Heart palpitations from anxiety.....

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I had been wondering the same thing! My "episode" that started me on this heart obsession occurred the week before my period began and I've suspected for a while that I might have a hormone irabalance, or at least that the hormone fluctuations during PMS might be causing this. Lately I've just been having palpitations, kind of like a rolling twinge that I can feel in my chest or throat. It's so strange. It's worse before bed, like immediately after I turn out my light but I know THAT is anxiety pure and simple.
 
Hey Shelly
Your not alone...Been there still there...But yes its just Anxiety..Just knowing what it is, its half the battle. Read about anxiety...Be aware of what you have and it wont be so scary...

Jo-Ann
 
I used to get these heart things a lot. I was told the same as you - that they're normal - that they're anxiety, that caffeine, smoking etc makes them worse. This is all true and you just have to believe the doctor. Easier said than done, take it from someone who knows. I was about 27 when I first started getting them and I'm 40 now and if anything I get them less now than I did when I was 27. Probably because I still had the odd ciggie back then and I don't have any now. Also I take a very good multivitamin and magnesium and if you're worried about your heart or you're anxious, magnesium is a good thing to take. Look up something called hypervigilance which is what anxious people get when they focus very hard on something happening in their body. When you feel yourself going down the anxiety track you've got to fight really hard to stop it. Make sure you keep eating properly and if you find you're not sleeping well use the xanax for a couple of nights just to help you get back into the swing of things because lack of sleep and anxiety is a bad corabination.
 
Hi Shelly,
When I read your post, I would've sworn I wrote it. I have been having this weird heart thing for about two months now, mostly at night when I am getting ready to go to sleep. I also have the throat spasms that you described and I think they started the anxiety about it. I am obsessed about my heart, always checking my pulse and afraid I am going to drop dead or not wake up in the morning. I had all the tests done too, but it has been over a year ago since the tests and so I am now thinking well maybe I was fine then but....

One thing you also mentioned in your second post is the hormone thing, these palpitations or whatever they are started about two months after I went off the pill. I had been on the pill for almost ten years and then my husband had a vascetomy so I went of, after two months my anxiety went through the roof and then the heart thing. I know it is related. I went back on the pill and that has helped the anxiety and depression but the palps are still there. I know it is anxiety logically but I always think what if. My GP and my Gyno both said it is stress as well.

I don't have the best advice other than to ignore it but I am not doing a great job at that. I just wanted to tell you that you aren't alone.
Ivy;)
 
Thanks for the posts! I know what you mean about hypervigilance. I feel like I'm getting the palpitations now from anxiety and lack of sleep rather than the original culprit of caffine and smokes! Its so very difficult to just not think about it and to not be constantly paying attention to every feeling inside my chest. I've been down this road before with different aspects of my anxiety/panic problems.

My aunt told me that her heart palpitations started when she was about 29, so did her panic attacks for that matter. And, my grandfather apparently brought himself to the hospital many times in his life for heart palps and PVC's, only to be told that his heart was as healthy as they come. I have a fun genetic line to thank for these things. Knowing this family history alone should help me stop worrying, but that as you know is easier said than done. I will look into the magnesium, I've read everywhere that it helps with heart palps so I will definitely give it a try.

Thanks for the support! Shelly
 
I didn't think I was describing the heart/throat sensation well enough for anyone else to understand! Its so good (that sounRAB wrong but I think you all know what I mean) to hear other people feeling the same sensations, it helps calm the anxiety a little bit. My problem is health anxiety and I get very fixated on a particular ailment should one arise. This heart thing really scared me and now I'm having difficult time not obsessing about it even though the doctor isn't worried at all. The day I had my scary flutter (3 weeks ago), I was about 2 days away from my period so hormones could be a culprit. I'm not on BC pills but my Dr. has been pushing me to start since I have some benign spotting issues.

I think the OCD in me is not allowing myself to feel better. Every time I feel normal again, I remind myself of that day and how it felt like my heart rythym was erratic and not normal. I probably wouldn't be obsessing had I not FELT my pulse after I felt the flutter.
 
I atually get this at night and it gets ALOT worse the week before my period I've noticed. As we speak I am having weird feelings in my chest and heart palps right now. My anxiety hit me like a rock just 4 weeks ago and hasn't let up, I've noticed its about 10 times worse during the week before my period. I am only 26 but as I said just started. I wanted to let you know though, I thought for sure my heart was dying and that it would just quit, I was prepared to not wake up in the monring some nights because of it. I also jump on the computer and start looking up symptoms which can be ANYTHING. I have been tested out the roof for everything possible and everything is healthy and negative. Anxiety does this alone. I hate it~!
 
That is exactly it, I am a pulse checker, I check it every night. No reason why just OCD and health anxiety. One night, I felt what I would call extra beats and the anxiety and obsession was on. I told my obgyn about it and she said anxiety and so did the gp. I know that is right because it only happens when I am anxious about it happening and if I didn't go looking for it i wouldn't even feel it. Craaazy! The throat thing is also very disturbing, it feels like muscle spasms to me. I have googled it and it sounRAB like esophogeal spasms, but they are also worse when I am anxious or worried about them. Hopefully we will get past this or at least move on to another ailment less disturbing.
Ivy:wave:
 
Thanks for the advice, I completely agree that exercise is so important, that is why I run a couple of miles 3 to 4 times a week and then walk 2 or 3 miles on the other days, so I exercise 7 days a week. Imagine how stressed I would be if I didn't.
Ivy
 
Hi, i have experienced this too....it happened one day out of the blue, i was with a friend...and i was riding in the car..then all of a sudden i felt my heart flutter..or just miss a beat or something. And it didnt really scare me that much..until it started happening more frequently threw out the next couple of days...it lasted about 9 days..one night the fluttering sensations were coming so frequent i went into the ER because i thought i was gonna have a heart attack or something. So they hooked my up to this EKG thing..and they my heart was beating really fast...ive never had my blood drawn..but that night was the first night i did..and when the lady braught the needle in to draw my blood my heart rate went sky rocket..it was beating around 100-110 then it jumped to 137..i was so nervous tho from the needle..so then everything came back normal and i was sent home..i followed up with my family doctor..and she wanted me to wear a heart monitor for 24 hours..well something happened with the heart monitor so i didnt get my results back..and now my fluttering sensations decreased a lot..so my family doctor put me on some anxiety medicine..."busiprone" half 2 times a day..also i was on my period for about 3 weeks..with big clots...it scared me to death..so went to get my thyriod checked and my hormones...she jus said to take a daily vitamin with iron in it..so thats what i have been doiing and the fluttering has stopped..but every once in a while i can feel my heart beating fast..when i go up the stairs or something..i stopped drinking caffiene, i never drank coffee, and im on a really strict diet...due to the fact im over weight. I just thought i would share my experience and i wish this would i go away so we dont have to deal with it...just live our lives...
 
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