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Suggest Treatment For Increase In Anxiety Levels
Question: Hi Doctor my cardiologist said that because he thinks my heart is so healthy I don't even need to repeat tests in the future because he feels there is nothing wrong with my heart. He said I only need to see him if anything changes which he does not anticipate happening. I guess this is a good thing but it also scared me because I still feel some symptoms. Can an irregular heart beat be normal? I mean I have some days where I feel it more than others but nothing that is very noticeable. Most of the time I only notice it if I'm checking pulse. He says as long as it's in sinus rythm that is normal. Is this correct? I freak out when my heart rate varies so much. He says my vagus nerve can be acting up. What I don't understand is, is it dangerous when the vagus nerve causes your heart to have slower beats?
My stress test, came back normal last month as did my echocardiogram. It only showed trace regurgitation. My 48 hour holter showed 150 PACS and 15 unifocal pvcs. Certain times I will feel a pressure in my throat or esophagus and I'll check my pulse and it seems to slow down. Like 7 or 8 slow beats. Can this be the vagus nerve. I do have some said reflux
My stress test, came back normal last month as did my echocardiogram. It only showed trace regurgitation. My 48 hour holter showed 150 PACS and 15 unifocal pvcs. Certain times I will feel a pressure in my throat or esophagus and I'll check my pulse and it seems to slow down. Like 7 or 8 slow beats. Can this be the vagus nerve. I do have some said reflux
Brief Answer:
You should pay attention to really important issues
Detailed Answer:
Hello! Thank you for asking on HCM! I perused through your medical history and I think that at this point, after having your attending doctor opinion and consulting so many others, it seems a high level of anxiety on this issue. And this is normal. Your attention is focused now at this point and your inquiring mind has changed this matter in a very important one, more than it is in reality.
One very important detail to remember is that nothing is going to happen with your health; no restriction, no pain, no any serious risks for life. So relax!!!
The best thing to do is to mitigate your unpleasant thoughts about this issue. And this seems to be a really big problem. A consultation to an expert and some anxiolytics drugs could help. But I would have a better suggestion. You should redirect your attention to some healthy and appropriate activities for your age. I suggest fitness and various physical activities, mainly outdoors. Just go and have fun!! Don't even think about those unimportant (few PVCs). Let your heart beat stronger. You will see that any adverse implications of vegetative nervous system will fade, and you will feel better. This is my advice.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
Feel free to ask me whenever you need. Greetings! Dr. Iliri
You should pay attention to really important issues
Detailed Answer:
Hello! Thank you for asking on HCM! I perused through your medical history and I think that at this point, after having your attending doctor opinion and consulting so many others, it seems a high level of anxiety on this issue. And this is normal. Your attention is focused now at this point and your inquiring mind has changed this matter in a very important one, more than it is in reality.
One very important detail to remember is that nothing is going to happen with your health; no restriction, no pain, no any serious risks for life. So relax!!!
The best thing to do is to mitigate your unpleasant thoughts about this issue. And this seems to be a really big problem. A consultation to an expert and some anxiolytics drugs could help. But I would have a better suggestion. You should redirect your attention to some healthy and appropriate activities for your age. I suggest fitness and various physical activities, mainly outdoors. Just go and have fun!! Don't even think about those unimportant (few PVCs). Let your heart beat stronger. You will see that any adverse implications of vegetative nervous system will fade, and you will feel better. This is my advice.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
Feel free to ask me whenever you need. Greetings! Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Pradeep Vitta
Doctor Thank you so much for your response. Your answers always seem to calm my mind. I guess I worry because sometimes I will stand up and I get the slow strong heart beats and my holter picked up some bradycardia but my cardiologist says it's all normal. No heart block and no sick sinus syndrome. It puzzles me because I don't know what is causing my heart to beat slow. Could it just be a healthy heart? I do have a lot of acid reflux. Can this be affecting my vagus nerve which is slowing down my heart?
Brief Answer:
You have to find the harmony inside your body.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again! Yes, your heart seems completely healthy. Sometimes digestive tract disorders may trigger vegetative dystonia (and vagal involvement). But this doesn't matter too much to your health and well-being. Your heart is normal, and would feel in harmony with your body if you don't separate them, regarding what they need to be in equilibrium. That is physical activity. Your heart must benefit from several external and internal stimuli to find the right equilibrium. If you keep to be worried and pay attention to some unimportant facts from medical exams, it will be the same. Instead, you should keep going outdoors, performing physical activity, giving your heart the chance to have positive stimuli. At the end, you could find the harmony with your body. Don't even think about vagus nerve. You are a young man, you don't need to remember vagal nerve, nut instead to think about high adrenaline, and to have fun. I hope that my advice will influence at least you pint of view, and you will keep going.
Best Regards!
You have to find the harmony inside your body.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again! Yes, your heart seems completely healthy. Sometimes digestive tract disorders may trigger vegetative dystonia (and vagal involvement). But this doesn't matter too much to your health and well-being. Your heart is normal, and would feel in harmony with your body if you don't separate them, regarding what they need to be in equilibrium. That is physical activity. Your heart must benefit from several external and internal stimuli to find the right equilibrium. If you keep to be worried and pay attention to some unimportant facts from medical exams, it will be the same. Instead, you should keep going outdoors, performing physical activity, giving your heart the chance to have positive stimuli. At the end, you could find the harmony with your body. Don't even think about vagus nerve. You are a young man, you don't need to remember vagal nerve, nut instead to think about high adrenaline, and to have fun. I hope that my advice will influence at least you pint of view, and you will keep going.
Best Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Hi Doctor Thank you for your detailed response. You have a great perspective and it helps calm me down. I think I am more afraid because of the ways the doctors at the emergency and my cardiologist handled me as a patient. They did not explain anything. I have one last question. My holter showed a XXXXXXX R-R of 1.5 seconds at 5 AM during sleep. Is this a sinus pause and is it normal?
Brief Answer:
Your Holter doesn't show any problem on that issue.
Detailed Answer:
Hi! Your R-R interval (on Holter monitoring) 1.5 sec during sleep is completely normal. Nothing to worry about. During sleeping almost all our physiological processes slow down.
I wish you a more optimistic view of your health expectation.
Best Regards!
Your Holter doesn't show any problem on that issue.
Detailed Answer:
Hi! Your R-R interval (on Holter monitoring) 1.5 sec during sleep is completely normal. Nothing to worry about. During sleeping almost all our physiological processes slow down.
I wish you a more optimistic view of your health expectation.
Best Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Doctor I have one last question to put my mind at ease. My holter showed PAC'S, and I notice sometimes when I get them my heart will start racing. around 150-160 bpm. I'm not sure if it races because the pac's or because of anxiety from feeling them. Also I worry that it can turn into a worse arythmia such as afib, svt or worse. What is the likelihood of that?
Thank you
Thank you
Brief Answer:
There is no evidence to raise important concern about PACs.
Detailed Answer:
Hello! You are right about PACs; they sometimes may be harbingers of a complex arrhythmia, such as SVT, or they may precede even afib, or be present in a tachycardic sinus rhythm. Your heart doesn't race because of PACS, PACs do not trigger tachycardia by themselves. Another general condition like anxiety, etc may stimulate tachycardia, and even PACs. Likelihood of a complex arhythmia (such as afib, SVT) remains low in the absence of avident cardiac diseases, like in your case.
So, to conclude there is nothing to worry about in your conditions, except to fight anxiety.
My Best Wishes! Dr. Iliri
There is no evidence to raise important concern about PACs.
Detailed Answer:
Hello! You are right about PACs; they sometimes may be harbingers of a complex arrhythmia, such as SVT, or they may precede even afib, or be present in a tachycardic sinus rhythm. Your heart doesn't race because of PACS, PACs do not trigger tachycardia by themselves. Another general condition like anxiety, etc may stimulate tachycardia, and even PACs. Likelihood of a complex arhythmia (such as afib, SVT) remains low in the absence of avident cardiac diseases, like in your case.
So, to conclude there is nothing to worry about in your conditions, except to fight anxiety.
My Best Wishes! Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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