Heart Palpitations

J

JTreddin

Cathlete
Hi everyone,

I recently had a physical because I was having heart palpitations, which felt like my heart was skipping beats. I have no history of heart problems in my family. The doctor did blood work, an EKG and an overall physical and said I was in great health. He then explained that the heart palps could be due to a number of things, one being strenuous exercise. I use Cathe's tapes relgiously, and I also teach classes. Just wondering if this has happened to anyone else and if they went away on their own.

Thanks!
 
Yep. This happens to me on occasion. I notice it when I've had too much caffeine, when I'm stressed, or doing a lot of strenuous cardio. I used to worry about it but now I realize why it's happening and that it's no big deal.

Carolyn
 
Hi JTreddin :) I've had problems with them for years, on and off...I've been told by doctors a number of things can cause them...caffeine, nicotine, stress, even hormone fluctuations (such as perimenopause, menopause, etc). I also have a heart murmur, though I've been told the two may not be related. My last bout with them was in 2004...I was still smoking then and I'm not sure if the nicotine was the direct cause or if it was a combination of a lot of things, but once I quit in March of '04 my palpitations went away...I've not really noticed them significantly since then. I've been told (and in my own research have found) that usually they're benign...but if they concern you I'd see your doc just to make sure everything's okay. :)
 
I've had them sporadically over the past 16 years. Mine are absolutely related to caffeine intake (first and foremost) and stress (secondarily).

Jonahnah
Chocolate IS the answer, regardless of the question.
 
I had it happen a year and half ago. My doctor asked me what was going on in my life, and after I recited the family & friends of mine who had died, the job I'd gotten laid off from, and a few other things that had gone on for a few months before, he said, "It's stress." And, of course, it was. He still did an EKG to make sure, and it came out fine.

Are you going through any major issues, pressures, things-you-can't-control right now? As talkative as I am when things are good, I find that I keep things very close to the chest (hmmm, wonder if that's where that saying comes from?)when things are going really badly, and it eventually manifests itself physically (at least, it does for me). After everything calmed down, the palpitations did go away.
 
It could be caffeine, stress, medications you take (Claritin can cause palpitations) or could be nothing. I've had them all my life and I take medication, mainly because they annoy me, but I don't need to. Your doctor is telling you all is well, which is good, but if you feel the need to investigate further (which one wouldn't blame you...it's your health after all) you might go see a cardiologist. They might run a few tests and possibly have you wear a holter monitor to better figure out what is going on. Whatever you do, don't get yourself worked up or you'll have even more palpitations ;)
 
Hi,

Are you a type A? Personality that is - I've had palpitations due to stress and anxiety before - some very severe to the point where doc ordered time off from work and anti-anxiety meds. I was having panic attacks too. If they checked your heart, you should be fine. They are spooky though so I understand why this has grabbed your attention.

:)
 
Hi everybody,

Thank you for your comments. I am not on any medications, but yes, I am under some pretty heavy stress---just due to typical everyday life stuff---I just bought a house, am working 2 jobs...etc...Since the doctor gave me the "okay", I feel better...but of course, if they don't go away, I will follow up with him.

Thanks again!
 
OMG! I could have written this post, seriously, now I don't feel so alone with this!

I started getting panic attacks a few years back, once a year, so bad I would feel like fainting. Went to a cardio doc--all was perfecto. Then off and on I would feel my heart race or beat funny, so to be safe, I went again, they made me wear a monitor thing and everything is normal, ran the regular tests...normal. In fact the nurse told me it was "all in my noodle!" Yeah, I am a type A!

So I figured out I get those anxiety feelings around PMS, when I drink too much coffee and get really overwhelmed for whatever reason. I carry around Xanax "just in case", I hate the stuff, but it works like a charm. And thankfully I have only had to take 1 of them in 3 months, so that is good.

I have also cut back on the coffee, especially around PMS. But boy, is it scary or what??:eek: Just sharing my own experience, I know how you feel!
 
Yes, I've had them for years as well. I also have a heart murmur so I've asked my doctor and previous doctors, and all have said it is nothing to worry about. I can't pinpoint what causes mine, only that I notice them most when I'm laying on my side trying to fall asleep. I'll have to log my caffeine intake and see if that makes a difference.
 
I had them quite frequently when I was pregnant. I had to wear a Holter Monitor and go for an ultrasound of my heart, and found that all was well. They pretty much disappeared after I had my baby, but sometimes they resurface. Usually around stressful times.
 
I have them off and on .. no health problems .. no history of heart problems .. no medications .. went to my Dr. .. after evaluations .. he found nothing .. and said that it could be given the amount of exercise I do .. and the intensity of it .. there was a phenomina called "athletes training heart" ... from what he said it is when you push your threshold of training to a new level .. your heart is adapting to a new level of fitness .. this occurs in athlets and it could be an explaination for the palpatations ...

My SIL has them every now and then too .. she trains w/me ..

not that this is what you have .. but it is something my Dr. addressed w/me ...

of course your stress level has got to play a great deal into it .. also as everyone else said caffiene .. stress .. foods .. medications .. etc .. could be the culprit!

if you are worried .. I would delve deeper .. can't hurt!!!
:D
 
Thank you all! I had no idea how common they were until I posted! I'm so glad I did!


I am still worried, but just "less worried" now that I have had an EKG and blood work done. I think the worry I am feeling now is just based on my own anxiety, or as tneah said, "it's all in my noodle". LOL!

Thank you guys. I feel much better now.
 
I have the same thing-sometimes feels like my heart is skipping beats. I had alot of mitro valve symptoms but was told repeatedly that I didn't have it. Went to a mitro valve specialist and definitley have it! Panic attacks, heart acting funny and feeling tired. I'm not near as symptomatic since working out regularly. My heart does sometimes act up when lifting heavy weights (and sometimes for no reason at all) but I don't panic anymore because I know what it is.

Not to mention the peace of mind you feel knowing others go thru the same thing!!! Hope this helps!:7
 
Same here. I first noticed I had issues just after I did LOW MAX (weird little fluctuations). Several days later I was trying to read a book, sitting still, and it felt like I had a fish out of water flopping around in my chest. I got scared and visited my local emergency room. Yep, skipped heartbeats - and I got the same info about caffeine and so forth. I never got around to making the suggested cardiology appointment because, after talking about it at work, I found out this is very common. Too much caffeine or, as was my case, the taking of too much psuphedrine (sp?) for sinus headaches is often the reason. I still get palpitations from time to time, usually after drinking A LOT of tea, but it hasn't ever been as bad as the fish-out-of-water night. No history in my family, either.
 
You didn't mention whether you were given a stress test on the treadmill. Yes, there could be a number of "non physical" things that cause the palpitations, caffeine etc that others have mentioned, but you also could have WPW (Wolff Parkinson Whyte syndrome). It's congenital and is not related to heart disease so family history is irrelevant. Millions have it and it can be undetected for years since an EKG won't normally reveal it. I wasn't diagnosed until my mid forties and I am a fit and healthy person other than the WPW!

If you keep having the palpitations, talk to your doctor about having a stress test to rule this out or at least have the dr. talk to you about the possibility in your case. He or she may also recommend that you wear a holter or loop monitor as someone else suggested. Obviously the palps were bothering you enough to go to the dr. or you wouldn't have done so.

I'm not trying to scare you, WPW isn't like having congestive heart failure or cancer or any number of other life threatening conditions. It's highly treatable and normally has little impact on your lifestyle, but you should know if you have it to manage the condition.
 
I had frequent heart palpitations last summer and fall. My Dad died with a heart condition and my Mom's had 2 heart attacks so the palpitations scared the crap out of me which was stressful and caused more heart palpitations, round and round it went. Funny, they would consistently abate when I was exercising intensely which was good info for my doctor. As hard as it was I gave up caffeine for a few weeks and concentrated on managing stress more efficiently, changed a few things up and away they went. Good luck to you.

Take Care
Laurie
 
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