Heart pounding out of chest

I have sat up most nights since November 08 not able to sleep because my heart beats all over the place, it's like a little water bed in my chest. When I do fall asleep, within seconds my chest starts fluttering and wakes me up, once I am awake, it starts pounding again. Fair Dinkim...Ive had It!!. Anyway, I have given up eating anything that contains wheat, and I'm not lying, everything has settled down and I am sleeping like a baby (except tonight, I had gravy on a roast dinner and I'm up late with my stupid pounding heart, typing this). Really, my heart hasn't missed a beat for two weeks, I feel great. Someone told me it had to do with the Vegas Nerve whatever that is. The wind in your stomach makes the nerve send silly signals to your heart, if you get rid of the wind by changing your diet, it all settles down nicely. Someone should blow Gluten Free Bread UP!, they haven't got that right yet have they?.

hey that sharp pain and that in your left arm... i get the same thing ( everything) but its my right arm... nice to know im not alone...

(17 yrs of age)

I'm a 21 year old male having the same problems. I heavily smoked marijuana until four months ago, when I believed I was having heart problems associated with my past drug use (I have also experimented with "psychedelics"). I've completely cleaned myself up for fear of freaking dying. I went to a cardiologist and admitted my past use, was hooked up to a holter, had an echo, and a ekg...nothing was found. All I was told was that I have "premature ventricular contractions," or PVCs, and those are relatively harmless. But I notice my heartbeat now, and it makes me very uncomfortable. Burping occasionally helps...I can burp non-stop and on command though, which is something I couldn't do as a child. I drink aloe juice (it's said to help circulation), and watch what I ingest now...I definitely don't want to die by heart disease or cancer. I've attempted smoking pot simply to test my heartbeat, and my body reacted fine, although I will never do it again. Occasionally I take a Valium, which has been amazing. I just don't think there is one particular reason that this is happening to all of us...it's probably a different cause for all of us. I wouldn't take it lightly (I sure as hell don't), but wouldn't get too worked up about it.

hey all its great to hear that i am not alone!! I am 19 and have never had any health issues, until the march of this year. I had been a heavy marijuana user since about the age of 16. and experimented with psychedelics, and once with cocaine in early 08. This march though i had used some pot and noticed my left testicle was raised up a lot higher than my right and that was pretty much my first intense panick attack. so i called my sister and asked to go to the hospital. she kinda was like what are you talking about. then i thought about it and didnt want to make a big deal so i took a couple deep breaths and started to calm myself down. My testicle sill was acting weird after that but i hadnt had any heart problems, until june. This time i was with friends smoking pot and then i started just feeling weird almost uncomfortable, and im usually never uncomfortable around these close friends. Then my heart was racing and i just had to go lay down and try to relax. I was still smoking pot for the next month and it was starting to happen like every week. then i went to a urologist the second week of july, to see if my problems were connected with my testicle issue(note: there is no pain, just discomfort) and he said it just is raised because of the connective muscle is tighter. but its weird cuz everytime i had a heart episode my testicle would be raised. so i just tried to not think about it. then it happened almost everyday for a week, this time with intense headaches and some times i would get real clamy. so i decided to stop smoking pot. and on the sunday of that week i was at lunch with my family, and it started happening but this time it started off with some head pains and then i lost my appetite and it felt like i just wanted to sleep, not like pass out but just weak and tired since the whole previous week i hadnt got much sleep. SO i went to the ER they did a EKG and it came up fine and like the rest of you the doctor said it was anxiety, because i did feel very anxious but i knew there was something else. He gave me zanex and i have only taken it about three times since ive picked it up. this was three weeks ago. but i have seen others posting about sharp pains i also get that in my armpits and on the back of my head and neck sometimes. I recently watched a BBC documentary by this woman on legalizing pot and it was interesting cuz they showed psychological effects of cannabanoid and thc (which is how it is when you get it from the plant) and pure THC. They used this number scale based off of a questionnaire to determine pretty much if it made her crazy and how much of a personality change there was. It was strange cuz the lady did both on separate days. the cannabanoid/thc test was how you would normally see someone stoned, laughing there ass off and getting cotton mouth(she score a 1pt change on the test). but the pure thc showed her very uncomfortable and she was just saying,"oh this is horrible, its like being at a funeral"(this time she scored a 14, major psychosis starts a 4) check it out its called, "Should i smoke dope?" but i havent smoke pot for a few weeks and the attacks have happened less. i had one yesterday with similar symtomns to the day i went to the ER, lack of appetite and racing heart. hope we can all figure out whats going on with ourselves!!!

Ok, first of all your okay, second of all , because you are suseptable to palps like the rest of us, do not take any supplements to lose weight or stay awake. These are very bad for you and can not only send you into a panick attack like you had but can also cause harm to you by increasing your risk od having fast heartbeats that scare the hell out of you. The tingling in your arm and fingers are from hyperventalation or breathing too much and too frequently. This is a common symptom and you dont realize your doing it, it goes along with a panixk attack. Also, as soon as your attention zooms in on your heart, you are likely to feel all sorts of wierd heat feelings, skipped beats and such. So try not to focus on them. They are harmeless unless you have heart disease and thats very very rare at your age, and these symptoms are not a symptom of heart disease so dont worry. Ive had them since age 20 and I am 34.

Hello,

I have been experiencing all of these symptoms for three months now. I have been in and out of visits with my doctor, as well as the ER.
I first went in with chest pain when i was 19, and they ended up finding i had a mild heart murmur. After seeing a cardiologist, they had me on a 24-hour holter monitor and performed an echo cardiogram and stress test. Long story short, i had mild LVH, mild MVP, and mild mitral valve regurgitation. I felt fine for a little over a year then noticed first symptom: racing heartbeat. i went to the hospital and they admitted me a few days and did all the same tests, same results. they diagnosed me with some sort of arrhythmia and put me on metopolol tartrate, which is supposed to normalize heart rhythm when it starts racing. i felt fine again for a year and a half and then all these symptoms hit me at once. the shortness of breath, numbness all over my body, chest pains, palpitations and pounding heart. They would come and go all day long at first, but now I have these symptoms constantly.

What most of us can be diagnosed with, and relates identical to our symptoms, is MVP (Mitral Valve Prolapse) and mitral valve regurgitation. It is very common among people of all ages, young and old, and is a diagnosis to CONSIDER. Just make sure to have your tests done at an actual cardiology specialist, or heart hospital. they produce better results and more detailed information. Just dont be afraid to ask for a hard copy of the results.

well, that is my story, hope to provide food for thought to some of you with same symptoms. Good luck and take care.

you should talk to your doctor about an atrial septal defect. i am 22 years old and had the exact same syptoms you are experiencing and my ekg came back fine and my blood work. they said i might have mitral valve prolapse too. finally they suggested i have a TEE and found a very large whole betwween my right and left atrium. its a birth defect that they usually find and treat in children, but somtimes syptoms don't manifest til later. definitely look into it and don't wait.

hello my name is richard and i was 18 smaokin cigs drinkin bear smokin weed you know tipical dumass kid and occational coccain used until one night out drinking and doing cocain with some frinds not a large amount just a little i started getting racing heart and couldnt breath and i got outa bed and told my mom what i was doing and i thought that was it i am dieing but i guess not lol but in a way i did. ever sence after that night i was getting palpatations and sharp pains in the chest so i went to the cardio doc and they said i had MVP mitral valve prolapse so within a week after that i stoped smoking weed stop smokin cigs stop drinking stoped everything now im 21 and i have put on about 100 pounds was 6 foot one 250 now 6foot one 350 and i have bean to the .E.R about ten time thinging that i am having a heart attack but they say im fine i have dont stress tests holter moniters the hole nine yards u name it ive done it and they say that im fine.
but i constanly feel my heart pounding in my chest and i feel it the most after i eat somthing it gives me the worst anxiety and i think that im doing from like heart failer but i dont no that i would just let you know that ytou aint alone im going on a low salt diet i will let you know

I think that if you get it from drinking caffeine, that would make sense.
But I don't drink caffeine or alcohol. Or carbonated drinks.
And I have the same thing.

I'll be completely fine and then all of a sudden my heart just starts pounding.
I get really weak like I'm going to faint and one time I even completely blacked out.
My arms and legs went numb, i was sweating all over my body, my heart was POUNDING like never before.
And I thought I would throw up.
Luckily I was in a hospital so I felt safe, but they really didn't do anything other than give me water.

Could this be related to excess weight loss? Being too thin?

I found this online...........

List of possible causes:
Ischemia
Certain medicines such as digoxin, which increases heart contraction
Myocarditis
Cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic or dilated
Myocardial contusion
Hypoxia
Hypercapnia (CO2 poisoning)
Mitral valve prolapse
Smoking
Alcohol
Drugs such as cocaine
Caffeine
tricyclic antidepressants
Decreased levels of magnesium and potassium in blood
Increased levels of calcium in blood
Thyroid problems
Chemical (electrolyte) problems in the blood
Heart attack
Increased levels of adrenaline
Lack of sleep/exhaustion
Stress

Responding to the original post:

Bro, you are NOT alone. I have been experiencing almost the same symptoms for the past two months and I'm beginning to become very concerned. I did have a 12 lead EKG done and everything came back normal at the time (this was about 1 month ago). From everything that I have studied my symptoms are being discarded as "anxiety" but I know for a fact I'm not an anxious person. The anxiety is only a result of the strange sensations I'm receiving. Anyway, I share your frustration. I would stop using that NoExplode stuff if you haven't already because I used to use that as well before I developed the symptoms. Perhaps its related somehow.

Anyway, I just wanted to share in your frustration. Maybe its just anxiety, but if you or your physicians discover something else, let me know.

I'm a 26 yr old male. 5'4" 140Lbs. No drug or alcohol abuse. I did drink a some energy drinks for a while but no more than one a day for a couple of months or so. I have the feeling of "impending doom" whenever I work out or raise my heart rate beyond a certain point and the point seems to vary between 140 – 170bpm (I slow down before it gets any higher). The problem has been ongoing for the past year or so. I get a very odd feeling in my chest (no pain). If feels like I am having palpitations (feels like fluttering or skipping of beats) and I need to burp over and over. My heart starts pounding and as soon as my heart rate goes down it relieves itself. However, it takes a very long time for my HR to go down after it becomes elevated (10 mins or so). I also have high cholesterol (LDL 181, down from over 250) and slightly elevated BP (130/82). I thought it was my diet, but after changing to a low fat/sodium I see no change. I have had a 24hr holter done. I have had EKG's done. I have had a stress test done. Nothing shows signs of being irregular. Most doctors I see chalk it up to anxiety. I used to be a very active person in my teenage years but I admit I am no longer an "active" person. Mostly because of this feeling/problem. I do not notice the problem until I have completed my workout or stop whatever activity is causing the abnormality (only happens if my HR is over a certain point. It comes on instantly after stopping the activity. I am in no way over exerting myself either. It does not seem to impede my performance on the treadmill or activity. It is just really scary when I actually stop and I feel like my heart is going fail. It basically feels like it stops beating for a tic or there is an extra tic with pounding and I feel like I need to burp to relive it. I also get the pounding heart sensation after I eat a meal (but not always). The palpitations and burping sensation do not accompany this feeling. I get the same pounding heart at times when I am trying to fall asleep. Again no palpitations or burping sensation with this feeling. After reading this whole thread I have though it could be a few things but I am in no way an MD. Dehydration, mvp, and/or anxiety from the disorder/feeling or whatever the hell this is.

Sorry about the spelling and grammar and being all over the place. Just trying to get everything out.

I went to the doctor and it looks like I have a thyroid problem. They took my blood & urine, they are making sure it isn't a rare problem before giving me medication.

These are my symptoms:
Pounding heart, even when sleeping (It pounds so hard you can see my shirt shaking)
Not much sleep
Wake easily in the night, but it is hard to wake up in the morning
shaking-all the time
sometimes a hoarsh voice (people think I have a cold)
tired
I can't run, my body just won't move that fast (Same thing with going up the stairs quickly - it is twice as slow as walking.)
I am often hot
often sweaty feet
I have dark circles around my eyes, and they are puffy
hard to breathe especially when walking

I can't list all the symptoms, and not everyone has all of them, but you might want to look into it.

I am so thankful to have found this forum. I was so frusterated after leaving the ER last weekend because they told me that nothing was wrong and I may have just had a really bad dream. I have had all the same symptoms as you all. When it happened, I woke from my sleep I think because I was not breathing. My heart was pounding so hard and so fast it literally took my breath away. I thought I was dying at that moment. My whole body began to shake and I got a severe pain in the right side of my neck for about 20 minutes. I have noticed that I have had minor heart palpalations for the last few years but in the last month I have been having them a couple times a day, when it used to be just once a month or so. I have also been feeling slightly lightheaded and dizzy and a little nauseous the last month. I eat better than most people I know and pretty much only drink water or tea. I started donating plasma a couple months ago so I wasnt sure if it was tied to that at all or what...I don't smoke and hardly drink. I was looking up sleep apnea and thought that could have been a possibility but alot of people on here have said they experience there symptoms during the day. I have also noticed that even if I run for just a second my heart starts pounding really hard and I am short of breath. I am in pretty good shape though so it doesnt seem like it could be tied to that. It makes me sad to see that people have stopped working out and sports and what not in fear of having more heart problems but I totally feel what you guys are saying. I have been really paraniod since this has happened because i feel like my heart is really vulnerable now and could just go out at any moment...thanks everyone for sharing. I am going to be doing alot more research to try and get to the bottom of this.

FOOD ALLERGIES AND HORMONES.