Feel a strong heart beat go through me

Guest wrote:

Guest wrote:

i started to have these strong heart beat, it gets specially bad at night and it also makes me very irritated and it makes me hyperactive almost. i would feel very tired but can't sleep, the heart beat would just feel uncomfortable that it keeps me awake.

I'm 34 with the same symptoms. Plus I noted that it gets specially bad when I rest horizontal for more than an hour, regardless of being awake or not. In the last 2 months I kept awakening almost every other day at 2am-3am, and hardly got back to sleep. Now I try to have naps in the afternoon, possibly sitting on a sofa, where I don't need to lie horizontally. But that's not easy to set up, an resting armchair would probably be better.
It all started this summer. Had an echocardiogram which found a Mitral Valve Prolapse with regurgitation. Do this exam you all. The only cure seems to be drinking plenty of water, doing aerobic exercise regularly and avoid caffeine (so forget dark chocolate as well).

My name is Sumant. I am glad to see this page. I am experiencing exactly what said by adam. I am just 21 year old. one week before my heart suddenly started beating very fast and my blood pressure was very high. Doctors said that all tests are normal. Now after discharge from hospital i am experiencing same thing. I have been given medicines to control Blood pressure. I never smoke or drink. When this happens i get very scared that i may have a heart attack. I have never been fall sick like this in my life.
I used to have junk food.
I hope I will get a solution.

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Thanks

It seems a lot of people have problems with random (more-or-less) heart palpitations. This alleviated some worry, as it's something I've learned to cope with over the last few weeks. However, it still worries me. I know for a fact my recent heavy drinking has exasperated the occurrence of a random heavy beat, but i also have confidence they are a result of a per-occuring issue. Sometimes, usually from the left side, I'll get a type-writer like flutter (think 250+wpm typist, though) but mainly these days I'll have a pretty random heavy beat on either the right or left side. For the most part, my heart rate is steady and fine--even usually at a normal BPM. The only exception is when on certain drugs (ironically, mostly marijuana) or during a anxiety attack (which only occur when I'm focused on/worried about my heart rate. This all originated from a pretty traumatic incident when I was certain I was having a heart attack. Fortunately, this never happened in the end, but ever since I've had an eery and menacing focus on the beat of my heart. Luckily, however, I have since been able to logically defuse the situation enough to, even during the worst anxiety attacks, understand freaking out won't help me at all, and that if I am really in trouble, I would be a lot more faint-headed and my chest would be in a lot more pain (as well as the palpitations being more frequent).

I guess if I have any advice to give (though I'm not an expert, and many of you have done most of it) it would be to:
Go to a Doctor. A primary physician works, but I'm sure almost all of you have had enough experience with them to realize they really aren't the experts we've been led to believe 'doctors' are.

If that doctor says, "OH you're fine!" then rationalize that they are trained in that profession, and so perhaps they're right, and you really are fine.

Then, if you experience more random palpitations, I suppose it's fit to say that your palpitations are random, or at least induced by something that isn't common in a doctor's office, and trust your own intuition.
(If you have a suspected cause of said palpitations, perhaps induce the cause before meeting with a doctor. This may eliminate or qualify fear as relevant.)

Since your GP must be wrong, you might as well see an expert, if you haven't already. A cardiologist can not only do the necessary tests/use the useful tools, he can also have the knowledge to suggest a possible diagnosis. If he has one for you, which they seem to usually not, I would first research it yourself (to the best of your abilities) before taking it too close to heart. (though this is just my opinion)
If you have a disorder, they will usually suggest surgery (in the absolute worst case or close-to-worst-case scenario) or medicine. They usually prescribe blood thinners such as warfarin (an overall decent drug [compared to most pharms.], but it still has possible side-affects, obviously related to its blood thinning quality. These include increased risk of hemorrhage and increased risk of osteoporosis, as well as other rarer side-affects) and a beta-blocker, such as atenolol (they slow down your heart and respiratory track directly by deactivating the beta-adrenal receptors, which are the adrenaline receptors in your lungs and heart and veins. Side affects are usually limited to low blood pressure and other attributed side-affects to low BP.)

As a personal suggestion (But I am NOT a doctor) is that you should avoid chronic pharm. usage at all cost, as most drugs have rebound. I am not knowledgeable when it comes to Warfarin, and I'd assume it doesn't have a heavy tolerance leading to (theoretically) thicker blood. However, I have heard two separate cases from friends where relatives took beta-blockers to fight an arrhythmia and, though it helped tremendously at first, it ended up necessitating the surgery they were trying to avoid. That said, the other option to fight heart problems is slowing the heart rate without affecting the b-adrenal receptor, and the easiest way to do that is with GABA downers such as clonazapam and ativan. Though I still object to chronic use of any drug, GABA downers seem to be a lot less likely to worsen any problems with the heart (though being very psychologically addictive when abused)
 

If the expert doctor also tells you you're fine, and you keep having palpitations and possibly anxiety attacks attributed to them, I would heavily suggest talking to your GP and requesting a short-acting, short-lasting GABA downer. These will usually slow your heart a bit, if you're in the midst of an attack, but also alleviate the worries and the focus towards it. Also, they usually hit within 30minutes to an hour orally. Be careful in the wording, however to not sound like a drug abuser (even if you're not, doctor's tend to assume you are when requesting specified types of drugs). This should be reserved for attacks, and used on an as-needed basis. Using them all the time will only acclimate you to the drug, and it probably will lose its affect.

If you object to drugs in general, however, unless chronic and prescribed, there are most likely several herbal or natural remedies to anxiety/tachycardia (fast heart rate). I didn't take the time to look them up, but at the very least you can remember to take FULL, DEEP breaths and try really really hard to fight the fact your breath feels short. Though this may seem to worsen the palpitation at first, if you take them slow and very deep, and also hold them in before exhaling, it has always helped me overall. Also, if you're doing anything physically intensive or mentally stressing, take a break. It can help a lot, as long as you don't focus too hard on the issue while resting.

Oh, and somebody mentioned anemia. Anemia is definitely directly correlated to heart arrhythmia. If you are anemic, I would definitely suggest to eat more red meat or any other iron containing foods. If you can support your iron intake you can probably eradicate your arrhythmia. That said, malnutrition, lack of protein, dehydration and many other basic health factors are also strongly correlated.

Sorry for the lengthy post, I just hope it helps!

-Andy

Dear Julie,
your reply really inspired me. I mean you can see disease in such a positive way, may you blessed always.

Love,
Bert

I have the same problem please someone answer

Mate, you might have electrolyte imbalance, try magnesium calcium and pottassium suplements.. i had same problem before , skipped beats, strong heart beat all the time, racing heart .it was scary i got pannic atacks and was on antidepresants for 2-3 years. doctor didnt even asumed it could be electrolyte imbalance (electrolytes are responsible for normal heart rhythm)... Magnesium and Pottasium are the most important ones.. I hope this helps and sorry for bad spelling!

Hi all I have this issue with the heart since two years ago. Last night I took a sleeping pill from my doctor, it's called ZOPLICOME 7.5mg and during the night the heart beating were finally normal. I think it's related with nervous system, with strong anxiety. It started to me since I got separated, very anxious, having panic attacks during night time. The heart beating had a regular rate but has a strong feeling and I could feel the blood pressure when checking the pulse on the left hand was almost pushing my finger tip up. This happens to me only when I wake up in the night, I feel calm and no fear, but the heart keeps stroking strong for hours until I can get again asleep. Hopefully those pills will act somehow and will keep helping with the issue.

Hi, I'm a 16 year old girl who has OCD, anorexia (recovering -- Yay!), and just general anxiety (I thought I should fill everyone in on my preexisting conditions). 

I am 15 and I'm male. I am type 1 diabetic if this has to do with anything. Same with me, I feel like my heart is pounding out of my chest right before I go to bed. It usually goes on and off. Now tonight I had a low BG level of 52. I wonder if this has anything to do with it.

I forgot to mention that since the problem started I had a nose surgery (septum deviation and turbinate reduction) and since the surgery my nostrils are always dry and partially obstructed during night time. I'm also about to take a blood test to check for diabetes.

Hi,just want to share my experience of the same thing..fast heartbeat,pressure in chest,can't sleep..i only slept for 3hours in three days when it was very bad..i can't eat much..lose weight..always lying down,dizzy when standing up,or in malls..always worried that my heart would stop..always thinking of dying..always checking my pulse on my wrist n neck..when it gets really bad, i can't feel my legs n hand,they got cold..really freaked out..this happened in late 2009,when to cardiologist,did ECG,holter and etc..but everything tells that my heart is fine..the valves are fine..and finally i was referred to the psychiatrist..was on lexapro for almost a year..and now i'm fine..no more these awful symptoms..it was really killing me to hear the sound of my heartbeats all the time..thank god that it was all gone..but now i still feel anxious sometimes once in a blue moon..hope it wont happen to me again..
 

I have had the same thing for about 3 years now, never had it before & it doesn't seem to go away UNLESS I engage my mind in something - check it our for yourself. It's like the more I worried about what it is, the more it happened.  I've had EKG, full physical and nothing was found. This is what's called PVC and believe it's emotionally stimulated palpitations. Our society is so wrought with stress, social acceptance, mortality, etc., and the list goes on, that we can't relax anymore and just be.

This Forum has been very useful to me ! I had the experience of 'strong' heartbeat twice so far. Once, i was up in the mountains(above 3000m, I believe) and teh otehr time was after a 'hot yoga' lesson (40°, 40% humidity). In both cases, it happened early in the morning, so I woke up because of that. I would not say that it was as strong as some of you describe it, but it was enough to keep me awake. I'm female, 39, I suffer from low pressure, I have some iron deficiency, I need to get my tyroid gland checked because everybody in my family has some issue with it. I do get a bit anxious easily.... So, I feel I fall in some kind of 'risk category' for this phenomenon....I'l check the premature ventricular contractions, thanks to Julie for mentioninig this! Cheers!

Does anyone get it ALL DAY, even when walking to the next room?

I have had this for years but for the last 3 months since i've been pregnant it has gotten really bad, i get it basically all day and I'm up until 2am in the morning trying to get to sleep. I have to lay down all day and try to ignore it but even a walk to the toilet triggers it.

I went to the doctors last monday he checked my Blood Pressure and it was high but my heartbeat was fine and he said to come in after a big day and he would put me on a heart monitor.. that never happened because when i went back, i had to see a different doctor, he told me my blood pressure was if anything low and told me that he doesn't think anything is wrong and that its all in my head ( I know its not in my head because it wakes me up when i sleep ) I was so upset walking out of the doctors, I was so sure they were going to give me something for it then and there.

But I am waiting for the heart monitor i have to wear for 24 hours I'm hoping it brings back something to explain this because I cannot live like this!

I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT A DOCTOR THINKS

I had the same problem, i went twice to the hospital i though i was having a heart attack, but it appeared that i was having a panic attack, the doctor described magnesium, and since than feeling better!

I'm a 17 year old male recently I was involved in a car accident and since then I've had strong heart beat, so strong then when I'm sitting up straight I jerk back and forth because of it, It keeps me awake at night and when I do finally fall asleep I can hardly get up after sleeping for an average of 12-14 hours. No money for a doctors visit to find out what's wrong, if anyone could help it would be greatly appreciated.