Heart flutters fast, shortness of breath, coughing stops it

Ryanh · Newbie Joined: 27 Oct 2006 Posts: 1

I'm a 26yr old male, healthy, 160lbs, I have had this issue on and off since I was 17, I was told in the past it was stress causing this.

Only happens when I am at a resting heartbeat, 72bpm or so, I get a sudden fluttering feeling from my heart and it also feels pounding, I can feel it if I touch my chest. It also causes an instant shortness of breath and a weird uncomfortable feeling in my upper airway, that feeling like you have to cough, so if I cough this whole episode stops and goes back to normal, but if I resist the urge to cough it will keep going.
Today is the first day in a long time since it has happened and just this morning it has happened about 4 times and still I have this feeling in my chest like the urge to cough.

I have not been stressed out recently, I get a good amount of exercise weekly as well as sleep. I'm concerned about this, but I know if I go to my doctor she will say its nothing since I cannot recreate what is happening in the doctors office.

Anyone have experience with this?

Guest · Guest

Hi there, I have also had these problems, but my palpitations don't go away, I've had 3 emergency scares to the hospital with chest pains, palpitations and feeling ill, the doctors have found nothing wrong and I have been diagnosed with panic disorder and I'm on a course of citalopram 10mg, I get this urge to cough every now and then and a feeling like my hearts going to stop. Do you worry about anything, obviously worrying about the problem won't help it can make it worse.
The doctor at A & E told me that the only thing that could be wrong is super tachycardia but it hasn't shown on any of the ECG's, I feel like life's ebbing away every now and then and that I'm not going to get better, I keep feeling for my heart beat, which is a big no no, if you want to feel your beat feel for it in your neck, your groin, your wrist or just above your elbows on the inside of the arm.
Everyone has palpitations, infact people have them throughout the day, but because they aren't worried about their health it is not something you would notice. If you are anxious or stressed, you basically turn up your bodies amplifier, you feel everything that's quite normal louder than it really is.
I worry about dying, but I can't see the point anymore, the hospital can't see nothing wrong, my parents and doctor think its a mental problem which it most probably is, so I might aswell keep going and if I do drop dead I do and if I don't well that's a real plus.
Also anxiety can cuase spa3ms, lumps in the throat and oesophagus. If it is really troubling you ask your doctor to refer you to a cardiologist, but I can assure you unless you are over the age of 40 and you have heart problem history in the family or have had siblings who died of sudden death in there teens that this is 99.99999% in your favour of not being life threatening.
Hope this has helped you and that you will get back.

reb · Newbie Joined: 12 Nov 2006 Posts: 1

Hi - I'm 30, female, and also healthy so far as I know. I've recently started having the exact same symptoms you described - a couple of episodes over the last 3 months. It is a bit unsettling, to say the least. I'd felt things like this before, rarely, but in the past it has only felt like a single skipped heartbeat. Recently, when it has happened, it has been off and on for a few days, and then gaps of a few weeks without anything. I haven't yet been to see a doctor about it because it is not very predictable. I've been trying to watch to see if it is associated with anything else, such as probable dehydration, menstrual cycle, or colds. I have twice noticed it happening in the week or so preceding the onset of a cold, once in August and once in the last week, but I'm not certain that's the only time it's happening. Have you noticed whether it has happened to you before a cold, or any other patterns?

Guest · Guest

I've been getting the same thing and after reading the second blogger's expeditions to the hospital and them not finding anything, then I feel better. I think stress and worry is definately a factor as was said by that blogger. I actually just got through debating a very heated topic and found myself reaching for my chest 1 hour after it was over. This is when I decided to look online to see if anyone else has the same problem. Thanks for posting this guys.

jgodle1 · Newbie Joined: 18 Nov 2006 Posts: 1

Yeah, I suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and a recent history of panic attacks. And I'm classified as obese, with a history of high blood pressure, and a family history of hert problems. So I definately at risk, but not because my cholesterol or blood pressure (which have been stable for a year now) but because of the fear or heart problems. Panic attacks cause heart flutters or chest discomfort, and they also amplify normal everyday ache's pains and adjustments. I've been to the ER 3 times, and tthey have done ECG's, MRI and I'm fine. (atleast I hope so) But it's very difficult dealing with the issue or uncertainty about the heart or any other organ. But stress and worrying only makes things worse. Does anyone else have any idea on what can be going wrong. I've been exercising daily and eating the right foods, but the heart flutters or so called growing pains are quite frequent. Anyone have any suggestions on what they may think is wrong, besides the panic attacks.

I also have brief periods of brain shivvers, the feeling you get when you wake up suddenly after dozing off? Anyone ever heard of that. I get them intermittently and their usually precursors to headaches.

muchyt · Newbie Joined: 21 Nov 2006 Posts: 2

hi all i too have the same flutterings and thumping they are horrid but have had them since i was 19 now 35 have had many ecg even while they were presant but been told they are ok nothing to worry about by specailist i have been to a very useful forum called uncommanforum.com has 1000,s of people that suffer with the same it may help some one
stay well
tina x

raven_g20 · Newbie Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 2

hmmm hello all...i am getting the same problems...exactly as you say it guys...

Guest · Guest

Hi, I also get heart palpitations. Mine is worse during the day though when I'm active, stressed and consume caffiene. I find that a B-complex vitamin helps me with the stress and vitamin E and pottassium helps with the heart. Also purple grape juice helps. Like anything else though don't over do it, especially the potassium. Once I cut out the pop, coffee,ice tea
and replaced them with orange and grape juice and good water the palpitations slowly ceased. Never completely went away but are better. I
don"t smoke or it probably would be worse. I would say if you do smoke and have this problem, STOP. I,m not a doctor but this has helped me. If it doesn"t help you within a couple of weeks, see a doctor. Hope this has helped.

Guest · Guest

Guest · Guest

I have had this issue and the only thing that helps me is taking a B Complex. The one I take is for stress relief and it is time-released. It usually takes a couple days to kick-in, but if you take them daily.... I bet your symptoms will subside. A lot of people with stress/anxiety related problems are simply missing vitamins and minerals.

Heart flutters fast, shortness of breath, coughing stops it

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