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What Causes Heart Fluttering When Under Stress?
Question: Sometimes when iam under stress or worry- I wake up to my heart fluttering or moving or beating rapidly. After 10 minutes or so the fluttering/ beating subsides. Is this a serious condition? Can this type of fluttering or rapid beating cause damage to my heart?
Brief Answer:
You have nothing to worry about!
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome back on HCM!
I understand your concern and would explain that it is quite normal to have these symptoms during anxiety or emotional stress.
You should cause that during an emotional or physical stress, the sympathetic nervous system is activated (fight or flight response), which releases in our blood a big amount of chatecholamines (adrenaline and noradrenaline). These substances act in our heart by increasing the hear rate, thus leading to palpitations and even ectopic heart beats.
Plasma levels of adrenaline get low after 10 minutes from a stressful stimuli (this is the time needed from our body to metabolize this substance). Nevertheless these symptoms could even last longer than 10 minutes, during a prolonged stressful situation.
So relax! You have nothing to worry about!
This physiological reaction happens in every healthy person. It does not cause any harm to your body or your heart.
If these symptoms become persistent during most of the time or are associated with other symptoms like shortness of breath, dizziness, changes in blood pressure, I would recommend performing these tests:
- a resting ECG
- an ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring to examine your heart rhythm during the day
- some blood lab tests (complete blood count for anemia, thyroid hormone levels for thyroid dysfunction, blood electrolytes).
I would recommend avoiding stressful situation, energy drinks and coffee intake, as they could trigger your symptomatology.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
You have nothing to worry about!
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome back on HCM!
I understand your concern and would explain that it is quite normal to have these symptoms during anxiety or emotional stress.
You should cause that during an emotional or physical stress, the sympathetic nervous system is activated (fight or flight response), which releases in our blood a big amount of chatecholamines (adrenaline and noradrenaline). These substances act in our heart by increasing the hear rate, thus leading to palpitations and even ectopic heart beats.
Plasma levels of adrenaline get low after 10 minutes from a stressful stimuli (this is the time needed from our body to metabolize this substance). Nevertheless these symptoms could even last longer than 10 minutes, during a prolonged stressful situation.
So relax! You have nothing to worry about!
This physiological reaction happens in every healthy person. It does not cause any harm to your body or your heart.
If these symptoms become persistent during most of the time or are associated with other symptoms like shortness of breath, dizziness, changes in blood pressure, I would recommend performing these tests:
- a resting ECG
- an ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring to examine your heart rhythm during the day
- some blood lab tests (complete blood count for anemia, thyroid hormone levels for thyroid dysfunction, blood electrolytes).
I would recommend avoiding stressful situation, energy drinks and coffee intake, as they could trigger your symptomatology.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your response - since this phenomena has occurred for more than a year I wore an event / holter monitor for one month recently. I am scheduled to see the cardiologist tomorrow to get his opinion. I've been trying to minimize stress - but it seems that it appears unexpectedly from different sources: family, work, social situations. The good news is that lately it has diminished somewhat.
Brief Answer:
My answer as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
I am sure that your cardiac check up will result normal.
I would recommend you to try to manage better your anxiety. Consulting with a specialist of this field could be helpful.
A lot of physical activity (walking, yoga, recreational sports) would also help you to manage better your anxiety.
If you have any other uncertainties please feel free to ask me.
You can ask me directly at any time at the link below:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=69765
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
My answer as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
I am sure that your cardiac check up will result normal.
I would recommend you to try to manage better your anxiety. Consulting with a specialist of this field could be helpful.
A lot of physical activity (walking, yoga, recreational sports) would also help you to manage better your anxiety.
If you have any other uncertainties please feel free to ask me.
You can ask me directly at any time at the link below:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=69765
Best wishes,
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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