Heart Palpitations

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09 Feb 2014 22:37 #137262 by Edan
Heart Palpitations was created by Edan
I get these infuriatingly often, despite being told a few times by doctors I am 'fine'.

I wondered if anyone here experiences the same thing and had any suggestions?

The internet is full of suggestions but some of them seem a bit far fetched.

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10 Feb 2014 04:08 #137289 by
Replied by on topic Heart Palpitations
I also experience palpitations on a regular basis. I've had the standard battrry of tests ran to no avail. I'm told they are benign, nothing to worry about. And so far, so good ten years after first noticing them. I exercise regularly and live a normal life. The only practice I can truely say "influences" the palpitations is diet. Sugar and caffiene are two substances that trigger and intensify them. There is never any pain associated, just a brief shortness of breath and they rarely last more than a few seconds with no more than two back to back. Anything outside of your normal symptoms, call emergency personnel.

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10 Feb 2014 04:37 #137293 by
Replied by on topic Heart Palpitations
I agree with Adari that diet plays a major role in body functions, especially heart function. I've noticed that if I don't get enough rest and pair my fatigue with over-consumption of sugar and caffeine, I tend to become more lethargic after the crash and can feel my heart pounding away as I try to stay alert and focused. So, in retrospect, it could be that you're straining your heart with too much work due to diet and sleep patterns. No opinions or judgments here, just suggestions.

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10 Feb 2014 06:44 #137301 by
Replied by on topic Heart Palpitations
Disclaimer:
I am in NO WAY a trained doctor yet. What I share is my personal experience throughout the recent years and my limited knowledge that I gained so far in my medical training.

First of all why they aren't dangerous:
Those palpitations (atrial extrasystoles) are coming from the atriums of your heart. Normally the muscles of the heart are triggered by a node located in one of the atriums. But sometimes some muscles from elsewhere in the atriums trigger a heartbeat. It is a extra beat in between the ones of the 'chief-node'. That is what you experience as a palpitation. But even if those other muscles are going crazy and will not stop to trigger beats there is another node which is paying attention how many trigger per minute are going to the ventricles and therefore are becoming a 'real heartbeats'. It is somewhere limited by max 200 – 250 beats/minute. Even if your heart beats that fast it is not dangerous but you don't feel good.

What triggers palpitations:
For sure there are many reasons like your diet and how much you are active and resting.
But: Everyone of us has those extra-beats but not everyone can feel them. They are some sort of 'reboot' of the heartmuscles that occurs mainly in the late evening-hours and early night-hours. But another trigger is fear and anger. I once took part in an experiment where the heart-activities were registered by an ECG meanwhile we were annoyed with really rude comments without knowing this was part of the experiment. About 40% of the probands had those extra-beats within 2 minutes but only 10% of those who had also felt them.

My advice:
If you really feel uncomfortable with them go to your doctor again!
Ask him/her to explain to you in a language that you too can understand why they aren't dangerous, I think this is the best thing you can do. And thank yourself for being able to feel what your body is doing. It is sometimes a little bit intimidating but it is a gift not everyone is doted with!

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10 Feb 2014 15:32 #137360 by
Replied by on topic Heart Palpitations
I feel like I should clarify my previous entry. When I say "regularly," I do not mean I have them every day or even every week for that matter. They occur enough that I am aware of them. I know they are harmless and I conduct myself so. I have no fear of them or a larger cardiac issue.

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10 Feb 2014 20:05 #137394 by Edan
Replied by Edan on topic Heart Palpitations

Adari Kolar wrote: I also experience palpitations on a regular basis. I've had the standard battrry of tests ran to no avail. I'm told they are benign, nothing to worry about.

Same here, the first time (which was about 7 years ago) they had me on a heart monitor, nothing wrong they say. Whenever I've had an ECG they never see anything.

Mine come in a kind of cycle, I will go ages without them, and then suddenly I'll have them for a few months straight, and then they disappear. They're not triggered by anxiety, but anxiety definitely doesn't help, which is difficult when the palpitations are a cause of anxiety themselves and I only tend to get them when I'm not active, e.g. sitting on my sofa, or sitting at work.

@Lenao, thanks for the info, I think I'm going to have to go back; I have a different doctor now who's been pretty good.

@Luthien, I don't tend to overdose sugar but I think caffeine may be a culprite, at least in making them worse.

Thanks for all your advice, it's nice to know I'm not the only person with this problem. I might cut caffeine out entirely for a while and see if that helps.

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10 Feb 2014 20:34 - 10 Feb 2014 20:40 #137395 by
Replied by on topic Heart Palpitations

Edan wrote: I might cut caffeine out entirely for a while and see if that helps.


About 10 years ago, I was feeling constantly fatigued, had frequent headaches, and experienced occasional panic attacks. Roughly 3 months after making the decision to stop drinking caffeine, all of that disappeared (and hasn't returned).

I don't know if cutting caffeine out of your diet will help with your heart issues (I hope it does), but I'm guessing doing so might make you feel better in general. :)
Last edit: 10 Feb 2014 20:40 by .

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10 Feb 2014 20:50 #137397 by
Replied by on topic Heart Palpitations
To kind of expand on what was said before, your heart is a muscle and a part of a biological machine, otherwise known as the human body. The heart is singularly responsible for pumping blood, and all the nutrients, wastes, and other compounds throughout your body. As was said before, certain chemicals, such as caffeine and sugar, can have adverse affects on the heart. As no human body is perfect, let alone the human heart, general wear and tear can and will eventually weaken your heart and cause health problems, one of the first being heart palpitations.

As I gather it's been indicated that several doctors have said, heart palpitations by themselves are not dangerous, though they do indicate a need to watch your cardiovascular health a little more closely, and perhaps adjust your lifestyle to be healthier. Heart palpitations in this case might best be considered an indicator, much like the maintenance light in your car might indicate the need for an oil change.

In short, for minor palpitations you might try a healthier lifestyle (eating healthier, starting a (new) exercise regimen). If however the palpitations are debilitating, aka if you are having difficulty functioning normally in your life, I would indeed recommend seeing your doctor again and stating clearly your troubles ton ensure proper action is taken.

As a note, I have a heart condition myself, the least of my symptoms being heart palpitations.

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