Sinus Arrhythmia... What is it?

[AnxiousGymLad]

Hey All,

Just looking to ease some anxiety I have about an ECG I had last night.

Woke up sweaty and in a major panic, called an ambulance... Had 2 ECG’s done (one moments after the other), first one read “Normal Sinus Rhythm with Sinus Arrythmia”, second one read “Normal Sinus Rhythm”

I suffer from severe anxiety (predominantly focussed around my heart health) so of course I’m focussing on the Sinus Arrhythmia from the first one and worrying about it even though second one said everything was all good... Just don’t really understand what it means and why it was only on one of them? I’ve had multiple ECG’s done before with nothing other than “Normal Sinus Rhythm”

Bit of Context: I’m a 30 year old male, no medical conditions (other than the anxiety I take medication for), otherwise fit/healthy, go to the gym 5-6 times a week, go out walking 2-3 times per week.

Apologies for the essay. X

[AnxiousGymLad]

Thanks for the response, really appreciate that and makes me feel a lot more at ease, helps understanding things a bit more I guess, just sometimes I think I try and read into things too much instead of just taking someone’s (usually a medical professional with a lot more knowledge/expertise than me) word that everything is all good or perfectly fine.

X

[Sunnie2day]

I'm a little confused - do you have a heart condition now or a family history of heart trouble that causes you to be predominately concerned about your heart health? Or is your concern about your heart a non-specific consequence of your anxiety (you're taking medication for)?

Worrying about heart health is its own anxiety inducer - counselling helps, if you're not already having any counselling you might want to see if you can arrange some.

I've been through Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and it is exceptionally helpful - so helpful, in fact, my husband accuses me of being a bit too relaxed, lol!

[AnxiousGymLad in reply to Sunnie2day]

Hey Sunnie

I don’t have a heart condition, I have no family history of heart conditions. My concern about my heart health has all stemmed entirely from a panic attack I had years ago which I’d never experienced before then so thought I was having a heart attack (and subsequent panic attacks since then), which all seems to have made me super conscious and hyper vigilant about my heart health, which has now seemed to become a sort of OCD that I have.

I am going to therapy at the moment, I seem to be improving a lot but I get caught up in these cycles which create irrational thoughts and behaviours.

X

[Sunnie2day in reply to AnxiousGymLad]

Scary, panic attacks, I hated it when I was having them. You're so right, the physical symptoms are VERY like a heart attack. Ghastly experiences, just horrible. I hope the therapy finally comes good for you - is it CBT or 'talk' therapy?

Thank-you for replying. I'm glad you posted your question - every time someone posts a question about ECG results I learn more about the test and results. I hope despite not being an 'official heartie' you'll continue to post questions and contribute replies. Also, you might find the HealthUnlocked anxiety related forum helpful - some of our hearties are also on those forums.

[AnxiousGymLad in reply to Sunnie2day]

Yeah they are scary, I seem to have a much better handle on them nowadays so I rarely get the racing heart symptom and palpitations, but I still get sweaty and feel the need/urge to keep burping and making myself burp which I have read is a type of hyperventilation.

I’ve had some CBT and now I see a therapist weekly for talk therapy, been thinking/toying with the idea of hypnotism but a little sceptical as to how that will help me.

That’s ok, I like posting/answering questions and talking to people a lot, that’s good to know I’ll have a look into those forums too.

X