should i worry or not ?

[cheeryface]

i have had episodes of palpitations and heart feeling strange for years. i once was given an ecg in the doctors surgery but nothing was happening out of the ordinary at the time so nothing showed.

this weeekend i have had palpitations a few times, often just as i am trying to get to sleep but also have had a pain in my chest off and on, not really bad but still a pain.

any advice?

do you drink a lot of coffee? I get this if I have had too much caffeine.

no, don't drink coffee much

do you have pains with it?

I get these all the time, but they should always be checked by a GP if they're getting worse/lasting longer.

Have a look at:

www.afibbers.org/atrial_fibrillation.htm

It may be worthwhile asking your GP to refer you for a 24-hr ECG, although if you're not getting palpitations every day, the ECG|s are only of limited use.

Hope none of the above has scared you. The last time I say a cardiologist he said that if you're not breathless or losing consciousness then it's generally unlikely to be serious. (I'm not an expert though).

Should be saw a cardiologist

cheery, dont worry, but see your doctor anyway. They might want to do a 24hour trace which is basically a ecg over 24 hours. I had this, it cured my palpitations (the nurse said it happens a lot ). I would also say that the pains are probably nothing to worry about, might be indegestion but best get it checked anyway. Is the pain on exertion? If so, defo get checked ASAP. I had palpitations and its really scary - you tend to notice them more when you are going off to sleep, less distractions. Couldnt bloody miss mine felt like my heart was ready to jump out of my chest.

Nothing medical found wrong with my, i was having lots of Ventricular ectopic beats, so an extra beat and change in rhythm, VERY common, we all probably have had this at time to time. I found out what triggered mine, it was Beconase hayfever spray, oh and night nurse does it too - i think it was the steroids in the spray. Once i stopped using that, it went, now hardly ever get them, well almost never even.

Definately worth getting it checked out as the more you worry the more you notice, then a slight twinge in your chest that you would otherwise ignore will be worrying you sick for no reason.

My DP gets palpitations if he drinks too much caffeine - remember there is lots of caffeine in tea, and coke. Alcohol causes them too, and chocolate - i had to give up all of those things whilst i was waiting to find out what caused mine - i was not a happy bunny

thanx funny you should mention the beconase, i have been using that for about a month. although i have had palpitations long before that. not normally with pains though.

Hi Cheeryface,

Everything that Lucyellensmum said is spot on according to what the cardiologist told me. I've had palpitations on and off for 10 years and was recently referred to a cardiologist for an MOT.

They said the palpitations were 100% benign and they're always worse at night as you're more aware of them, (less distractions). Funnily enough mine appeared to be slower but this was because there was an extra beat I couldn't feel (hence the feeling of a longer gap between beats).

BTW smoking is a total no-no, but I'm sure you know that!

If the pain isn't down to exercise or exertion and doesn't happen often, again I wouldn't worry about it.

Definitely go back to GP if you are worried though, it's horrid to have them and not know they're 'okay'.