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palpitations

Worvera profile image
15 Replies

Hi everyone I’m interested to know what you do when having palpitations. My body tells me to walk until I get a proper rhythm back but often I’m light headed so I feel that could be counter intuitive. Any thoughts would be welcome. Thanks

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Worvera profile image
Worvera
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15 Replies
BlueBearBob profile image
BlueBearBob

"Palpitations" can be such a wide range of specific symptoms. Mine turned out to be SVT. Periods of up to 4 hours with a heart rate of 205. Very uncomfortable feeling in the chest, sometimes pain, sometimes dizziness. Always made me just want to lie down.

What are your palpitations like?

Bob

Worvera profile image
Worvera in reply toBlueBearBob

Hi Bob I have microvascular angina which means there is no surgical option. I’m on loads of meds. Sometimes the palpitations are fluttery and just feel uncomfortable but other times it’s like having a box of frogs in my chest. Both experiences make me feel breathless. I don’t know what SVT is but that heart rate for hours on end sounds horrendous. I really can’t lie down when I have mine. I hope you get better soon. Sue 😊

RufusScamp profile image
RufusScamp

Does slow, deep breathing help? It calms me when I think I am having heart problems.

Worvera profile image
Worvera in reply toRufusScamp

Thank you! It seems that a lot of people are recommending this ❤️

NLGA profile image
NLGA

I find both breathing slowly through my nose out through my mouth or walking definitely helps

Worvera profile image
Worvera in reply toNLGA

thank you ❤️

Retirement65 profile image
Retirement65

hello there I had SVT many years ago during pregnancy but I have ever since experienced mainly ectopic beats I’m on a small dose of Sotolol 40mg I find if I don’t take them (only tried this once) silly I know but I had lots of palpitations because of it had ecg there were ST changes went back on the beta blockers 12 months later the changes had resolved there is different medication these days but I think with walking (I was told to do this) and the right meds you would feel a bit better hope this does get better for you I feel for you as they drive you mad take care 😊

Worvera profile image
Worvera in reply toRetirement65

thank you. I’m on 8 tablets a day for my heart condition but was taken off beta-blockers as they were exacerbating my condition. My body tells me to walk but I often feel faint when I do. I’m going to try the breathing exercises though 😊

fishonabike profile image
fishonabike

as others have pointed out "palpitations" come in different forms, but they are all irregular heart beats - when your heart is not beating correctly it won't be pumping oxygen to your body as effectively as it usually does, so increasing your activity may not be the best thing to do

there are plenty of simple breathing techniques you can try for calming them and yourself check "breathing exercises palpitations" in a search engine - but if they continue it would be helpful to find out the cause as there may be a treatment for them

Worvera profile image
Worvera in reply tofishonabike

thank you. I have a diagnosed heart condition that causes them but I’ll definitely follow your advice re Google 😊

HeartyJames profile image
HeartyJames

These days I get them for so many hours a day , that I just ignore them.... Waiting for CRT-D in November that should help.

Worvera profile image
Worvera in reply toHeartyJames

oh no! That’s awful. I find it impossible to ignore them. Sending strength ❤️

wischo profile image
wischo

I take 3 deep breaths and then a deep breath and hold as long as I can only letting it out slowly when I need to, this usually works but I repeat if it does not.

Worvera profile image
Worvera in reply towischo

thanks very much. I’ll definitely try this. ❤️

A75-mw profile image
A75-mw

Hi Worvera, I have atrial fibrillation and quite often I can calm down the palpitations by breathing in for four, holding my nose and bearing down as if you are on the toilet. This affects the vagus nerve and slows down the heart rate. The other thing which helps me is having a big yawn, sometimes you have to try until a real yawn comes , which calms down the fright and flight response . It’s worth a try .

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