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Palpitations

Artand7 profile image
42 Replies

Struggling with palpitations every evening, I’ve had an ecg and 24 hr heart monitor and blood tests, all fine but still get palpitations nearly every day. Am I worrying needlessly?

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Artand7 profile image
Artand7
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42 Replies
10gingercats profile image
10gingercats

No.I do not think you are worrying needlessly. Palps. can be very debilitation.I speak from bitter experience. In my own experience paplpitations always herald trouble but this may not be the case for eveyone. My last experience of them caused such upset that I was thoroughly examined in A and E several times and eventually I found out that my meds. were completely unsuiteable due to changes in my heart condition ,my thyroid and my blood count. Once this GP neglect had been corrected with new/different meds. the palps. disappeared and quiet reigned once more.

Artand7 profile image
Artand7 in reply to 10gingercats

My dr said that there was nothing wrong with my heart and that I basically had to live with them unless I got other symptoms!

10gingercats profile image
10gingercats in reply to Artand7

Well you might have a battle on your hands with your GP. I would not accept that and would want some answers. Blood tests would be a start.

Artand7 profile image
Artand7

I’ve had blood tests all was normal, I just don’t know what to do now

Scoutsmum profile image
Scoutsmum

Hi, sounds very similar to me……I was told to cut out caffeine and I did immediately…..only decaf tea and coffee, no cola etc. The headaches from withdrawal lasted a couple of weeks. The palpitations stopped. More recently they started creeping back…..so I cut out pastries, fried food etc. Palpitations stopped

Artand7 profile image
Artand7 in reply to Scoutsmum

Thank you that’s helpful will give it a go!

Retirement65 profile image
Retirement65

Hi artand I know what your feeling like I’ve had palpitations off and on for years sometimes I have a run of them then they can disappear for a while but if I’m stressed run down in pain I can get them about 6 weeks ago I started with ectopics put up with them for a while then made an appointment (tel consultation) GP was very nice and spent quite a while asking me lots of questions she said I will refer you for 24hr ecg which as it happens had fitted this morning will take it back in the morning I had an echocardiogram earlier this year like you was normal slight LVH due to being hypertensive but not enough to refer me to cardiology but I still get the dreaded palps so I will see what the outcome is from this reading hope you feel better soon I find drinking glasses of cold water helps staying hydrated splashing my face with cold water doesn’t always work for everyone but you try anything in the end take care 😊

Artand7 profile image
Artand7 in reply to Retirement65

Thank you for replying appreciated. I do try to drink water and it does help. It’s hard not to worry isn’t it? I hope they can get to the bottom of your probs. Like me I expect you just want to get rid of them! Good luck x

Retirement65 profile image
Retirement65

It sounds too obvious but distraction helps also deep breathing hope the pesky things have gone soon for you I meant to say I’m on a beta blocker which does help it’s just sometimes I get break through with them take care 😊

Buzzy-Beans profile image
Buzzy-Beans

Personally, I don't believe a 24 hour tape ECG is likely to show enough, those I have had fitted in the past certainly didn't however at my insistence I had a 72 hour tape fitted and this did show up the blips I had been worrying about for a long time.For heaven knows what reason, so many doctors, even specialists don't worry too much about palps, however in my case and at my tickers worst, it could be missing as many as 5 beats then beating 5 or 6 times before then missing another 5!

A total change of meds appeared to cure a lot of things, however in my case, some of my heart problems appear to being caused by late onset asthma as agreed by my excellent respiratory consultant.

Cundara1234 profile image
Cundara1234 in reply to Buzzy-Beans

Hey, I just read your post. I have the beginnings of asthma, that's what the doctors say, and I'm 55 years old. It's strange. And years before that I had palpitations. There's no way they can find the cause. Please, can you contact me and explain how you discovered the connection asthma and palpitation. And which medicine helped you with that?

Kwagmire profile image
Kwagmire

Listen to music on Spotify just relax and don’t worry have a great day kwagmire

Mark_tourguide profile image
Mark_tourguide

Different things seem to cause it in different people. For me it seems to be (excessive) alcohol, but it can also be caused by a big meal, so I try to eat light of an evening.

kalgs profile image
kalgs

Has the ECG shown any abnormalities. If not get yourself a KARDIA device . I did and was able to show the GP I was having AFIB and ectopics.

Artand7 profile image
Artand7 in reply to kalgs

Thanks good idea I had a 24 hr and it showed nothing! My bp machine does show heart flutters from time to time though

Flummoxedlou profile image
Flummoxedlou in reply to kalgs

Hi, I was thinking of getting one of these devices, too. The doctor I saw yesterday said she didn't believe they would give a wide enough 12 point trace and therefore could miss vital indicators. However, I would like the reassurance of having one anyway. Can you tell us if any of your medics have used the info or what they say about it? Thanks.

kalgs profile image
kalgs in reply to Flummoxedlou

It will show AFIB and ectopics. That’s probably wide enough. It’s how I diagnosed myself and got treatment. Go for 6 lead device. Most GPs have no idea how it works .

Flummoxedlou profile image
Flummoxedlou in reply to kalgs

Thank you, very likely I will get one today.

kalgs profile image
kalgs in reply to Flummoxedlou

Get the 6L . You will have evidence . It’s NICE approved . My local GP practice use them.

kalgs profile image
kalgs in reply to Flummoxedlou

Yes I got treatment as a result of readings from the Kardia

Raffles77 profile image
Raffles77

Morning, also have palpitations, blood tests Friday. Don't drink tea/coffee etc, only water, no alcohol since heart attack and stent 7 weeks ago. Good fortune.

Bigmark61 profile image
Bigmark61

Morning, I don’t know if it’s helpful but I find my palpitations are worse when I get stressed about them. Take care.

Artand7 profile image
Artand7 in reply to Bigmark61

Yes agree

Nadeje profile image
Nadeje

Hi, I first started having palpitations in my late 50s. GP sent me for an ECHO scan. Which revealed I had bicuspid aortic valve and slightly enlarged aorta. To my total shock! To discover I had congenital heart disease when I lived whole of my life in a belief I have a healthy heart. 🤔😲Not sure if the palpitations were connected to the other, or if it was coincidental that it was discovered. From that moment I was registered in cardiology and observed ..undergoing annual ECHO and told I will require AVR later on.

Eventually that happened in July 2020 when I was 70yo.

Since then the palpitations stopped.

However, prior my operation when I asked the surgeon if the ablation( which has been suggested as the palpitations worsened and I have spent several nights in A&E) can be performed while I am on the slab with my chest cavity opened up, he said no, that is a totally different matter and would have to be carried out separately after my AVR.

It is an electrical problem...( maybe I should call an electrician???🤣🤣)

Luckily, as I mentioned above, they have stopped after the surgery. I take Bisoprolol for them.

It could be nothing in your case but you should have it investigated. Good luck Monica

DaveSpice profile image
DaveSpice

You worrying is leading to your problems, stress and anxiety is one of the main causes. What I do is keep telling myself that my heart is fine, as per the results and try to keep my mind busy, away from the worries of the world.

When I feel bad I do the following anti-anxiety exercises:- 1. I Chew gum, 2. Breathe deeply, 3. Speak softly and calmly, 4. Adopt an Open posture, 5. Smile and 6. Exercise. These are all things you wouldn't do if you were in danger of say, being eaten by a lion. Then when you calm down, tell yourself, "there I told you I was fine, nothing to worry about".

Eat only unprocessed food, organic where you can, no deep fried foods and find an exercise regime that you can do easily that you find enjoyable, even ones you can do while watching TV, or washing up, or ironing. No one is watching, or even if they are, put on some music and dance maybe?

Then you can tell yourself that you are doing everything right.

You and I are the same age and I for one intend to live life to the full, growing old discracefully and I stay away from the news.

I believe in "a little of what you fancy does you good", including a little alcohol, indeed remember what you mother told you. Mother's know best, be happy, be poisitive and don't listen to people who are sympathetic and tell you how hard it all is.

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman

I’ve read that literally everyone, including children, experience palpitations (i.e. premature beats followed by a longer than usual pause) and that unless they worsen with exercise, they are almost always considered benign (i.e. of no long term consequence). So the chances are very high indeed that you are worrying needlessly and, indeed, risking making yourself feel much worse.

If you buy any portable ECG, such as a Kardia, but the cheapest will do, then you’ll be able to see them easily. You’ll also be able to use it when you are feeling them in order to capture them on the trace. You can then be reassured that they are leading to nothing else. Of course, with this, you risk developing an obsession with your heart! 😉 You will need to pay for a month’s KardiaCare to have them properly labelled (as “PVCs”) by the device otherwise you’ll just see the longer heartbeat on the trace.

I’ve had them on and off all my adult life and only lately (since 2019 when I was 66) have I known that I also have other, non-benign, arrhythmias. I do get them far more regularly now and sometimes in runs, and they are much more pronounced.

If your ECGs were otherwise normal then you can rest easy. They arise in two places in the heart, I gather, mostly as PVCs (ventricular) and as PACs (atrial). The latter, I’ve read are linked to AF in some people.

Steve

Flummoxedlou profile image
Flummoxedlou

Good morning Artand7, I too have palpitations that break through sporadically. Mine are most likely due to stress and worry. I was diagnosed with mid-range PTSD after my cardiac arrest - I also had 8 cracked ribs and a broken sternum so recovery has taken me a year - I have also, to my huge relief, had counselling for my PTSD. One of the most terrific pieces of advice my counsellor gave me was this - the 4 - 7 - 8 method of breathing control. This is recommended by cardiologists when dealing with palps, stress, insomnia and also angina pain. Breathe in through the nose for 4 seconds. Hold your breath for 7 seconds. Breathe out through the mouth for 8 seconds. This reduces the excessive oxygen that you take in when you are stress breathing. However, don't do it more than a few times. At the same time you can sit, relax every muscle (shoulders drop, allow stomach to bulge, close eyes, feet and hands limp) and take five minutes to reset your body - think of a country for every letter of the alphabet or something similar. With that method you can learn to control your own stress and heart activity (to some degree). It works for me, though at times I break out and have a relapse and forget to take control. Here's another thing that my cardiologist said - a deep sigh is the body resetting the heart. So, if nothing else, when able to, I take a long deep sigh and think of the cogs and wheels in my body resetting. Here's another couple of recommendations - watch Max Strom on breathing to live on Youtube - amusing and a good lesson on breath control. If you like amusement watch 12 steps for life. Rather an inspirational talker and very funny. What have you got to lose? If, however, the palps continue, ring the heart rehab team and ask their advice and if really scared, call an ambulance - no one will judge you for seeking help! Sorry for being long winded.

richard_jw profile image
richard_jw

I wore a Holter recently for 3 days because of some sort of suspected arrhythmia. Trouble is that holters don't necessarily catch the actual specific period when you are feeling ill. (at least that's what my cardiologist says). They tend to provide average results across a period.E.g. in my case it showed 3% of atrial ectopic beats as an average across the 3 days. The reports are a bit better than just an average, but there are better monitors which can effectively do an ECG when you are feeling symptoms.

If you want to get to the bottom of it, you may need one of these sorts of monitors.

If you are smartphone literate, there is a gadget called Kardio mobile which you can use to take an ECG when you get symptoms. Then you can forward the output (a PDF) to the cardiologist. It's recommended by the medical profession, and is useful.

No I had them for over 4 years I ended up having a MI basically a blood clot which caused a heart attack doesn’t mean it will cause one but they should keep an eye on you regularly as they can cause a HA.

Qualipop profile image
Qualipop

When I started with palpitations I had all the same tests as you and nothing was picked up. They simply didn't happen during the tests. It took the best part of a year to identify hem. I had a stress test- still nothing showed but hey left the electrodes in place while I sat down to recover and thankfully I had a long run of them. They were finally able to see which part of the heart they were coming from and declared them harmless. Intermittent ectopics can be very difficult to pin down. They are annoying but many are harmless or caused by anxiety or a stronger awareness of your heartbeat but hey do need checking out . SO do ask for other tests; maybe a stress test. I hadn't had any for years until 3 weeks ago when one of my tablets was stopped and now they are back again.

Deluge profile image
Deluge

Have a look on Youtube for the videos by Dr Sanjay Gupta who is a cardiologist. He has done a number of videos about palpitations and has suggests magnesium supplements can help. I take magnesium glycinate and that certainly helped with mine.

kipper1958 profile image
kipper1958

Hi, my partner has had palpitations on and off for the last 4 years. He has had all of the tests you can imagine including a 24-hour monitor on more than one occasion and they were all clear. We kept on asking for a week-long monitor and eventually this was given and finally we got a reading of his palpitations, Fast forward to 8 weeks later we have a name for his condition it is called Supraventricular tachycardia. So do not give up, keep reminding the doctors that you need to find out what is going on.

kingsnorth profile image
kingsnorth in reply to kipper1958

does your partner take any medication for his condition

kipper1958 profile image
kipper1958 in reply to kingsnorth

His consultant has told him to take a magnesium supplement which seems to be helping. Also, we found that when the palpitations start if he places an ice pack on his neck when the vagus nerve is, this stops the palpitations within a few seconds. His consultant is more than happy for him to control them in this way for now. If after 6 months he is not controlling them medication would be his next option or surgery

kingsnorth profile image
kingsnorth in reply to kipper1958

Thanks for replying

PlumDof27 profile image
PlumDof27

Hello Artland7 I did a double take when I read your post - could I have posted by mistake? All year I have had palpitations, reaching a point by August when they were daily, lasting for hours. I am also 70. Initially, by GP gave me Propranlol. It did nothing. I was put up for a 24 hour monitor-showed nothing. Blood tests-nothing. Felt a bit desperate by now, so I bought a Withings watch, which could take a 30 second real time ECG. It showed Atrial Fibrillation .As it wasn't possible to see a GP (still isn't) I took a deep breath and dipped into meagre savings and saw a private Cardiologist. Echocardiogram, ECG, and a 7 DAY monitor confirmed the AB-FIB. £1,250 later, my GP took notice, gave me Eliquis blood thinner,Flecainide ( a beta blocker) and Bisoprolol, another beta blocker. The Cardio department of my local Hospital are giving me a PHONE CONSULT on November 25th. I will not be mentioning the private Cardiologist, otherwise they will write me off. If possible, try for at least a 3 day monitor, 24 hours isn't long enough. Also, push your GP for blood thinner this is super important as Ab Fib can cause stroke/heart issues. Have only had one episode in 2 weeks on new meds. Good Luck

Artand7 profile image
Artand7 in reply to PlumDof27

Hi I just read your reply thank you. I see you are taking bisoprolol, I was on this for 25 years originally for high blood pressure caused by depression and anxiety. They both eventually went but I was stuck taking the bisoprolol as I developed ‘white coat syndrome’. I bought a bp monitor and discovered that my bp was normal. Last year I started to get fluttering heart beats. If I didn’t take my meds I didn’t get the symptoms! Eventually I came off bisoprolol and will never take it again as I believe it’s the cause of all my problems. That said I am no dr and worry that something is wrong still. My dr says all is normal but having read all the replies I’ve had I wonder if something is being missed. I do find it strange that I only get them in the evening and then not every evening. I do hope you get your issues solved, it’s so debilitating at times!

Artand7 profile image
Artand7

160 for 4 hours sounds awful! Mine are more like flutters and my heart rate doesn’t really go up. I wonder if the evening thing is anything to do with circadian rhythm?

Friends31 profile image
Friends31

Hgff

Friends31 profile image
Friends31

Hi did you manage to get to the bottom of it?

Artand7 profile image
Artand7 in reply to Friends31

Not yet, starting CBT this week to help with anxiety so maybe that will help

Friends31 profile image
Friends31 in reply to Artand7

Hi did cbt work? I am still struggling

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