Cough, palpitations and low heart rate. What on earth do I have?

[WhatIsThisCough]

I’ve had what I can only describe as a ‘hollow’ feeling in my chest for ages now-years. I mentioned it to my GP a few times and they were unconcerned. Mentioned anxiety but it’s not that. Then I began to have palpitations - a really irregular heat beat from time to time which never bothered me too much. I had considered maybe it was digestion related as I was lactose intolerant as a child but haven’t found a real trigger for it. For the past 6 weeks or so now though I’ve had a cough which I kept thinking would get better and was just the usual coughs and colds of winter (I’m a teacher so used to them!). But I’ve realised now, the cough seems to be getting worse not better, and my palpitations are really quite bad. Something made me check my heart rate tonight and it was 26 at times! Really odd. Normal at other times but did keep going back to 26/27. I haven’t felt dizzy or faint, just coughing like mad and a jumpy heart, I’ve made an appointment to see the GP but can’t get in until the end of next week. Any thoughts?

Do you have a family history of atrial fibrillation? My mum had very similar symptoms when she was diagnosed last year.

Thank you for the reply. Funnily enough, my mum and her brother both have AF, but I don’t recall any coughing for them really. Did your mum have the cough too?

Get your thyroid checked. Low thyroid hormones can cause palpitations and slow your heart rate. Some folks get a cough with it too.

Thanks very much. I’ll certainly mention thyroid too at my appointment next week.

If your heart rate is really 26 you should get immediate medical attention. Did you mean 26 beats per minute?

26 bpm is way too low, dangerously low.

You need to get that heart rate checked. That seems very very low.

I'd be going to A&E with a HR of under 30 and palpitations (I'm a nurse, this isn't medical advice but what I would do in your situation). No one here can diagnose you, we'd just be making guesses and I'd really want to get an ECG asap in your position. Not waiting until next week!
If there's no one to drive you, calling for an ambulance would not be inappropriate.