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Original poster

Near constant heart palpitations

29 replies

boomdeboom · 13/09/2024 17:18

Has anyone had near constant heart palpitations? My Apple Watch is showing about 8 palpitations per minute.
I went to see the doctor today and they weren't concerned. Said to give it a week and go back if no improvement?
I just don't get how something affecting your heart is not an issue! I've cut out caffeine (only ever had one cup a day anyway) and I don't feel stressed. They just started a few days ago and never stopped. They're really really worrying me now.

OP posts:
Original poster
boomdeboom · 13/09/2024 17:27

I'm sure worrying about them is actually making them more frequent?!

OP posts:
KatParr · 13/09/2024 17:28

What age are you?

sodabreadjam · 13/09/2024 17:30

I had palpitations and was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation - a heart arrhythmia. It can be dangerous if not treated.

Ring the surgery back and ask if it is possible to have an ECG.

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General health Heart disease
Bigearringsbigsmile · 13/09/2024 17:31

I have this. Cutting caffeine really helped!
I got referred to a cardiologist who did lots of tests.

I take propanalol to take the edge off.
Knowing its harmless helps.

However I am under strict instructions to seek medical advice if it changes / worsens.

Alcohol, spicy food etc can all cause problems and definitely stress.

Spenditlikebeckham · 13/09/2024 17:31

53 and had them a little over a year.. Had cardiology input. Nothing sinister.... Hard to ignore when you feel like a heart attack is imminent....

Original poster
boomdeboom · 13/09/2024 17:33

I am almost 40. I don't think it's related to food and I don't drink alcohol. They are constant from the moment I wake up until I go to bed. They had a really quick look at the surgery where I showed them my Apple Watch which showed downward dips on the chart every 10 seconds or so. They said they're usually harmless?

OP posts:
Original poster
boomdeboom · 13/09/2024 17:34

They've given me a weeks course of beta blockers to try but it's made no difference.

OP posts:
BigGapMum · 13/09/2024 17:35

Heart palpitations can be a symptom of menopause. I started getting them in my early 50s, but going on HRT has cured the problem for me, but you do need to get checked out by a doctor.

Original poster
boomdeboom · 13/09/2024 17:37

Yeah I think I'll go back in a couple of days. But they weren't concerned in the slightest which really surprised me. It's so scary feeling like your heart is stopping every few seconds. Not sure if it's menopause related. I've not noticed anything different, my periods are a bit erratic but thought that was just one of those things!

OP posts:
Christwosheds · 13/09/2024 17:41

Are they palpitations or ectopic beats ?
Ask for a thyroid check as that is a common cause, as are hormonal shifts. I am hypothyroid and I get them a lot. I’ve also had ectopic beats which were stressful but wore off over a few days.

Original poster
boomdeboom · 13/09/2024 17:44

Not sure. He said PVC beats whatever that means.

OP posts:
Vintagevixen · 13/09/2024 17:47

Palpitations or ectopics? PVC stands for premature ventricular ectopics. Loads of people have them. Really really common.

Cardiology nurse here 😁

halava · 13/09/2024 17:47

I think you should insist on having a 24 or 48 hour monitor (Holter ECG). That will catch the palpitations and the rate/rhythm. It will show if you have ectopic beats (harmless), SVT (treatable), or Atrial Fibrillation (treatable).

If it is benign like ectopic, the palpitations can have no cause, or different things might set them off, but knowing that they are harmless might reduce the frequency, since obviously if you are worried, the palpitations can happen!

No one here can diagnose you, so get it checked out asap for peace of mind.

SunshineAndCloudy · 13/09/2024 17:49

Mine were caused by being really quite anaemia. Iron tablets sorted it

DryBiscuit · 13/09/2024 17:51

PVC’s arent life threatening on their own but can cause heart disease over a very long time (Years)

You need a ECG and a heart monitor for afew days, as well as some blood tests and then go from there, It may just be one of those things and no treatment or you may have a CT / MRI of the Heart. Or a echo - Ultrasound of the heart and some heart stress tests

Original poster
boomdeboom · 13/09/2024 17:52

Thank you all. I'll make another appointment next week. I've had palpitations before, but literally one or two once a week. This has been 72 hours now continuously and it's scary!

OP posts:
LittleGreenDragons · 13/09/2024 17:56

Low Vit B12 or iron can cause heart palpitations.

Original poster
boomdeboom · 13/09/2024 17:58

I take a multi vitamin every day and have done for years. Not sure which vitamins they actually contain though!

OP posts:
DeliciousApples · 13/09/2024 18:01

Get bloods done and see if you have low iron or donate or b12 or thyroid issues.

Do they stop if you cough? I had them due to phlegm. Stopped if I coughed. I had to give up dairy. Palpitations gone.

TheShiningCarpet · 13/09/2024 18:10

mine were linked to perimenopause - I upped my hrt and they have massively subsided, don't get them as often and not as strong.

spiceybutter · 13/09/2024 18:12

sodabreadjam · 13/09/2024 17:30

I had palpitations and was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation - a heart arrhythmia. It can be dangerous if not treated.

Ring the surgery back and ask if it is possible to have an ECG.

this.

Aquamarine1029 · 13/09/2024 18:13

I had this at your age. It was the beginning of peri-menopause. Very, very common.

Birdingbear · 13/09/2024 18:22

I had this for 8 years. I've had over 40 ECGs, four 24 hour ECGs, two 7 day ecg, 3 heart scans, a dye test scan to show my heart and if their were blockages.
Was placed on bisoperal for 2 years to control my heart as it was beating at 140 at rest constantly.
Low blood pressure
They have me a EEG Brin scan followed by 3 MRI scans and a CT scan.
A machine to pick up sleep apnea.
Then I did alot of teats with respiratory.

I've been in a&e loads of times and they kept putting it down as anxiety. But I made sure they tested me for everything. I thought they were nuts and wondered why they wernt more worried.

I've not had any flutters or chest pains or weird feelings for 9 months now. It just stopped. Sometimes even if we arnt stressed, our bodies still release too much hormone which disrupts it.
I have however cut out all caffeine.l and alcohol.

If you do drink alcohol, I discovered that the alcohol thins the bloods which makes the blood travel faster around your body. This is often what can cause palpitations.
Next time go to a&e tho and they will do a ecg. They will only worry if your heart isn't in rythem.

Babyshambles90 · 18/09/2024 17:35

How are you doing now, @boomdeboom ? I ended up at my GP yesterday as well convinced I was dying because the PVCs were just constant, like 12 a minute or runs with every other beat. GP was unimpressed and said ecg looked fine and it was probably anxiety (in fairness I was in a bit of a state) and sent me off with bisoprolol, which has taken the edge of the panic but not really done much for the ectopics yet. I’ve had the odd ectopic here and there for years but this is another level, it’s hard to believe it doesn’t mean something is seriously wrong and I think that fear is feeding the anxiety for me which means more ectopics. I’m wondering if it’s hormonal for me, I’m 52 and can’t take HRT. I’m sorry you’ve been through this too, it’s really not nice.

CreatingHavoc · 17/10/2024 10:47

This is odd as mine started at around that time and haven't calmed down since. It's been over a month now. How are things now OP?