Exercise and panic

[carrieprice1998]

Anyone's heart start racing when they do house work or other exercise? I was doing laundry and my heart started racing so fast and I got a load of anxiety. It slowed when I sat down but I'm short of breath and still anxious. Anyone else?

[Akimbal1]

Are you focusing on your heart rate? Are you thinking your heart rate is going to go up when you do housework or exercise? I ask because anytime I focus on my heart rate it goes up. If I ignore it then I'm ok. Also anxiety can make you forget to drink water and breath normal so you could be dehydrated. Take some deep breaths and drink a bottle of water. Exercise could be a trigger for panic attacks for you.

[Akimbal1 in reply to Akimbal1]

We all have triggers some we know others we aren't n aware of.

[Usagold]

Yes! I'm trying to figure out if it's anxiety or something else. It's like I am so depleted I can't do my normal chores and the main thing I notice when I try to cook or do dishes is my heart races! I counted it and it was 140bpm! I laid down and it slowed down. I'm also having terrible spells in the night where I wake up, feel awful and nervous with sweaty palms and a sick stomach and my heart races way up. It is very scary. Everytime I think I'm dying. Have you had anything like that?

[carrieprice1998 in reply to Usagold]

Yes I have, I just went to the er for it today and they told me I have sinus tachycardia and they are referring me to a cardiologist..

[Usagold in reply to carrieprice1998]

You and I must have the same thing! I already saw a cardiologist (after calling the paramedics one night which was embarrassing because they go to my church), I wore a monitor & did the treadmill test and he said I have normal sinus tachycardia. Well it doesn't FEEL normal! when my heart's going 170 bpm and skipping beats at 2:00am! I can't breathe well, feel sick, weak, nervous & it TOTALLY feels like I'm going to die. Are your attacks as bad as mine?

[carrieprice1998 in reply to Usagold]

I went to the er and I have sinus tachycardia, I haven't yet seen a cardiologist but will be soon. Thanks so much for your response.

[carrieprice1998 in reply to Usagold]

And yes my attacks are very bad, same as yours!

[carrieprice1998 in reply to Usagold]

How does the treadmill test work?

[Usagold in reply to carrieprice1998]

They hook you up to 6 leads and you start walking. They need your heart to get up to 160bpm and you need to walk/run for 6 mins. It tells them a lot apparently.

[Akimbal1 in reply to carrieprice1998]

Anxiety can be a side effect of so many things. Hope you get it figured out and feeling better. In the meantime take it easy!

[Akimbal1 in reply to Usagold]

You have nocturnal panic attacks. I have them too they are awful and terrifying. I have considered calling 911 because I was sure I was dying. Sleep aides like hydroxyzine have helped me.

[Usagold in reply to Akimbal1]

I would love to be able to take something to help me sleep, especially since my nocturnal attacks often happen when I wake up in the night, but unfortunately I'm afraid of medication. I am afraid it might make me panic worse and I'll be trapped, drugged, and panic out of control. I think I don't like not being in control. I'm also afraid of side effects. I seem to be hypersensitive to meds. I can take one baby aspirin and it knocks out a headache.

[Akimbal1 in reply to Usagold]

I have a fear of medication as well. I'm hypersensitive. I was on a half dose 12.5 mg of Zoloft and I nearly lost my mind when I went to 25 mg and they wanted me to take 200 mg! I would have went nuts. Benadryl knocks me out and hydroxyzine is like a really strong benadryl. I'm groggy all day the next day. But I suffer terribly some nights only getting 1 hour of sleep when I have to work the next day and care for my 5 year old. It can go on for days like that. I'll wake 30 times a night delirious and confused and panicked. I am afraid to take the hydroxyzine but sometimes I just give up and swallow it. It's sad but I just think if I die from it then oh well! That's my last resort thinking. Nocturnal panic is the single worst think about my issues. I absolutely loathe them. Natural remedies that have helped me are chamomile tea, listening to meditations or meditation music and sadly eating. Lol if I wake in a panic I'll have some cereal or string cheese and my brain resets itself.

[elizabethbinion]

Have you been checked for iron deficiency or B12 deficiency? They both cause a racing heart among MANY other scary symptoms. Also, thyroid issues do this. I have iron deficient anemia and it caused over 30 scary symptoms until I got my iron up. I still wake up with a racing heart and sweaty palms.

[carrieprice1998 in reply to elizabethbinion]

I went to the er tonight and they told me I have sinus tachycardia, which is a rapid heartbeat all the time. It can be caused by multiple things such as high blood pressure,thyroid problems, vitamin defencies, and stress and anxiety, multiple other things as well.. Blood pressure and thyroid have both been checked and both are normal. So I am seeing a cardiologist very soon.

[elizabethbinion in reply to carrieprice1998]

Please go to your doc and ask for an iron panel. Have them check iron, ferritin, hemoglobin, and transferrin saturation. Any ferritin below a 50 will cause these symptoms, and hemoglobin below 13 will also. Please believe me. I've been through hell for 3 months from this and have learned a great deal. I had a couple of abnormal EKGs when I was anemic and my heart has corrected itself since my iron is up.

[elizabethbinion]

If they did a CBC in the ER, that should include hemoglobin. If it's less than 13, that should tip your doctor off enough to do the iron panel. It did mine. My hemoglobin was 10 at the worst part of my anemia.

[carrieprice1998 in reply to elizabethbinion]

They said my hemoglobin was normal.

[menagerie11]

Have you been checked out by a doctor? If so, and there is nothing wrong, then it is simply anxiety. Anxiety causes the heart to race sometimes, which can result in shortness of breath. Take some calming breaths and tell yourself it's just anxiety, and it will pass. Our hearts are muscles that get a workout when we do things physical. Athletes intentionally try to get their heart rates up. So, it's not dangerous. You are okay and it's just part of the anxiety. I get weird symptoms from my anxiety sometimes....but I tell myself that it's just anxiety and it will pass. Calm breathing and listening to calming music really helps me. All the best!