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What Causes Anxiety And Fast Heart Beats While Exercising?
Question: For the last two weeks i have had pvc attacks mostly at rest. Never before have i had more than the occasional pvc. For hours i get 3-7 a minute. I went to the ER twice and they were not concerned at all and was almost irritated with me. Last year i went to a cardiologist because of racing heart. I have very occasional SVT he said half of males over 40 have it and it comes and goes. I did an Echo and stress test and everything was normal.
The only thing that changes recently is that I'm doing an hour of cardio boxing 5-7 days a week. I strongly also thing there is a connection to pollen. i seem to get very bad anxiety and racing heart when the pollen levels are high. In the ER my potassium was 3.8 the first time at night and the next time morning 3.2.
They say this is normal. how can i never have pics the just attacks of them does not make sense.
The only thing that changes recently is that I'm doing an hour of cardio boxing 5-7 days a week. I strongly also thing there is a connection to pollen. i seem to get very bad anxiety and racing heart when the pollen levels are high. In the ER my potassium was 3.8 the first time at night and the next time morning 3.2.
They say this is normal. how can i never have pics the just attacks of them does not make sense.
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome back on HCM!
I carefully passed through your question and would explain that your symptoms could be related to anxiety.
You should know that anxiety can mimic all this clinical scenario.
That is why the doctors in the ER thinking about anxiety (as your performed tests in the ER are normal) do not seem to be concerned about your situation.
Nevertheless, as all your ECG in the ER have resulted normal, I would recommend performing an ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring to examine your heart rhythm trends during a prolonged time and register possible cardiac arrhythmia that can not be registered by simple ECG in the ER department (which last few seconds).
Some blood lab tests would also help other metabolic causes that may trigger this symptomatology:
- a complete blood count for anemia
- thyroid hormone levels for thyroid dysfunction.
Regarding your potassium levels they are within the normal ranges (except for 3.2 which is a little low). These values are not related to your symptoms.
I would recommend taking a diet rich in potassium (plumes, mushrooms, banana, beans, etc.).
If all the above tests result normal, you should consider anxiety as the main cause of all your symptoms.
In such case, you should consult with a specialist of this field to help you manage anxiety.
You can also try alprazolam 0.5mg before sleep or during these episodes. If your symptoms are relieved by alprazolam, this would be another argument in favor of anxiety (this drugs help calm anxiety).
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to ask me!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome back on HCM!
I carefully passed through your question and would explain that your symptoms could be related to anxiety.
You should know that anxiety can mimic all this clinical scenario.
That is why the doctors in the ER thinking about anxiety (as your performed tests in the ER are normal) do not seem to be concerned about your situation.
Nevertheless, as all your ECG in the ER have resulted normal, I would recommend performing an ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring to examine your heart rhythm trends during a prolonged time and register possible cardiac arrhythmia that can not be registered by simple ECG in the ER department (which last few seconds).
Some blood lab tests would also help other metabolic causes that may trigger this symptomatology:
- a complete blood count for anemia
- thyroid hormone levels for thyroid dysfunction.
Regarding your potassium levels they are within the normal ranges (except for 3.2 which is a little low). These values are not related to your symptoms.
I would recommend taking a diet rich in potassium (plumes, mushrooms, banana, beans, etc.).
If all the above tests result normal, you should consider anxiety as the main cause of all your symptoms.
In such case, you should consult with a specialist of this field to help you manage anxiety.
You can also try alprazolam 0.5mg before sleep or during these episodes. If your symptoms are relieved by alprazolam, this would be another argument in favor of anxiety (this drugs help calm anxiety).
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to ask me!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I tested for: a complete blood count for anemia
- thyroid hormone levels for thyroid dysfunction.
also they hooked me up to a heart monitor for a few hours where you could see PVC's.
I have always had anxiety. why am i now having PVC's and never before?
yesterday they were calm all day and then at night they were crazy for 5 hours.
it felt like they started after i sat in a chair and bent over. They feel like they come from the stomach like i am irritating a nerve or something.
When i take Xanax much lower dose a quarter or less of a .25 it does not relive symptom right away but the next day i feel a less.
- thyroid hormone levels for thyroid dysfunction.
also they hooked me up to a heart monitor for a few hours where you could see PVC's.
I have always had anxiety. why am i now having PVC's and never before?
yesterday they were calm all day and then at night they were crazy for 5 hours.
it felt like they started after i sat in a chair and bent over. They feel like they come from the stomach like i am irritating a nerve or something.
When i take Xanax much lower dose a quarter or less of a .25 it does not relive symptom right away but the next day i feel a less.
Brief Answer:
You have nothing to worry about!
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Thank you for the additional information!
Anxiety could cause all this clinical scenario. It can also mimic other disorders like: stomach pain, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, dizziness, numbness, increase frequency of urination, stomach pain, etc..
The fact that your symptoms are relieved by Xanax is another argument which indicates that anxiety plays an important role in all this clinical scenario.
Regarding PVCs, you should know that they are quite normal and non harmful in a normal heart (resulted by cardiac ultrasound).
So relax! It seems that nothing serious is going on with you!
Just a little anxiety!
You should consult with a psychotherapist or a psychiatrist to help you manage your anxiety. An antidepressant may be helpful!
I would also recommend avoiding straining physical activity and coffee intake, which can trigger your symptoms.
Hope to have been helpful!
Greetings,
Dr. Iliri
You have nothing to worry about!
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Thank you for the additional information!
Anxiety could cause all this clinical scenario. It can also mimic other disorders like: stomach pain, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, dizziness, numbness, increase frequency of urination, stomach pain, etc..
The fact that your symptoms are relieved by Xanax is another argument which indicates that anxiety plays an important role in all this clinical scenario.
Regarding PVCs, you should know that they are quite normal and non harmful in a normal heart (resulted by cardiac ultrasound).
So relax! It seems that nothing serious is going on with you!
Just a little anxiety!
You should consult with a psychotherapist or a psychiatrist to help you manage your anxiety. An antidepressant may be helpful!
I would also recommend avoiding straining physical activity and coffee intake, which can trigger your symptoms.
Hope to have been helpful!
Greetings,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Last Question:
Why have i never had PVC attacks but always had anxiety?
Why have i never had PVC attacks but always had anxiety?
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
As, I already explained to you anxiety can mimic many clinical scenarios (mimicking a heart attack, or respiratory failure, or abdominal pain and cramps, heartburn, etc.).
Anxiety causes activation of the sympathetic nervous system, increasing adrenaline and noradrenaline in your blood, which are responsible for the above symptoms.
There is always increased heart rate and ectopic heart beats.
Maybe you have not noticed those palpitations before and you are more concentrated on your heart lately.
Another possible explanation would be increased anxiety compared to before in this period.
But something is certain: They are not indicative of any serious cardiac disorder.
So relax and try not to think about it any more.
Hope to have clarified some of your uncertainties!
Wishing all the best,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
As, I already explained to you anxiety can mimic many clinical scenarios (mimicking a heart attack, or respiratory failure, or abdominal pain and cramps, heartburn, etc.).
Anxiety causes activation of the sympathetic nervous system, increasing adrenaline and noradrenaline in your blood, which are responsible for the above symptoms.
There is always increased heart rate and ectopic heart beats.
Maybe you have not noticed those palpitations before and you are more concentrated on your heart lately.
Another possible explanation would be increased anxiety compared to before in this period.
But something is certain: They are not indicative of any serious cardiac disorder.
So relax and try not to think about it any more.
Hope to have clarified some of your uncertainties!
Wishing all the best,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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