to start smoking again if i have quit or else again you will have the same withdrawals symptoms but after all the advise i was ok but again i feel scade well i have desided not to touch a cig
CAN ANYONE TELL ME IF ANYONE ELSE HAS THE SYMPTOMS LIEK THIS DO WRITE FEELS RELAXED WHEN READ ITS AMONG THE TERMS OF QUITTING SMOKING
ONE THING EVEN THE DOCTORS & THE NURSES OF ER & HOSPITAL & CLINIC GET CRAZY WHEN THEY SEE ME IN ONE NURSE EVEN SAID NO NEED OF ECG I COME ALWAYS AND DO ECG
HAVE A GOOD RECOVERY & HEALTH
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE
REGARS,
SUWAIDI907
Hey Don, my anxiety started when I was feeling “fine.”. The thing about anxiety is we can get it and experience symptoms when we feel ok, but in all reality we’re just used to a high level of stress which is why we feel “fine.”. However, when the stress isnt taken care of, the body does all these weird things and produces anxiety attacks and other symptoms. Diet and exercise i have found are very helpful. I also just started taking Nature’s Way Hawthorne Berries which is supposed to help cardiovascularly and stop arythmia’s. We’ll see, but it’s worth a shot! For some reason Ive had them a lot lately and am obviously needing to take care of a stressor I don’t see. I still might go to the Dr. to ease my mind, but I’m sure I’ll get sent out the door with a diagnosis of anxiety…hooray. It’s a bitter sweet diagnosis…nothing is wrong, but yet there is. At least anxiety can be dealt with…we have the tools, we just need to figure out what works best for us personally.
Scared in Texas, hi guys i was looking up heart palpitations and came across this site.I am so glad i did,i thought i was going crazy i also have been having heart palpitations and fluttering frequently for about a 1 week 1/2 also and feeling dizzy.It scares me because when i drive i also get dizzy and now that i think about it i have been having trouble driving for about 1yr because i would get dizzy but i also get the heart fluttering before i feel dizzy!!i just now realize that!! could it be that the heart fluttering and palpitations trigger the dizzyness and gives me the anxitey feeling!! which i hate cause i feel so trapped!! and limits me from driving myself and have to depend on others to drive me around!!….or am i just going crazy!! please someone help me understand this…..thx you in Texas
Hello All,
I jst saw many people need the cure of palpitations . Try out YOGA .. Prayanam is the one which really helps fighting the anxiety and palpitations.
Its a breathing exercise and very easy to perform .Do it 15-20min daily.. you will surely feel the difference.
is there anybody ere from Burton(england).I have 4 children n suffer really bad palps which is effecting my everyday life .It would be nice to get to know a freind locally that i can chat to n maybe fight this together ?x
Hi liam it sound like a tremor.I suffer wi this when ive had bad stress in my life.It feels uncontrollable.I get myne in the back of my kneck n it makes my head shake n then i get really tense kneck n shoulders!My symptoms dissapeared wi anti-depressants but still get bad palps 🙁
I have had palps for over 8 yrs, recently went on beta blockers. Seems to have helped I dont get as many and one side aftect is it stops or slows my migraines down. Have been dealing with migraines for over 21 yrs. I am 45 and so that is half my life nice help. They started when I got pregnet with my first child. I have also noticed the beta blockers have helped with anixiouty as well. I learned to let the stress go and of worry as much that is helpful. I asked my doc for Xanax he wouldn’t give them to me. So I hade to learn to cope and let things go mentally. Stress is huge it kills you, if you can let your mind think of happy and not the crap it helps big time!!! Trust me it works!!
I hope I have helped … 😉
Be positive ., think positive , live positive, etc it takes as much effort to be positive as it does to be negitive so why not do what will make you happy!
Cheers and god bless
Tammi
I live in Canada Bc if anyone wants to ask me questions go for it ..