does anyone else get heart palpitations?

[kissmummy]

i've had them really badly for three days now. not painful, just disconcerting. had a reallly stressful day at work on Saturday which is when they started, but i expected they would go away once work finished. Sunday and Monday is my "weekend" and though it's not restful (i have a toddler) it's not stressful. So i am a bit surprised/freaked that my heart is still all over the place. I'm 34 and there is a strong history of heart problems in my family. palpitations aren't new for me but i've never had them for three consecutive days and happening several times an hour like this.
i'd love to hear from anyone else who gets this and whether they have identified particular triggers. Our GP surgery is dreadful so i usually think more than twice before heading over there...when i've reported palpitations in the past GPs haven't seemed too concerned.

[HairyMuff]

I had them when pregnant - went to the docs and they weren't too concerned ( even though I thought I was dying )
Docs said it was due to me doing too much, body under stress, releasing adrenilin to cope hence heart racing faster due to adrenilin rush.

This was 8 years ago. Then a few days ago I was feeling quite stressed and anxious about something at home, just folding the washing but worrying, and I had them again. Took me by surprise as its been an 8 yr gap. Haven't been to the docs as I'm putting it down to a one off stressy incident at the mo.

[Hulababy]

I get them on and off. I go through periods of having them really bad. I have been in hospital with them (very scary as was put straight into coronory care unit initially!), had 24 and 48 hour monitors, had ECGs, etc but no known cause. My heart will race to over 200 beats per minute when at its worst, and can last anything from a few seconds to 20-30 minutes at a time. A long session is horrible - it makes me feel very very tired and I have to go and rest for a bit.

I do think I have identified some triggers - caffine, chocolate and alcohol. Caffine I can cut back and even out of my diet, the oher two.....

FWIW the consultant at the hospital says that the palpatations can go on for about 48 hours solid before it would be a really serious problem healthwise.

[kissmummy]

crikey, i can't imagine 48 hours solid of it - that would be very frightening. mine are very intermittent - i get a flutter for a few seconds, then back to normal for anything between a few minutes and half an hour, and then more fluttering. very odd. will leave it a few days and see if it settles .it was an incredibly stressful few days at work during which my heart was actually pounding with anxiety -perhaps it will just take longer to calm down physically than i realised.

[LionstarBigPants]

I have a bradychardic (slow) heartbeat and often used to get palpitations, flutters, missed beats and irregular rhythyms. Was checked out with ECGs, but like hulababy no diagnosis.

It was definately triggered by stress, lack of sleep and caffeine - have you been using the old red wine to de-stress?

Funnily enough since my first pregnancy 3 years ago things have been much better - possibly due to a better diet and definately much less caffeine.

[twoisplenty]

My heart will suddenly switch to double its heart rate for anything upto 45 minutes. Horrible feeling. At other times I can just feel my heart jiggling about, feeling jumpy. The GP sent me to a cardiologist who just said it is quite common and not to worry. He said it was supra ventricular tachycardia... but nothing to worry about.

I would love to know what causes it, and more importantly, what will stop it happening. To my mind, it's faulty wiring in my heart. I'm 38 by the way.

[Winetimeisfinetime]

I get them too but only intermittently. My normal heart rate is also higher than it should be and I have to take beta blockers for this.

Whenever I've mentioned the palpitations to my gp or the cardiologist they make very little of it.

Having said that, they do normally at least give me an ECG so I think that if this pattern is new for you, it would be worth getting it checked out.

[Hulababy]

I think so long as it is just palpatations and fast heart rate, rather than n irregular heart rate it is fine - I think.

[MrsMcCluskey]

I have had it usually when stressed, also after too mmuch caffeine.

[steviesgirl]

I do get palpatations sometimes, yes. And I know how horrible they feel. I also had them severely when I was pregnant and thought I was going to have a heart attack!

I often get them when stressed and caffeine can often be a trigger for me. If you've had them for 3 days in a row, I'd see your GP, just to get it checked out. Lets hope they look into it for you. GP's don't always do anymore than they feel they have to ime. Just nag them until they reassure you!

[ThePhantomPlopper]

I get them too, especially when I lay down in bed.

They are horrible.

GP isn't concerned though.

[nosleeptilbedtime]

I have this, GP calls it 'ectopic beats'and feels like a fluttering sensation. doc told me to pinch my nose and breathe out as if you are trying to 'un pop your ears' after flying iyswim.
Sounds crazy but it actually works to stop them! apparently it resets your heart rhythm as it is linked to sinus node in the brain.
doc also told me that it is totally harmless and nothing to worry about.
I find mine is worse after not enough sleep.

[MrsMcCluskey]

Thanks for that advice nosleep, will try that next time it happens.
Sometimes it feels like my heart is going to pop out of my chest when it happens or stop all together.

[emami]

Recommended for those who have already done thorough testing of the heart. use finger touch of salt before and after meal + 0.25 mg of Lorazepam nightly + stop heavy jobs + stay away from heat + try good sleep + Tranquility + healthy nutrition+ quit smoking completely.good luck