Voluntary heart surges

[MrBigEars]

I have a heart question and can't seem to find anything on it.

Ever since early adulthood (I'm 44 now) I've been able to force my heart to surge (perhaps similar to SVT) but I can do it at will. It makes my arms shake for a split second and my heart races for around 2-5 seconds before settling down. It's like a mini panic attack, but I can control it and do it at will.

Any idea what this is, and if I should be worried? I don't tend to do it often - just worries me that I can!

Matt

[Heartfairy]

Hello MrBigEars

I didn’t really understand what a surge and SVT was so googled it. I’m a bit confused to be honest with why you would voluntary want to do this to your heart? ❤️🧚🏼‍♀️

[Deejay62]

Hi, I don’t understand how you can force your heart to surge like that and why you would do that. How do you know what SVT is like if you haven’t been diagnosed with it.

I actually suffered with SVT, and my main aim, since I was a child, was to stop the fast beat when it happens, because it felt terrible and when my heart would switch back to normal I would feel like I was literally leaving my body. I felt like I was going to die. I kept it a secret until one day at 15 it started and wouldn’t stop and I felt sick, my body was shaking so I told my mum who was a nurse, now retired, and she called an ambulance, I was in hospital for a week because it took days to stop.

I use to panic a lot when it started and it would get worse so over the years I’ve learnt to relax and if it won’t stop, I do some manoeuvres I was taught as a child to stop it.

I was thinking is it happening when you’re stressed, anxious or worried etc. even taking or drinking stuff, and you think you’re making it happen. I don’t understand. All those things can bring on palpitations, that I understand. The three I mention is a part of life but by doing anything else you could damage your heart.

[fishonabike]

i used consciously control my pulse rate when having it taken just to see the reaction of the person taking it - it has always been slow anyway but i could get it much lower by controling my breathing

i would be more worried if the "racing heart" happened of it's own accord - if it only happens when you want it to it sounds like a form of mind-body control

you could mention it to your GP at your next visit if yo want to check that you are not doing anything risky