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What Do The Following Blood And Holter Test Reports Indicate?
Question: Hello Dr. IIir Sharka,
I have had severe health anxiety, in particular over my heart. Three years ago I went through a full cardiac evaluation (multiple EKG/ECG's, Stress, Echo, Holter, Blood Tests) at my request and all came back normal. Since then, I have been totally fine, no symptoms and no concerns. Recently, I had a full panic attack that caused me to revert to focusing on my heart and I had another run of EKG/ECG's done along with Blood Tests and a Holter test that came back normal. The report stated: 0 runs of VT, 0 runs of SVT, tachycardia 16% of time, bradycardia 24% of the time, with no significant pauses, 3 PVC's, 1 PAC, and he concluded by saying again no concerning arrythmias.
To treat anxiety and the fast heart rate (when anxious) he put me on a betablocker Propranolol (Inderal) of which I only take one 10mg tablet per day for the past month or so.
Given the multiple good reports, how assured should I be that I am healthy and can resume living without worrying all of the time? The anxiety has hindered a lot of my daily activities and I also have worried that the betablockers will end up hurting me, but they are definitley helping. I know it is anxiety, but to hear from a Dr. helps. Thank you,
I have had severe health anxiety, in particular over my heart. Three years ago I went through a full cardiac evaluation (multiple EKG/ECG's, Stress, Echo, Holter, Blood Tests) at my request and all came back normal. Since then, I have been totally fine, no symptoms and no concerns. Recently, I had a full panic attack that caused me to revert to focusing on my heart and I had another run of EKG/ECG's done along with Blood Tests and a Holter test that came back normal. The report stated: 0 runs of VT, 0 runs of SVT, tachycardia 16% of time, bradycardia 24% of the time, with no significant pauses, 3 PVC's, 1 PAC, and he concluded by saying again no concerning arrythmias.
To treat anxiety and the fast heart rate (when anxious) he put me on a betablocker Propranolol (Inderal) of which I only take one 10mg tablet per day for the past month or so.
Given the multiple good reports, how assured should I be that I am healthy and can resume living without worrying all of the time? The anxiety has hindered a lot of my daily activities and I also have worried that the betablockers will end up hurting me, but they are definitley helping. I know it is anxiety, but to hear from a Dr. helps. Thank you,
Brief Answer:
Your symptoms are not related to any cardiac disorders.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome back on HCM!
I carefully passed through your question and would explain that all your symptoms seem to be related to anxiety.
Your symptoms are not typical of any cardiac disorders. Your cardiac performed tests have completely excluded any underlying possible cardiac disorder.
So just relax! You have nothing to worry about!
You do not need to perform further tests to be sure that every thing is OK with your heart. Your performed tests are more than sufficient for this purpose. They have shown a normal and healthy heart: just we expect to see in a young adult of your age.
So, I would recommend you to focus on your anxiety.
You should know that emotional and physical stress (including anxiety and panic attacks) lead to the activation of sympathetic nervous system, causing an increase in chatecholamines (adrenaline and noradrenaline) in your blood. These hormones are responsible for all your symptoms (which is also called "fight or flight response"). It is a normal reaction of our body towards an external stimulation.
During anxiety an irrational fear is present, even without a concrete external stimulating factor.
The best thing to do in this case is try to control this fears.
Consulting with a specialist of this field (psychiatrist, psychotherapist) is needed to help find the best treatment options to manage better your anxiety. An antidepressant may be needed as long term therapy.
Yoga, recreational sports and a lot of physical activity can also be really helpful (in fact they act like antidepressants in our brain, leading to certain molecular changes which are of great benefits to our brain and mind).
Regarding Propranolol, I would explain that it can be really helpful during anxiety or panic attacks. But, considering your young age there is a possible risk of reducing daily physical performance (which is a common adverse effect of betablockers such as Propranolol).
That is why I would recommend taking it only for short periods of time or during panic attacks.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
If you have any other uncertainties, please do not hesitate to ask me!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Your symptoms are not related to any cardiac disorders.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome back on HCM!
I carefully passed through your question and would explain that all your symptoms seem to be related to anxiety.
Your symptoms are not typical of any cardiac disorders. Your cardiac performed tests have completely excluded any underlying possible cardiac disorder.
So just relax! You have nothing to worry about!
You do not need to perform further tests to be sure that every thing is OK with your heart. Your performed tests are more than sufficient for this purpose. They have shown a normal and healthy heart: just we expect to see in a young adult of your age.
So, I would recommend you to focus on your anxiety.
You should know that emotional and physical stress (including anxiety and panic attacks) lead to the activation of sympathetic nervous system, causing an increase in chatecholamines (adrenaline and noradrenaline) in your blood. These hormones are responsible for all your symptoms (which is also called "fight or flight response"). It is a normal reaction of our body towards an external stimulation.
During anxiety an irrational fear is present, even without a concrete external stimulating factor.
The best thing to do in this case is try to control this fears.
Consulting with a specialist of this field (psychiatrist, psychotherapist) is needed to help find the best treatment options to manage better your anxiety. An antidepressant may be needed as long term therapy.
Yoga, recreational sports and a lot of physical activity can also be really helpful (in fact they act like antidepressants in our brain, leading to certain molecular changes which are of great benefits to our brain and mind).
Regarding Propranolol, I would explain that it can be really helpful during anxiety or panic attacks. But, considering your young age there is a possible risk of reducing daily physical performance (which is a common adverse effect of betablockers such as Propranolol).
That is why I would recommend taking it only for short periods of time or during panic attacks.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
If you have any other uncertainties, please do not hesitate to ask me!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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