Heart palpitations

I'm really worried 'cause this last week, I've been getting recurring heart palpitations. What's more I've also been suffering from pretty bad dizzy spells and tremendously lightheaded spells. I think I almost passed out once...

I'm supposed to see a cardiologist this weekend, but I want to workout before then. Think i'll be ok?

Wait until you see your doctor.  He/she will most likely order a Holter monitor which you will wear for 24 hours to monitor your heart and hopefully, the dizzy spells, palpitations will be "captured" on the recordings.  It will tell the doctor  a lot.

I agree with pudpie, wait till you visit with your cardiologist. I have palpitations and I exercise, but I did get clearance from him first. I had an echocardiogram, stress test, and wore the monitor and they never found it. So, hopefully they can find yours, as they can be very difficult to find if they don't occur every day.

Good luck!

How's your caffeine intake? My husband was having those same symptoms from a caffeine overload so he decided to quit cold turkey and ended up in ER thinking he was dying. He's fine. He just got a good scare and learned his lesson. Now he restricts his caffeine to about one soda a week and no more problems.

caffeine, yes. My caffeine intake has been pretty bad; like super bad; like 50+ ounces of coffee day.

Why not take the safe route and wait until after you see your doc. I also suffered from palpitations a few years back, turned out I was severely iron deficient. Am ok now tg. Just talk to your doc first, a few days without working out will do you no harm. Take care of yourself.

One thing, though. When you wear the monitor be sure to follow whatever behavior patterns lead to the palpitations. I knew that I was most likely to have heart palpitations if I went to the gym with a hangover. Now, once I was in the cardiologist's office and thinking about being healthier, it didn't make sense to go out and drink a little too much *for my health.* And, low and behold, the monitor didn't capture any irregular activity and my insurance won't cover another go for 12 more months.

When I told my doctor about it, he said it sounded weird but I should have done whatever would produce the problem (even if it was unhealthy), just that once, because things that only show up in unhealthy moments when you are younger can become your everyday problems when you age.

So! My point is, if now you are thinking, you know... maybe I do push myself way too hard in my workouts sometimes or drink excessive amounts of caffeine, that's awesome that your mindfulness has uprooted some unhealthy habits that you have, but be sure to (illogically) CONTINUE those behaviors while you are being monitored, in case there is a problem beyond caffeine addiction lurking in your chest.

Definately wait to see your Doc. I had the same probs and it was my thyroid problems before. Now I can do anything I want, so it is worth the wait and it is very important. If it gets too bad go to ER! Not trying to scare you but it needs addressing.

I'm chiming in on caffeine again! I cut out coffee completely at my doctor's advice and my palpitations have really dwindled. Now they happen only once per week give or take. Most people have palpitations without knowing it so when it's actually noticed, it makes you worry. I say call your doctor and leave a message for either he or his nurse to call you back with advice. Cut back on the caffeine big time also! I wore a 24 hour heart monitor which showed some of the palpitations. The advice was live a healthy life style, keep cholesterol down, cut down on caffeine OR meds....

The cardiologist works on the weekend?

my thoughts exactly, I work for a cardiologist and am a little bemused by the weekend appointment stuff.

Could be anxiety, I ran to the ER about 10X, was even hospitalized for a week for stress tests etc, my heart raced at 128 beats per min, (70 is about normal)- turned out to be anxiety disorder. Racing heart, dizziness, a spinning, sinking feeling and a feeling of doom! I also felt like my throat was closing, you didnt mention that one but I just thought Id chime in, these attacks would come out of Nowhere! (still do sometimes) I looked up my symptoms on the internet (bad idea!!) By the end of the week, I thought I was having a heart attack,stroke, heart problems etc. and that only made the anxiety worse.

I hope its nothing serious, and anxiety attacks arent at all, but it sure feels like it when it happens.

. Anyway Im not sure if thats whats going on with you, so definately get it checked out. Please post to let us know how things went. :)

I get palpitations quite regularly. Funny thing is I never got them until I lost I bunch of weight and my blood pressure just tanked. My cardiologist has ordered me to eat more salt among other things to keep my blood pressure up.  When it's low I have really similar symtoms as you, lightheaded, dizzy, disconnected.

As far as the workout is concerned, I'd say wait til you see the doc. Better safe than sorry!

When I was 17 I had the same similar symptoms as you are having now. I was diagnosed with a Heart Arrhythmia. I wasn't allowed to exercises, drive or walk across the street alone. Within 6 months, I has a simple procedure done (it was painless) and for the past 15 years, it has never happened again. Cured.

In short, please don't exercises anymore until you find out what is wrong with you.

By the way, have you been experiencing a lot of stress or anxiety???

If you are, you could just be having anxiety or panic attacks.

It may also be that you sugar level are really low at that point.  Try some juice or chocolate (just a bit) and see if it makes you feel better when it is happening.

Make sure first and wait to see your doctor.

Summer/heat+exercise+dieting+caffeine+possibl e mild dehydration+anxiety about symptoms=palpitations

*add extra points if you are taking medication/changed or started medication ... legal, illegal, RX, OTC or herbal; are out of shape; are anemic; have high blood pressure or low blood pressure; have had diarrhea (or particpated in a "cleanse"); take too much niacin

But, really ... is this cardiologist a friend of yours coming in the office this weekend to just see you? Or were you planning to just go to the ER this weekend to check it out?

I have a cardiologist, who is part of a huge group, and they don't have weekend appointments. And they make separate appointments for holter monitors, etc. And the labs close and would have to run any blood work-ups through the hospital(s).

It's still Friday ... if this is really something that you have concerns about, you are better touching base before the office closes ... asking for the triage nurse and describing your symptoms. They can possibly fit you in, and it would be way cheaper than an ER run. What did they say when you made the weekend appointment?

More than about half a coffee a day and my heart will race.  No palpitations though.

If you're having problems when you exercise, don't push it.  Maybe try something a lot easier than what you normally do, like just go for a walk or something, and see how you feel.  Whatever you do, make sure you're not alone though, in case you pass out.

I almost passed out exercising once.  I started to feel really weak so I got off the treadmill immediately.  I sat down and my eyes were blacking out, but instead I vomited.  Yes, all over the gym floor.  It was just water.  It hasn't ever happened since, but my doctor said it was probably because my blood pressure dropped too fast after I got off the treadmill without any kind of cool down.

Anyway, that was almost two years ago.  I haven't had a single problem since.

bumping...did you ever find out what this was? about once a week - and it only happens when i am laying down - my heart will seem to flutter and i feel like i can feel it in my throat. it only lasts for about ten minutes. just had my thyroid checked though, so i dunno (leslie). i don't take in any caffeine to my knowledge, and if i do, its bare minimum. i am wondering if its stress because i just graduated from college and am having severe doubts about the rest of my life....but i don't FEEL anxious. weird.

you might be drinking too much water and diluting your sodium/electrolytes. i have that problem - being dizzy/light headed/racing heart are all symptoms of this. try substituting some G2 Gatorade (40 cal/serving) for all the water you're drinking to get your electrolytes replenished - or perhaps try sodium pills?

hope you feel better!

For the last week I have been feeling very hot, and get dizzy quite often. When I am at rest I feel my heart beating quickly and heavily. Especially when I am trying to go to sleep. I have been taking medications for insomnia, depression, and anxiety for 4 months now. I do have a lot of stress in my life but who doesn't. I drink 1 and 1/2 cups of coffee every morning. But this has been my routine for months. The way I have been feeling is worrying me. Should I be trying to see a cardiologist or what? Help!!!

With the caffeine, besides it being a stimulant, it also leaches minerals/vitmamins from your body so that you don't absorb as much from your food. Mineral/vitamin deficiencies can contribute to heart palpitations and irregularities.

In reply to moria81, even though you have been drinking coffee every morning for months, it can gradually cause you to have nutritional deficiencies. Also, the medications you are on sound like they could have cardiac side effects. Many meds do. Definitely go to a cardiologist and strongly push the point that maybe your meds are causing it.

I get heart palpitations occasionally where my heart races really fast all of a sudden. It's called SVT. I goes for a random amount of time but i don't need regular medication. Occasionally I have to go to Emergency Dep to get an injection. That's if it goes on for several hours and I've only had to have it done a few times. My heart suddenly jumps from 80bmp to 150-180bmp and stays there till it stops. So I can relate to how stressful it can feel to have a racing heart. Need to not let the anxiety of the situation make the palpitations worse.

 

 

I had my first palpitations when I took Tylenol PM so I know sleep aids can cause them.