Skipped beats ❤️

[Anxiouslisa]

Anyone ever feel like heart flip flops In chest? I can actually feel the skipped beat when taking pulse. Have had this for years, and had workup which showed occasional premature beats. With all the anxiety since covid. I feel like I notice it more again. Have had anxiety for years. On lexapro. Thx

[AnxietyFreeTribe]

Yes! This was one of my main symptoms when I had bad anxiety and went through panic attacks. I was diagnosed with PVCS, and told they are harmless for most people, and that most people have them on occasion and just don't realize it. I will say-I was taking A LOT of decongestants at the time for sinus problems. Years later, my primary doctor told me that some medications can bring on PVCS, and to try and avoid taking them all the time.

Much to my surprise, when I stopped taking the decongestants, the PVCS stopped also. I remember that when I would constantly pulse check, they would get worse, because I was bringing more attention to them. I stopped trying to do that also, which really helped.

[Anxiouslisa in reply to AnxietyFreeTribe]

Thank you. I get tachycardia from decongestants, so totally avoid those. I try not to take my pulse, but when I feel the “flips” in my chest I just can’t help focusing on it🙁

[AnxietyFreeTribe in reply to Anxiouslisa]

Yep, I used to do the same thing-obsessively check my pulse when I was getting flip flops. It's a mindset change behavior, so just try to replace that with some other behavior.

[Lauriem4]

Yes i do since ive had anxiety. Have you had an ecg 24 hour?

[Anxiouslisa in reply to Lauriem4]

Yep, I have had both and were normal. That was years ago, but feels same so not sure they’d repeat testing. Darn anxiety 🙁

[Hidden]

I've has this since I was born. Drs could never catch it, then one day, during a random EKG, she found an irregularity. I got a echocardiogram and found out I have a damaged heart valve flap. It regurgitates blood. I sometimes get afib. I have it often, and anxiety can and does make it worse. If you're concerned, I'd get it checked. It's usually not that dangerous. It's probably just your anxiety from this whole virus crap.

[hstroller]

I went to the ER twice because of "skipped beats". I would feel them after heavy or extended aerobic exercise or later in the day after over doing something that got my heart rate up. They were PVCs or Premature Ventricular Contractions in my case. They are completely normal and harmless. Everyone has them, most people don't notice them. If they happen constantly, I guess you can have an cardiac abblation procedure, but that is only for extreme cases where they are actually causing a problem.

[Anxiouslisa]

Thanks. I’m seeing a cardiologist next week since my obsessive worry makes me focus so much on my heart rate. I’m not sure if she’ll do another work up since I had one years ago. So tired of being like this. I appreciate your response. 😞