Heart flutters fast, shortness of breath, coughing stops it

Guest · Guest

hI,
I AM 56 WIT CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE AND I HAVE THE FLUTTERING HEART, COUGHING ETC.
mY DAUGHTER WORKS FOR A CARDIOLOGIST AND LOTS OF TEST HAVE BEEN RUN WITH NO RESULTS. mY DAUGHTER SAYS IT COULD POSSIBLE BE SPASMS OF THE MUSCLE BETWEEN MY DIAPHRAM AND HEART. mY HOLTER MONITOR IS FAIRLY NORMAL. ALL HEARTS SKIP, RACE AND HICCUP, BUT WHEN IT INTERFERES WITH YOUR LIFE SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. THEY CHOSE TO DO NOTHING.

Guest · Guest

Hello,

I,m 34 years old and have experienced the exact same symptoms as you guys for about ten years now. I have been to the doctor and emergency room a few times that turned up nothing. I found a physician that told me this is normal for young people and explained that it has to do with the electrical impulses that make the heart beat. It feels like your heart is skipping a beat, when in fact the impulses are causing the lower chamber of the heart to beat that one instance rather than the top chamber. If you pay real close attention by placing your finger on your artery to feel the palpitation, you can tell that in fact you do feel a slight beat that is not as noticable as your normal heart beat. It is faint, but detectable. My doctor says this is normal, but it still makes me a little nervous. It always seems to happen when I am at rest, rather than when I am active, and it always gives me the urge to cough. I recently had a sonogram of my heart and valves and they said I have a perfect heart. So I'm pretty sure this is nothing to worry about, but I suggest each and everyone of you go to two or three doctors about this and see what the consensus is.

Guest · Guest

I was diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP) at 16 while in the hospital for an appendectomy.

It's important to have a doctor diagnose this, as antibiotics are required when visiting the dentist, nasal decongestants (anything with pseudoephedrine) should not be taken, and any kind of anesthesia needs to be monitored more closely.

Diet is very important in keeping it under control. Caffeine, Sugar, Alcohol, can all be triggers for a palpitation.

It's not considered "dangerous", but if not properly considered it can lead to more serious issues.

I also suffer from Anxiety (separate issue) and notice an increased frequency of heart "flutters" or palpitations when I'm "stressed".

Hope this extra info is helpful to someone.

djdiggety · Newbie Joined: 26 Sep 2007 Posts: 1

Guest · Guest

Have your thyroid checked. It took me over 12 months to get diagnosed. I was in misery. PLEASE do this for yourself, insist your DR do a blood test!

Kelan13 · Newbie Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 1

Whatever they tell you or whatever they diagnose you with, I would make sure and take a daily aspirin (if you can tolerate it and ASK YOUR DOCTOR first so as not to conflict with other medications etc.). I had the thumps and bumps in my heart in my 20s,30s,40s and the Doctors said the same thing - it's in your head or some nicer way of saying that. I would always take an aspirin whenever it happened because we have a history of heart disease in the family - I have done that for years whenever I felt that way. All my ECGs in physicals through the years were normal.

It wasn't until I hurt my shoulder in September and went to the after-hours clinic that they routinely listened to my heart and I was in atrial fibrillation. They sent me by ambulance to a heart hospital where I spent the night. I was in full atrial fibrillation and my heart was beating at 150 beats per minute while I was sitting still... I had no symptoms because I had always been told to ignore it and I was so used to it I suppose it was just normal for me.

The periods you are in a-fib (as they call it) are not so dangerous as long as you aren't in that cardiac rhythm for over 48 hours at which time blood can clot. If after 48 hours your heart starts to beat more efficiently again, it spits out the clot. Which can be life-threatening.

My diagnosis is a-fib and my treatment is a daily aspirin. Since I can tolerate them, I usually take two. NOT the baby ones, regular strength. This keeps my blood thin and helps to stop clots from forming, no matter what heart rythm I am in...

If you can tolerate it, a daily aspirin might be a good idea. I am glad I have always taken them.

Guest · Guest

I too have the same, though I am 16, I however have found something that may possibly be causing it if you are otherwise in good health and a low percentage body fat (as we all know this causes heart problems to an extent)

although stressmeout's answer was very good, sorry I had to contradict his first post,
healthline.com/galecontent/potassium/4

page 4:

'the following are known to react with potassium:'
'Calcium: increases likelihood of heartbeat irregularities.'

On the contrary i agree with his idea about perephamine=/=adrenaline, and STRESS is something you may not be aware about, it can build up and make your body tense, it can cause undesirable and unpredictable effects, but at the end of the day you just need to RELAX, get sleep, start eating healthily from this day if you don't already. See a GP or Doctor (UK) If you feel worried to ease your mind.

Very Happy

Guest · Guest

My advice would be to be very persistent on seeing a cardiologist. I am 24 year old female in good health and have had the same symptoms. Heart palpitations, fluttering, shortness of breath and have had these since i was 17. I have seen many doctors and they all told me it was just stress and was all in my head. I had the whole cardio work up over the years and everything came back okay. Then about two months ago the palpitations were still there so one of my doctors ordered an event monitor and they caught an arrhythmia on the monitor. I am going in for heart surgery next tuesday because i have Ventricular Tachycardia. Everyone blew me off the past few years but one doc paid attention and has saved my life.

snowbunny16 · Newbie Joined: 04 May 2008 Posts: 1

i too have had this same problem off and on for years now, probably going on 25 yrs....Im 44 now and i have noticed that it is definitely related to stress in my life and caffeine. I have worn the holter monitor and had tests years ago and was told all was well and that everyones heart skips or whatever from time to time. I am under stress right now and am having this issue again, so i decided to come online and look it up...because when you think something may be wrong with your heart you kinda tend to freak out which only causes stress and makes the problem worse....its a vicious circle. Anyway, after reading everyone elses experiences, i feel more at ease and with me it is the same, a skipping feeling or flutter and it makes you catch your breath and cough....very odd, but as long as its harmless i can deal with it i guess. Cut the caffeine is what i was told and exercise....and less stress helps.

markc15 · Newbie Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 1

My girlfriend has been suffering from the same sort of problem
has above. She gets a shortness of breath and says it feels
as if her heart as stopped or skipped a beat.
Her way of describing it is "It feels ike I have a small bird in my chest" The fluttering....It can go on for a 5 minute period and there is no
set time to when it can come on. Last night was when settling down
to bed and she also had one yesterday drinking a glass of coke
with her friend sitting in the Garden. I have urged her to go to
the doctors as a precaution, but she seems to think it is nothing.
I was just looking for some views. A few people have commented
on having to cough or take a deep breath, she doesnt appear to have
to do this. Obivously Im very worried so would appreciate some
feedback. Thankyou

Heart flutters fast, shortness of breath, coughing stops it

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