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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Could Heart Beat Skipping And Anxiety Be Smoking Withdrawal Symptoms?

My heart feels like its skipping a beat every now and again and my lungs are killing me and i can barely catch a breath. I do suffer from anxiety and i did just quit smoking 3 weeks ago. Is all these symptoms something wrong with my heart or im just suffering from withdrawels?
Mon, 31 Aug 2015
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Cardiologist 's  Response
Hello!

Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!

Regarding your concern, I would explain that your symptoms seem to be related to anxiety and psychological withdrawal syndrome.

It is known that anxiety is associated with ectopic heart beats and arrhythmia.

But, a cardiac disorder can not be excluded by this symptomatology.

I would like to know your age and if you have any family history for any cardiac disease.

I recommend consulting with your GP for a careful physical examination, a resting ECG, a chest x ray and some lab tests like : complete blood count, fasting glucose, kidney and liver function tests, blood electrolytes, thyroid hormone levels).

If suspicions for a cardiac arrhythmia or lung disorder are raised, you need to perform an ambulatory 24 hour ECG monitoring and respiratory function tests.

If all the above tests result normal, the most probable diagnosis would be anxiety related to smoking withdrawal syndrome.

In such a case, I would recommend consulting with a psychiatrist to consider the possibility of starting anxiolytic drugs or an antidepressant to prevent these episodes.

Hope to have been of help!

Greetings!

Dr. Iliri
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Could Heart Beat Skipping And Anxiety Be Smoking Withdrawal Symptoms?

Hello! Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM! Regarding your concern, I would explain that your symptoms seem to be related to anxiety and psychological withdrawal syndrome. It is known that anxiety is associated with ectopic heart beats and arrhythmia. But, a cardiac disorder can not be excluded by this symptomatology. I would like to know your age and if you have any family history for any cardiac disease. I recommend consulting with your GP for a careful physical examination, a resting ECG, a chest x ray and some lab tests like : complete blood count, fasting glucose, kidney and liver function tests, blood electrolytes, thyroid hormone levels). If suspicions for a cardiac arrhythmia or lung disorder are raised, you need to perform an ambulatory 24 hour ECG monitoring and respiratory function tests. If all the above tests result normal, the most probable diagnosis would be anxiety related to smoking withdrawal syndrome. In such a case, I would recommend consulting with a psychiatrist to consider the possibility of starting anxiolytic drugs or an antidepressant to prevent these episodes. Hope to have been of help! Greetings! Dr. Iliri