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Suggest Treatment For Palpitations Sensation, Bloating, Heart Burn And Acid Reflux

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Posted on Wed, 3 Feb 2016
Question: Every once in a while I have the sensation that I have palpitations. It usually happens more a night time and I also noticed that my stomach feels very bloated and feels tight. I take medicine for anxiety for about a year now and before I started taking this medicine (lexapro) every time I had this scenario I would end up in an ER thinking I was having a heart attack. I've been seeing a cardiologist for the past year and a half. Initially he did several test , including an stress test, an echocardiogram, ekg, etc. all was normal to him but I see him every 6 months now and my visits are very short. He does an ekg and talks to me for about a minute and tells me that everything is fine. Sometimes I wonder and I'm hoping that he's not missing anything. Now, I also suffer of heartburn and acid reflux very often. I take medicine for this from time to time but I haven't been very consistent with it. Another thing that happens when I feel this sensations of palpitations is that sometimes I do pass gas and then I also wonder if this has anything to do with the feeling of the palpitations. Sometimes when I'm very careful to see what this sensation of palpitations are it makes me feel that it could be some air passing through my chest. Could this be possible? . Another scenario is when I go to bed I lay down on my side , whether right or left , and I also feel this sensation of palpitations. Any words of advice? What are your thoughts on this?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Welcome back on HCM!

I understand your concern and would explain that some palpitations are usually associated to anxiety.

They are explained by the catecholamines ( adrenaline and noradrenaline) released during anxiety.

Your performed cardiac tests exclude any cardiac disorders.
Nevertheless I recommend you performing an ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring to examine your heart rhythm trends during the day.

I would also advise performing thyroid hormone levels, because thyroid dysfunction is known to cause palpitations.

Regarding the gas feeling, it is probably related to your gastroesofageal reflux or dyspepsia.

If all the above tests result normal, I would advise you to discuss with your attending physician the possibility of raising the dose of lexapro in order to have a better control of anxiety.

Some modifications of your life style would be helpful ( a diet with low caffeine and spicy food) and a lot of physical activity.

Hope to have been helpful!

Kind regards,

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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Answered by
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Dr. Ilir Sharka

Cardiologist

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 9536 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Palpitations Sensation, Bloating, Heart Burn And Acid Reflux

Brief Answer: I would explain as follows: Detailed Answer: Hello! Welcome back on HCM! I understand your concern and would explain that some palpitations are usually associated to anxiety. They are explained by the catecholamines ( adrenaline and noradrenaline) released during anxiety. Your performed cardiac tests exclude any cardiac disorders. Nevertheless I recommend you performing an ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring to examine your heart rhythm trends during the day. I would also advise performing thyroid hormone levels, because thyroid dysfunction is known to cause palpitations. Regarding the gas feeling, it is probably related to your gastroesofageal reflux or dyspepsia. If all the above tests result normal, I would advise you to discuss with your attending physician the possibility of raising the dose of lexapro in order to have a better control of anxiety. Some modifications of your life style would be helpful ( a diet with low caffeine and spicy food) and a lot of physical activity. Hope to have been helpful! Kind regards, Dr. Iliri