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Original poster

Palpitations and how to get rid of them??

44 replies

dinoprincesses · 25/11/2022 06:34

I've experienced palpitations before, about 10 years ago due to medication but it lasted a few mins and then went away.

Since last night I've had constant palpitations, it feels like my heart is constantly skipping a beat (I know it obviously isn't). Couldn't sleep last night because of it.

Just to rule out, I know it isn't stress or anxiety related. I came off antidepressant's about 6 months ago and have felt better than ever. Had a lovely week at work etc so nothing to be stressed or anxious about.

Does anyone know a quick way to get rid of them? It's driving me mad now as it's making me feel a bit breathless and sick now it's been going on so long.

OP posts:
catfunk · 25/11/2022 06:37

If your heart is in an irregular rhythm you need medical attention.
Get some rest and it may go back to normal. If not go call 111.

Everydaywheniwakeup · 25/11/2022 06:40

No idea, but for me they were one of my first symptoms of perimenopause. Had a few rubbish months of it, then it stopped.

TalkisChips · 25/11/2022 06:40

Are you peri menopausal?

Havetoast · 25/11/2022 06:41

If they are ectopic beats rather than arrhythmia (like AF), then I find caffeine, alcohol and eating can bring them on. Not much you can do about eating - it stimulates the vagus nerve that, in my experience, can cause ectopics. Depending on number, they are harmless.

euff · 25/11/2022 06:42

As above it could be a sign of something serious or just hormonal changes. I ignored mine for ages and it appears it was one of the symptoms of 'just' very low iron levels but whilst not immediately dangerous it can become so. I was very tired and having more trouble breathing with any exertion than I should have been having. It could also be a heart issue so you should check if they persist.

Original poster
dinoprincesses · 25/11/2022 06:46

Thanks everyone. I'm only 31 so don't think it's peri menopause, although I have pcos and haven't had a period in 12 months so who knows what my hormones are up to! Confused

I was hoping it would go away after a nights sleep but it just carried on all night. It does come and go a little bit so I get a break of about 5 minutes every hour or so but other than that it's pretty constant. Will try and give my Gp a call this morning, didn't want to waste their time as I know there's not much that can be done if it's just palpitations.

OP posts:
LiftyLift · 25/11/2022 06:58

I have an arrhythmia so quite experienced in these. Do you know what your heart rate is? If you have an Apple Watch it can give you an ecg and indicate if you’re out of rhythm or not and if your heart rate is too fast.

If it’s been going all night, best to go to A and E. They will see you very quickly. Also good to capture what is going on on a proper twelve lead ECG.

KangarooKenny · 25/11/2022 07:00

My palpitations were caused by anaemia.

Stressedmum2017 · 25/11/2022 07:01

Propranolol 👍

gamechangling · 25/11/2022 07:02

I was told new constant palpitations would need checking out. Sometimes mine have lasted a good few hours & I was told if it carries on to get it checked so I would go, your heart rhythm needs checking.

Original poster
dinoprincesses · 25/11/2022 07:03

LiftyLift · 25/11/2022 06:58

I have an arrhythmia so quite experienced in these. Do you know what your heart rate is? If you have an Apple Watch it can give you an ecg and indicate if you’re out of rhythm or not and if your heart rate is too fast.

If it’s been going all night, best to go to A and E. They will see you very quickly. Also good to capture what is going on on a proper twelve lead ECG.

I've got a Fitbit but that only shows heart rate , not any patterns or anything, so not sure if that would work.

OP posts:
Original poster
dinoprincesses · 25/11/2022 07:04

Hoping I can get an appt with my Gp as I have my 3 and 5 year old at home today so a&e would be a nightmare!

OP posts:
Mummyboy1 · 25/11/2022 07:05

I had serious palpitations when I was anemic. I was so anemic that I needed iron transfusions, but once it went to a normal level they disappeared.

Original poster
dinoprincesses · 25/11/2022 07:09

Don't know if this is relevant or not but I just blew my nose and it sent the palpitations in to overdrive! Felt like I couldn't catch my breath for a minute.

I'll ask the dr to check my iron levels today too as that seems quite a common cause.

OP posts:
FunkyFantasticFudgeball · 25/11/2022 07:12

My palpitations we're caused by hyperthyroidism (Grave's disease) you really do need to go to your GP.

cptartapp · 25/11/2022 07:18

I had this and went into AF at 180 beats per minute. Ended up in resus. Now on medication under cardiology and still not fully controlled - looking at ablation.
I'm 50. Fit and healthy previously. Get it checked out today.

Willyoujustbequiet · 25/11/2022 07:20

FunkyFantasticFudgeball · 25/11/2022 07:12

My palpitations we're caused by hyperthyroidism (Grave's disease) you really do need to go to your GP.

This.

You need your thyroid bloods done. Its a classic sign.

Spudina · 25/11/2022 07:22

You need medical attention today. Just to be on the safe side.

UnicornsHaveDadsToo · 25/11/2022 07:26

At your age, palpitations aren't likely to be too serious, but in any case, the rhythm of the heart during an episode needs to be determined. How to get rid of them will depend on the cause. The easiest aspects of the palpitations to determine are the rate and regularity. How fast is your heart going and does it feel like it's beating regularly or irregularly (are the gaps between each beat equal) during an episode?

In any situation, if you're getting palpitations regularly, you need to be seen and you need to have a tracing of your heart during an episode, so you may need to wear an event recorder. You need to make an appointment to see your GP and you may need to be referred although you may need some investigations to be completed before being able to be referred. In the meantime, make a note of the following:
When was the first time you had an episode?
When did they start getting more frequent?
How frequent are they at the moment?
How long do they last?
How do you feel during an episode? Do you feel any skipped or missed beats, or just the fast rate, or any thumping beats?
Do you get any chest pain dutin

Original poster
dinoprincesses · 25/11/2022 07:31

UnicornsHaveDadsToo · 25/11/2022 07:26

At your age, palpitations aren't likely to be too serious, but in any case, the rhythm of the heart during an episode needs to be determined. How to get rid of them will depend on the cause. The easiest aspects of the palpitations to determine are the rate and regularity. How fast is your heart going and does it feel like it's beating regularly or irregularly (are the gaps between each beat equal) during an episode?

In any situation, if you're getting palpitations regularly, you need to be seen and you need to have a tracing of your heart during an episode, so you may need to wear an event recorder. You need to make an appointment to see your GP and you may need to be referred although you may need some investigations to be completed before being able to be referred. In the meantime, make a note of the following:
When was the first time you had an episode?
When did they start getting more frequent?
How frequent are they at the moment?
How long do they last?
How do you feel during an episode? Do you feel any skipped or missed beats, or just the fast rate, or any thumping beats?
Do you get any chest pain dutin

Thank you this is really helpful. I will call the Gp this morning and make a list of answers for those questions you've listed. It definitely feels more like it's missing a beat rather than just a thumping feeling but I'm sure it's probably not as that would be a lot of missed beats since it started!

OP posts:
MistyRock · 25/11/2022 07:34

I had them when I took a sudafed type tablet that mixed horribly with my blood pressure tablets. I felt like my body was shaking.

Afterfire · 25/11/2022 07:42

I had them just before I was diagnosed with anaemia and Addison’s disease. Since treatment I don’t have them at all. Definitely needs investigating.

DilemmaDelilah · 25/11/2022 07:43

I was actually in hospital for palpitations yesterday. I was diagnosed as having paroxysmal atrial fibrillation a few years ago. It can be serious and you need to call 111 and get their advice which, if you are having palpitations, will be to go to the ED, or they may send out a paramedic to check you over and to see what is going on. Don't ignore it, particularly if it has been going on for so long. People with atrial fibrillation are at increased risk of stroke, and, as you are experiencing, it can be very debilitating.

UnicornsHaveDadsToo · 25/11/2022 07:44

UnicornsHaveDadsToo · 25/11/2022 07:26

At your age, palpitations aren't likely to be too serious, but in any case, the rhythm of the heart during an episode needs to be determined. How to get rid of them will depend on the cause. The easiest aspects of the palpitations to determine are the rate and regularity. How fast is your heart going and does it feel like it's beating regularly or irregularly (are the gaps between each beat equal) during an episode?

In any situation, if you're getting palpitations regularly, you need to be seen and you need to have a tracing of your heart during an episode, so you may need to wear an event recorder. You need to make an appointment to see your GP and you may need to be referred although you may need some investigations to be completed before being able to be referred. In the meantime, make a note of the following:
When was the first time you had an episode?
When did they start getting more frequent?
How frequent are they at the moment?
How long do they last?
How do you feel during an episode? Do you feel any skipped or missed beats, or just the fast rate, or any thumping beats?
Do you get any chest pain dutin

Pressed send on my phone too early, sorry!

Do you get any chest pain during an episode?
Have you noticed anything that precipitates or stops an attack, e.g., exercise, caffeine?
How much caffeinated and energy drinks do you consume per day? This includes things like Red Bull and Monster which have additional ingredients other than caffeine, such as taurine, that can also have an effect.

In the meantime, here are a few things you can do:
Reduce/minimise/stop all caffeine drinks as much as you can, particularly energy drinks like Red Bull. If you're susceptible, even the smallest amount of caffeine can set off arrhythmias.
During an episode, take a deep breath in slowly, breathe out, and then after you've breathed out, hold your breath for as long as you can. You can repeat this several times.
If that doesn't work, you can try something called a Valsalva manoeuvre. Take a deep breath in, close your glottis (a half-swallow so you can't breathe in or out any more), and try to breathe out forcefully against your closed glottis. If you find that hard, you can close your mouth, pinch your nose, and breathe forcefully against those.

Hopefully either holding your breath or the Valsalva should terminate an episode, but you should see a doctor to find the underlying cause which can range from caffeine intake to an abnormal connection between the top and bottom chambers of the heart which may require an intervention.

PS ex-heart surgeon

Original poster
dinoprincesses · 25/11/2022 07:45

Thanks everyone. I'm going to call the drs at 8 and see what they say. I've put my Fitbit on and my heart rate has been jumping from 60-80 over the last 30 mins or so, despite just sitting down and not moving around much. Not sure if that means anything or not. Will update once I've spoken to the Gp

OP posts: