Worrying about heart problem

[CleoKitten]

I have terrible health anxiety. About a year ago I started getting really bad heart palpitations or pounding heart. Sometimes they would last for hours and my heart would constantly beat sooo fast. This is when my anxiety around my heart started. As a rule my health anxiety was always more of a fear of death, blood clots, cancers etc. iv been backwards and forwards for tests. I did get some chest pains as well which I still have from time to time especially when active. I had countless blood tests and ECGs from my many trips to A & E for chest pains. I also had a referral to cardiology and a 24hr heart montirt. They said they found ectopic beats and the occasional flutter and thud. They obviously aren't concerned and said ectopic beats are normal and actually most people have them. I had another episode two weeks ago when I was out where my heart just started pounding and beating so fast. I'm so so worried that I have a heart problem or an undiagnosed heart condition. Cardiology have discharged me and said I have nothing wrong with my heart but my argument is unless that have actually looked like really looked at my heart structure how do they know?? I'm so anxious about my heart I'm constantly checking my pulse, my bp. I have this massive fear that my heart will literally just stop. My docs are sick of seeing me and just give me beta blockers but I feel like this isn't the answer plus the side effects are pretty grim and present otwj challenges because then I worry they will actually affect my heart. I'm not sure what I want from this. Are these unreasonable fears? Am I being unreasonable and just crazy to not b satisfied with the answers they doctors am have given me? You read all thentim about people being robbed off and then actually having deadly conditions. This has been going on for well over a year and frankly it's debilitating the constant fear and worry.

Oh yes, anxiety can cause all that and much more! The heart rate is one of those things we can't control, so when it goes crazy we get more and more anxious, release more adrenaline and it goes even faster.

Just got back from the GP. I felt like I was gasping this morning. They've seen me, said my oxygen is fine, said my lungs are fine, my heart rate is fine. I don't know what else to do. He said all recent bloods are healthy too. He said a watch and wait approach.

@CleoKitten ive told you several times your ferritin is low and that’ll cause palpitations, chest pain etc. unless you’re going to take the advice you’ve been given of taking iron and dealing with your anxiety then there isn’t much else anyone can do for you. I hope you feel better soon.

Thank you. I am going to take an iron supplements x

You can buy liquid iron supplements from Tesco too - can't remember the name!

Anxiety absolutely can cause high HR and palpitations and I'm sure that's the cause of yours.

I have the same thing and have had 24hr ECGs which showed lots of episodes of tachycardia. I tend to get it after eating and when I'm standing up after sitting down for a while. Also recently starting getting episodes out of nowhere, so I'm just lying on the sofa relaxing and my heart suddenly goes to 140. It feels awful and is really scary but my cardiologist says it isn't harmful. He said its common in slim women and teenagers.

If you have long-term anxiety your whole autonomic system can get out of balance as your sympathetic nervous system is working overtime. It makes your heart more sensitive to adrenaline so even something small can send your heart into overdrive.

The most helpful thing I've found for anxiety is the DARE anxiety method. There is a book explaining it but also podcasts on YouTube. Some of them specifically talk about how anxiety causes high heartrate. This worked way better for me than any counselling/CBT/meditation/yoga etc.

OP I had a very similar story to you; I suffer from health anxiety and unfortunately chronic anxiety is a recurring theme in my mother's side of the family (to the point where my grandad basically had a breakdown). When I was 20 I suddenly started having heart palpitations out of nowhere, which triggered panic attacks, which triggered a year of being terrified there was something wrong with my heart and that I was going to drop dead. I had all the tests and nothing was wrong with me. I still suffer from palpitations and really loud heartbeat sometimes, but I'm still here and there is nothing wrong with me.

Anxiety will blow up any heart related symptoms to being a million times worse; racing heart, palpitations, breathlessness etc. I understand the spiral but you need to start managing your anxiety. I find when mine is spiking that channeling my background anxiety into physical activity really helps. I go climbing a few times a week; it gives my brain a short term problem/ fear to overcome (I'm scared of heights!) which kind of acts like a release valve for my general anxiety. It's on you to manage your symptoms unfortunately

OP I've had all the same symptoms as you. They started when I hit puberty so I think might be hormone related but I've come to recognise my palpitations 'attacks' as anxiety now. I've had all the tests under the sun (as I do have a slight short circuit in my heart), Echo, a heart stress test MRI (which was terrifying) but nothing has showed up and I don't need medication. I have had them for three decades now. The attacks come and go. Focus on your breathing and look up the valsalvar manoeuvre. That really helps me.