heart palpitations with the urge to cough

Guest · Guest

I'm glad to hear that I'm not alone in my strong frequent heart palpations. I am a 36 year old female and I've always had "panic attacks". My doctor contributed them to stress combined with extremely low blood pressure, but recently they have become worse. The urge to cough is what scared me but after reading your posts I realize that it's probably "normal". It's like when your car is making a noise that you know is not normal and you take it to a mechanic and it stops and they can't find anything wrong - it always costs you money in the end and I hope in the end this doesn't cost any of us anything! I'm fed up with conventional medicine so I may see someone outside the medical community and see. I can't believe what we are experiencing is normal or healthy - skipping a beat now and then happens but this seems extreme...

Beena2233 · Newbie Joined: 12 Feb 2008 Posts: 1

Me too. I have been experiencing these same symptoms. It happened the first time when I was pregnant at 15. I am now 37 years old. There have been years when I didnt have any, but they have become more persistant within the past 3 years (since I started my current job). My palpitations seem to get worse and last longer when I am sitting or lying down and I start coughing to catch my breath. I have also had tests done and was told all was well. One ER doctor told me that I had hypokalemia (low potassium level) as well as stress and this could cause palpitations. Im a busy person with a fast past, stressful career and I wasn't eating healthy at all so that was not surprising. When I take a potassium supplement or eat lots of bananas, it actually seems that I dont have the symptoms as much, (may be psycological). When I started taking yoga, I do not remember having any palpitations at all. But I have noticed that since I have stopped the supplements and yoga I am having them often again.

JENN0710 · Newbie Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 3

I've had similar symptoms, although mine don't feel like they are in the chest, more like the diaprahgm. It never happens when I am standing up, only sitting, and mostly at night laying down.

Guest · Guest

Taking bananas and potassium supplements (available at most drug stores) will help reduce palpitations because many palpitations are caused by low potassium and/or low calcium. Increasing intake in both those areas can help reduce palpitations therefore. Yoga probably helps reduce them because it reduces stress.
Since the palpitations have increased since you stopped taking supplements and doing yoga, why not start doing those things again?

Guest · Guest

Yes, I too have had these same symptoms. My heart "bounces" and I cough. I do drink coffee and cola. (I'm a college student, I need caffeine sometimes) This for me is a more recent occurrence. I had a bug, one that's been going around, about a week ago. I first thought its still kind of lingering. But, I don't have any of the other symptoms I had previously. So, it's something different. I certainly hope it is nothing serious.

Guest · Guest

I am in the same boat as you all. I am a 27 year old male. I suspeced something was up around 18 or so. It mainly came in the form of a heavy heart beat when trying to sleep. At about age 24 I started getting the "flip-flop" feeling followed by the hard beat and a cough. I had slightly high blood pressure so I was recommended to go see an cardiologist. They testing me every which way but loose and found a very mild Mitro Valve Prolapse (MVP). My blood pressure was variant and was label as white coat syndrom (anxiety while at a doctor). Big shocker here I am my mid 20's and at a cardiologist. MVP is supposedly more common in women but not exclusive to women. He recommended that I cut out caffine but other than that he said, "Go have fun".

I have read a bunch on this to try and prevent it from happening. Mostly it just scares me but I did notice I was anxious in situations where I was going to be working hard. I actually avoided exercising because I was nervous. I have read potassium and magnesium suppliments will help. I had a relative get result with a suppliment called L'carnitine (not sure on the spelling). I have also read a lot liking the syptoms to Generalized Anxienty Disorder.

So this turned into a novel. What I am getting at is based on my searching many people have the symptoms and the remedies are many and seem to vary depending on the person. I just wanted to share all the remedies I have found so you may try them and see if you get results.

Execise and no caffine have had the greatest impact on my syptoms.

Glad I found this thread. Thanks guys.

Guest · Guest

I am so glad I found this string... I am a healthy 26 year old female. I don't have caffine, alcohol or smoke and I eat pretty healthy. I have had this on and off for probably 6 or 7 years now. The main thing is the big thud in my chest followed by a cough and a slight dizzy spell (and some anxiety). This usually happens off and on during the day and usually lasts for several weeks. Then it goes away. The last time this happened was August of 2007, and then it started up again last week. Feb and March were very stressful months, but since then things have calmed way down. Maybe its the aftermath of stress? In August I had an EKG and it was normal. My bloodwork also came back normal. I am chronically dehydrated and I have seen that the palpitations can be caused by an imbalance in electrolytes... Not sure though. Anyway, very glad I found this - it is a relief that I'm not having a heart attack every few months!

ozyscot · Newbie Joined: 26 Apr 2008 Posts: 1

Thank you all for your information. I have been suffering badly for the last 6 months and finally (!) and having a 4 hour stress test done to try and find the cause. I think I already know - stress!! I have a mad job which I love and refuse to give up, but it kills me.

Heart disease is rife in my family so all your information has been of huge help to me.

gbushkes · Newbie Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1

I have the same thing but again, it doesn't get worse when I lay down. I had blood tests to rule out the obvious like thyroid issues, etc. and wore a 7 day heart monitor which is about the size of an old iPod. When you feel an event, you press the record button and it records your palpitations. It can store up to 10 events. I had a very active morning and filled the monitor up with 10 events in about 2 hours. When I get the palpitations, I almost always feel the urge to cough.

Anyway, I turned in the monitor and the data will be analysed by a cardiologist after which, both the data and his comments will be sent along to my family doctor for review which I expect will occur in 2 or 3 days. Stay tuned, I'll let you all know what he says.

Guest · Guest

wow, I am having these palpitations as I type this, i cannot tell you how good it is to read that I am possibly NOT having any huge cardiac attack or situation that will kill me...well lets hope. I am about to see a doctor, and have just about wet myself with fear about what it is I am having happen. I will be keeping in touch with this site to see how everyone gets on, esp gbushkes. Wish me luck at the doc... Sar

heart palpitations with the urge to cough

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