Palpitations!

[Janleverton]

I've had 3 bouts of palpitations since 6pm. Heart rate up to 153 and short of breath. No other symptoms. Hadn't eaten today and had a cold at the weekend so hit the decongestants so perhaps a bit dehydrated. Have eaten now and having a big glass of water. Anyone reckon could be food related? It's been a busy day and I'm a tiny bit under the weather but much better than at the weekend.

Background - had a run of palpitations as I was nodding off to sleep about 2 years ago when my dad died. Saw the gp who seemed unconcerned - thought that when my body was relaxing I was getting a whoosh of adrenaline related to understandable anxiety. They did eventually go away. I have always had a quite fast heart rate from childhood. Remember doing checks in pe at school and being faster than anyone else. Even tho healthy.

Typing has helped. Though thinking about it doesn't.

I have a diagnosed heart condition and palpitations. The palpitations are benign. My cardiologist says most of the population have them most people don't notice them.

Mine are worse with indigestion or when I'm anxious or tired.

I became obsessed with my heart rate when my condition was diagnosed. Became OCD about checking my pulse which made my heart beat faster and preempted panic attacks. But they were totally physically unrelated to my condition.

Get it checked out to put your mind at rest.

Are you taking any amitriptyline for pain/migraine/sleep, or any SSRI or MAO inhibitor? They react badly with decongestant, in fact are usually contraindicated. There may also be interactions with sumatriptan (migraleve) and St John's Wort though I could be wrong about that.

If there's no drug interaction then make sure you're hydrated, bring down any fever with paracetamol, don't drink coffee. Try some mindfulness.

I went to the GP about palpitations a few years ago. I have low blood pressure and my heart seemed to go nuts for a bit. Turns out they were oesophageal spasms. Bloody indigestion!

Thanks for posts. Its horrible. Seems to be related to lying down - hits when I relax but also have a bit of an ache at upper stomach/below ribs. Might be related to drinking lots to make up for being fecking stupid today and not really drinking much and not eating - just busy and didn't get round to it. I'm not taking anything other than at the weekend had sudafed and (spaced out so not doubling up on the paracetamol) American NyQuil I think it's called. It has paracetamol, doxylamine succinate and dexteomethorphan. Knocks a cold on its head and helps sleep. But maybe too much. Will google side effects. I tend to be on the low side with blood pressure. Tempted to try dh's monitor and mess up his stats royally on that too - having used his Apple Watch earlier to see how fast my heart was racing his usual 58 resting heart rate average is screwed :) He has high blood pressure and great resting heart rate. My heart rate is like a mouse's but my blood pressure low. Chalk and cheese.

No caffeine since 2.30pm so am less caffeinated than I normally am. Im planning to drink lots tomorrow and eat regularly in hope that is another blip. I expect is anxiety/tiredness related mixed in with empty stomach and not enough fluids. Will monitor and see.

Thanks again. Was panicking a bit earlier. Catastrophising (possible root of the problem). :)

Decongestants can sometimes cause palpitations www.nhs.uk/conditions/decongestants/ so could be a possible side effect.

Its probably the decongestants. They give me palpitations every time

I think you're right. Haven't overdosed in that have followed dosing instructions but will be careful, not take any more (last sudafed was at work at 2pm) and hope it's a passing thing.

Try guanefesin (i think i spelt that right) to thin the mucous, it doesnt impact heart rythmn. Also take some magnesium supplememts for the next few days, it calms down heart rythmn very effectively.

My mum had palpitations for years and doctors couldn't figure out why until she was admitted to A&E 2/3 years ago. Hers could go up past 250 BPM though, so pretty darn fast. Anyway, turns out she had SVT. It can give palpitations every day, or just once in a while and more sporadically like yours.

Of course I am in no way saying that this is what you have, I'm not a doctor, but it's worth checking out to see if the symptoms are similar.

Don't think the decongestants are causing the palpitations. They can also come from stress however or really anything can trigger them. I get palpitations whenever I'm not sitting down so I know they can be a pain in the arse! Hopefully you feel better soon.