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Does Anxiety Causes Heart Palpitations While Suffering From Acid Reflux?

Posted on Sat, 27 Jun 2015

Question: I had all cardiac tests done a few months ago. My heart was structurally normal. I passed 2 stress tests and had 2 48 hour holters put on. The most recent holter showed 400 PACS and 15 PVCS. My heart was in sinus rhythm. My cardiologist says my heart is very healthy and palpitations and etopic beats are all due to anxiety. Lately i have had an increase in palpitations and etopic beats but i have been stressed and i also suffer from acid reflux. Last night after a shift at work, just as i was about to have dinner i felt a few pacs in a row. I have spoken to my cardiologist several times in the last few weeks but he insists i do not need a follow up as my heart is healthy. Is this correct. My heart beat sometimes feels very irregular even when i dont feel etopic beats. Sometimes i will have some faster heart beats followed by some very slower ones and then back to normal. What can this be? Can anxiety really be causing all of this

Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (29 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
anxiety can affect heart rate.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to Healthcare Magic.
I have read your query thoroughly and understand your concerns.

At the first place, I would advise you to trust your cardiologist. When he says your heart is healthy, you should not worry.

Anxiety can cause any number and variety of symptoms. As all of your cardiac tests are normal, there is no need to worry.
It can cause palpitations due to sympathetic stimulation and also sometimes slow heart rate.

Palpitations are however common in normal people also.
Even acid reflux can cause palpitations.

You just need to relax. The more you worry about these symptoms, the more they will be.

I would suggest you to practice relaxation exercises like deep breathing and meditation. This will lessen your anxiety and control your racing heart.

At times when you have palpitations, forceful coughing can help to reduce heart rate. Or you can drink a glass of cold water.

Take antacid tablets to control acid reflux.

Hope this helps you.

Feel free to ask further.

Take care.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (21 hours later)

´hi doctor thank you for your reply. I did not know anxiety can cause slower heart rate. this is definitely a little bit of a relief. My cardiologist always says my palpitations are from anxiety but did not explain this. Is this common. Also are palpitations long term dangerous. I usually have panic attacks only once in a while but i get varying heart rate sometimes more often. Fast and slow. In your practice do you see palpitations and etopic beats often and also slower heart rate. This would be some more relief to get your perspective

Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (26 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
palpitations very common with anxiety.

Detailed Answer:
You're most welcome.

Dear XXXXXXX
Anxiety can present with palpitations as well as slow heart rate. Palpitations due to anxiety VERY common.

I often see patients complaining of racing heart, sinking heart and end up with nothing serious when investigated. Ectopics are also observed.

So, if your cardiologist says that your heart is healthy, I think you should not worry.

The palpitations due to anxiety are never dangerous. These don't make your heart ill.

Hope this helps.

I wish you well.
Take care.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar