Heart flutter, dizziness and high heart rate

[Scotland321]

I am a 30 year old female. I would describe myself as fit and healthy.

I love running and about 3 years ago I was running and got very dizziness to the point I ended up on the ground. This happened on one other occasion. I went to doctor got an ecg, echocardiogram and blood tests. All came back fine although I have a small hole in my heart and when I exercise my heart rate increases very quickly. When I run my heart rate sits between 180- 200 after 5 minutes of running and I can get light dizziness often.

I am told I have no heart disease and pretty much that nothing is wrong with me but given a beta blocker for when I do any strenuous exercise.

Still today when I run, my heart rate goes above 180 and I get dizzy spells a lot. Recently I have felt my heart ‘fluttering’ as if skipping beats when I am sitting at home and I almost lose my breath from it. This seems to be happening more and more often. I would say at least once or twice a day. Other days many 10-20 +. I didn’t used to have this. I have also been getting dizziness from day to day activities like sitting watching tv and walking in my flat. I plan to go back to doctors. Has anyone else had anything similar ?

My resting heart rate is between 67-74

[BritTania]

Yes very similar episodes. I’ve just posted a long one about my sagas. I hope they can ‘catch’ yours playing up as being unable to catch ‘it’ leaves you feeling like a fraud. Keep records- if only for your own sanity.

[Mikedabike]

Hello, I am not a medical person, but when you say you have a small hole in your heart I find it more than a little disconcerting. I do not understand at all how you can be prescribed a beta blocker purely for exercise, as this doesn’t seem to address any problem, but simply lowers your heart rate pre-exercise. I would have thought that given your symptoms you should be referred to a cardiologist and be having a full range of tests. If you are not getting these I would seek a different GP and/or cardiologist. Like I say I have no medical training and my views could be at odds with any medical professionals out there, but I would certainly seek much more thorough examination.

[Scotland321 in reply to Mikedabike]

Thanks Mike. I did see a cardiologist who prescribed the beta blockers.

I plan to follow up at my doctors. Thanks for replying.

[Sunnie2day]

I read your profile and see you posted a similar question about a year ago. Now you're reporting increased symptoms.

If you can, you probably would benefit from seeing a private cardiologist - a 'small hole' is still a hole, a 'small leak' is still a leak. Running the risk of sounding as though I'm giving medical advice (which is essentially against the forum guidelines), but you really should be monitored and for any medic to tell you a hole and leak of any size isn't a concern, well, to me it smacks of 'Go away, I can't be bothered'.

I am in Scotland - we have outstanding heart care here but you really do have to push for it and more often than not the best and quickest way to get that care is to go private. I did and will always be very glad I did. My private cardiologist is now my NHS cardiologist - once he saw my echocardiograms and some other notes, he moved me from his private list to his NHS one and I've not experienced anything but top-flight care from him and his team (ok, his cardiac nurse doesn't like me but she's still completely professional about my care).

I'm 64, I was diagnosed with Rheumatic Heart Syndrome back in the early 1960s so I empathise with your plight - being young and having these symptoms is not fair, not fun, and it is not helpful when you can't get at least monitoring for your condition.

Please update as you go on.

[Magicfairy]

Hi there, last year I had similar, not the same, also had chest tightness, up until then very fit, they say listen to your body, mine like yours was shouting at me, I am now on the waiting list to close the hole in the heart, let us know how you get on, take care ❤️

[Scotland321]

Thanks - I have a phone call with doctor on Monday so will see what they do from there.