Hello my name is Jenn and I am struggling with heart palpitations and it is causing a great deal of anxiety. I already have an anxiety disorder so this is making it worse. Nine years ago I had a Echocardiogram and all was normal. I went to a cardiologist three years ago and had a EKG and blood work all normal. Dr said he thought it was anxiety. I do have a lot of stress lately with family issues so I am feeling more high strung lately than usual, I am getting a fluttering feeling or missed beat not sure what you call it. It has been happening a lot during the day and night. I am scared out of my mind. I have no other symptoms but this..could someone please give me some advice
I get them sometimes there called pvc or pacs. There just extra heartbeats. I have anxiety to so try not to worry. Your not a lone. Ive heard magnesium helps with them although ive nver tried because mine have subsidised alot.
Hello Samantha, thank you so much for your reply, I was getting really scared because it's a very uncomfortable feeling. My friend just told me earlier that Perimenopause can cause palpitations also. Have you ever had a cardiologist or doctor explain what causes these . Now I know they have a name is a little more comforting. Maybe I will try the magnesium.
My cardiologist said that is is very common and most people get them buts its the few like us that can feel them.
Hi Jennifer,I have had this "skips"jumps and bumps"for 40 years.Had every test.They say they are harmless PVC's or PACs. Now, they may be harmless physically, but mentally, no way! I have anxiety disorder too. Makes it very hard to ignore them as drs say to do. But, I really try. I get a couple everyday that I feel. ( probabaly more I don't) Since everyone living gets them occasionally. Honest. And yes, people going into menopause get them more frequently, its the hormone thing. They will get better. I would recommend a product called Heart Calm on Amazon. It is Magnesium, and Taurine and CoQ10 and a small bit of Potassium. I took it to my heart doc and he says alot of his patients take it. Honey, he is the No. 3 EP specialist in Florida( where I live) EP doc specializes in heart rhythm. Now , I have a pacemaker , not because of the the skips, because I had a slow heart rate. I am 65 and it happens. But, I still get the skips. They will not kill you. Try to do some meditation and deep breathing . It helps . Exercise usually helps them go away too. You can message me anytime. I am the biggest chicken of these things. I take Xanax too to calm me. Low dose. We can beat these things. I try to just say" there is my heart hiccuping again " that is really what it is!! Go to Ytube and look up dr Sanjay Gupta. He is a cardiologist in York England who discusses these things at length and how to handle them and all kinds of videos!! Honest, would I lie! Take care and keep on keeping on!! Hugs, Mabel!!( I just had a skip as I typed, because hubby is making my nuts!)Deep Breaths!!!!!
Oh wow! thank you , you have really helped me to understand this whole thing. I will try to remember this when I have them probably tonight trying to go to sleep. Thank you Samantha🙂
Hello Jennifer,
I know your anxiety. I have had palpitations on and off for several years. Over months, they seem to happen more often... some days are pretty good, and other days they seem to happen very frequently. Those are the days that really depress me. I had a stress test several months ago and that came out just fine. I talked to my cardiologist about the palpitations and he told me that my EKG was fine... but since I was concerned about the frequent heart palpitations, he sent me home with a holter monitor. I had to wear this thing for a month. Basically it is an EKG type unit with wires plugged into 5 or 6 electrodes on your chest. A device I wore around my neck - even at night in bed. I could take the thing off to shower, then put it back on. When I had an episode of the skipped beats or the palpitations, I could press a button on the device around my neck and It would mark that point in time for a closer look. So after the month, I sent the unit back in... and my follow up with the cardiologist was fine. He told me that they are called PVC's - I think he said pre ventrical contractions and they are nothing to worry about. Although they can drive my crazy when they happen often. He told me that many things can cause them... certain foods, too spicy, or eating too late in the evening, alcohol, too much salt, caffeine, too much sugar etc. So I try to pay more attention to when I get these terrible episodes to see if I can figure out what causes them. I also have anxiety pretty frequently - and it seem like it is for more specific reason. I think about it and I have much to be thankful for and to be happy about, but sometimes I wake up in the morning just feeling depressed... over nothing. And of course if the palpitations start, it makes my depression worse. I started taking magnesium too. Today was a good day... I worked a lot outside in the yard doing some projects. My cardiologist told me to eat less salt, stop worrying, drink more water and get more exercise - so I am trying to do that. I continue to try to figure out what the trigger for them is - and avoid that. At least we can all talk to each other and people will understand what we go through. The next time you see a cardiologist - I'll bet they will tell you that they are harmless... and for a while you feel better just knowing all is okay.
Hello Charles, I can’t thank you enough for your informative and comforting reply. It is so wonderful that we have this site to turn to. I really appreciate you sharing your story. I am a fairly high strung person which doesn’t help things like this. Anxiety can be crippling. I will follow your advice and especially get more excercise. Thank you so much ! I will probably still see a cardiologist to make 100% sure I’m ok, but at least now I’m not scared to death.
Hello Mabel, I am speechless over your wonderful reply, this site is so fabulous. You are so up beat and inspiring and I feel so much better that so many people have given me such caring and informative advice. I just came back from walking with my dog, I try to walk fast and take deep breaths while we walk. I notice when I walk I do not get any skips or bumps. I just sat down a little while ago and got a few. I am 51 and have been told I am in perimenopause, what a challenge! my periods are shorter and closer together now can't wait until it goes, I've had it since I was 9! You sound like a very positive person which is wonderful. But, having anxiety is a real challenge also and positively makes these PVCs worse I am learning. I think what made me so conscience of them is that my friend was hospitalized last week for congestive heart failure and she"s 45. She had water retention, out of breath, weak couldn't walk it was terrible. She is better now and at home on diuretics. But that scared the life out of me. I also take Xanax from time to time and I am on Paxil and Nortriptyline for anxiety and depression. I come from a very high strung family and genetics of depression and anxiety, so we have all had to learn to calm down. I will probably go to a cardiologist to make 100% sure I am ok, but now I am not scared to death and panicking... Thank you so much and I hope you stay well and I will keep you posted.
Great that you mention the dr sanjay gupta. When I have frequent palpitations I go to his utube videos and watch a few. They help the anxiety. And I agree with the exercise - if I can get busy with some type of physical activity, they seem to go away. Meditation and breathing techniques also are good.
Hi Charles, yes I love Dr Guptas videos ! He knows so much about them and about their connection with food, nerves, etc. His outlook is always positive. I like that he concentrates on quality of life, not quantity. He really trys to knock out fears down a few levels. He does so much research. I signed up to get his videos sent to my mail when he has new ones. Thank you for helping Jennifer. We have to back each other up if we can. Take care. To a peaceful day, with a laugh or 2! Mabel27
I went to an acupuncturist a couple of weeks ago for the palpitations. A very interesting session I had with her. She used to be an emergency room nurse, but retired from that. She went to California and got training in eastern medicine and acupuncture. My first and only session so far - we sat and had a lengthy discussion of my general health issues. The main one and the reason for my visit was the heart palpitations. After about an hour talking with her, she gave me my first acupuncture session. No pain at all, and actually it was very relaxing. The needles stayed in for about 15 minutes. She recommended several vitamin supplements for me to try that were specifically for the heart. Most were various vitamin B supplements. Also magnesium which I had been taking. I found a different form of magnesium with 3 forms of magnesium. I didn't know there were different forms. This one is specific for calming the heart... so I will see how it works. It is so frustrating when these things happen to me. I can't seem to determine what triggers them. Some days they are few to none, then other days they are frequent and cause much anxiety. I am taking 2 of the magnesium tablets a day as of 2 days ago... so I'll see how it goes.
Mabel, your reply and information to Jenn is so kind and helpful to me. I've been having terrible PVCs since beginning of December. It's been a nightmare and so hard to relax. Get so scared and feel so alone. Cardiologist has told me my heart is fine, and not to think about it so much. Yeah, easier said than done. The PVCs can be so uncomfortable at times. I'm taking a beta blocker and something for anxiety. Just want the symptoms to go away.
Hi Jennie, I am glad I could help you some. I hate when the "skips" and jumps come a lot. I still get scared some. But, I try hard not too,I think this just "feeds" them. They like the adrenaline. Something I have a lot of. Sometimes I only get a couple every few days, then some every day. Usually, when I am relaxing or going to sleep. I hate that, feels like they want to make me jump. I try so hard not to feel my pulse and just ignore them. Don't succeed often. I am constantly alert to them . I know how miserable it can be. But, like I said, have had them for over forty years. And they do get worse with age I am afraid to say. But, the mag and the beta blockers and watching the alcohol etc helps. But, I do have some sake, or champagne, or a tiny drink most nights( try to keep the alcohol content low) but drink lots of water with any drink I have. Dehydration is bad for your heart. I hope you are having a good day. I am going to see a movie with Hubby this afternoon. I will try not to eat too much popcorn!! Take good care, Mabel
Hi Mabel, thanks so much for your reply and taking the time to do so. You are great and such a good attitude. It's so hard to talk to anyone about it especially since they are not serious. It's hard to ignore and be normal. I'm actually on a leave of absence from work. The symptoms are better but still make me feel anxious. I ordered the Heart Calm. Hope it helps.
Thanks again for being so kind. I hope you enjoyed the movie with your husband ... and not too much popcorn ... darn! ♡♡
Hello Mabel,
I started taking the Heart Calm today. I hope it works for me! Couple questions. You said you take three capsules. Do you take one pill in morning, then noon and then evening? Also are your palpitations different types of feelings ... skipping, hard thuds, fluttering, swooshing, and palpitations in upper stomach area? I get so many sypmtoms. I even get a feeling like my heart aches, like the surrounding muscle area is achy. So strange. I just curious what you felt.
Thanks again for your time and help!! Hope you are having a good day! : )
Hi Jennie, Glad you started the heart Calm. It may take a week or more to feel the difference. Maybe shorter. Yes, i take it morning ,noon and night. Try to take it with food. Absorbs better. Oh yes, I be the hard thuds, ( sometimes painful) also the weird stomach ones. I get a lot in my throat, sometimes in the front or on the side. They said when I had my loop recorder I had more PACS than PVCs Sometimes I get the long pause and then the huge thump!( hate those) They are all different. And at all different times. I can just be talking, and get one by my throat. I only have one lady I know here that gets these, they don't bother her. They do me! Scare me when I get a couple in a row. I really feel like they have calmed down a lot. But, when hubby upsets me they come back with a vengeance! I am just getting going here!it is before nine in morning! 😹You take care, and don't let them get to you. I try to say, they are heart hiccups. God will heal you, he has you by your right hand always!!God bless!!
Hi Mabel!
Thanks again so, so much for your kind, caring and supportive words. It is truly helpful! I was all ready to start the Heart Calm, but then got nervous. Cannot help being nervous about everything right now. I will start, I need to give a try. Will keep you posted.
Thank you again so much!!! Big HUG ... Jennie
Jennie, call your Dr and ask him if you can take it. I am sure you c an. Nothing bad for you in it. If you don't want to take pills, just get some pure magnesium oil and rub it on. Or Epson salt soaks work. The magnesium oil will help calm you. I use it during the day and at night before bed. Honest. We are all lacking in it.Hugs back. You can beat this!!😊 God bless!Breathe!
I went to doctors today and seen a GP but not my usual GP I asked him if magnesium could help with anxiety and sleep problems he looked at me like I was crazy and said I have never heard anything about magnesium helping anxiety, then I said well would it be safe to take with propanolol and he said well it's not safe if u take too much bc can cause irregular heart beat then then I said well what is the recommended doseage and he said he didn't know! Absolutely useless won't be seeing that doctor again