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What Causes Rise In Heart Rate Anxiety?
I am trying to determine reason the I get increased heart rates and feeling of being anxious, jittery. About two weeks ago I went to the ER as I thought I was having a heart attack. I was having a cold sweat and my heart was beating so fast I thought it was going to explode. They ran chest xrays, ekg, blood work and everything was normal as im a fairly fit individual. I think about it often as the fear of this happening again worries me. Im assuming proper diet and rest could cure or help in some way but I feel like I dont know whats wrong as i dont drink or smoke or take supplements. Could it be a combination of stress and lack of rest as well
Mon, 5 Oct 2015
Greetings! Thank you for your question and welcome to HCM. I understand your concern.
There are a lot of people with anxiety that we deal with every day. Since all the tests done in the emergency room came back normal, then my opinion is that there is nothing to worry about, although I understand your concern. I think you are led by a constant fear that another episode is going to happen and frequently asking yourself "What if the second time I will really suffer a heart attack and die?" "What if all doctors and tests are wrong?"
Let us walk together through this. Fear is a type of anxiety and "in our language" is called situational anxiety. All types of anxieties are accompanied by a marked elevation of adrenalin levels in the system. This is featured with heart rate increasing, blood pressure rising, dizziness, sometimes even pain in certain areas and shortness of breath. Heart beats become really fast and pounding. My opinion is that there is nothing to worry about and that it is normal to be frightened when something new is happening to you. However, if this is affecting your quality of life or work, I would recommend two things: first, a 24-hour rhythm monitor, to precisely exclude the heart origin of this sensation; second, a consult with a clinical psychologist or a psychiatrist would help, to discuss about your sensation and about the prescription of a sedative from the class of benzodiazepines.
I hope I have been of help.
Kind regards,
Dr. Meriton
There are a lot of people with anxiety that we deal with every day. Since all the tests done in the emergency room came back normal, then my opinion is that there is nothing to worry about, although I understand your concern. I think you are led by a constant fear that another episode is going to happen and frequently asking yourself "What if the second time I will really suffer a heart attack and die?" "What if all doctors and tests are wrong?"
Let us walk together through this. Fear is a type of anxiety and "in our language" is called situational anxiety. All types of anxieties are accompanied by a marked elevation of adrenalin levels in the system. This is featured with heart rate increasing, blood pressure rising, dizziness, sometimes even pain in certain areas and shortness of breath. Heart beats become really fast and pounding. My opinion is that there is nothing to worry about and that it is normal to be frightened when something new is happening to you. However, if this is affecting your quality of life or work, I would recommend two things: first, a 24-hour rhythm monitor, to precisely exclude the heart origin of this sensation; second, a consult with a clinical psychologist or a psychiatrist would help, to discuss about your sensation and about the prescription of a sedative from the class of benzodiazepines.
I hope I have been of help.
Kind regards,
Dr. Meriton
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