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What Causes Heart Palpitations And Burning Sensation All Over The Body?

Posted on Wed, 2 Dec 2015

Question: Hello, I feel like my whole body is burning, like if I had a lot of spicy food. My heart is racing and my mouth was dry. It seemed to have been triggered after eating out at a Japanese restaurant and then having maybe too much sugar? I don't know. My arms feel a little numb and my temples feel pressure. I have high cholesterol in the 300s. I don't want to take mess. I preference to change diet.

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (44 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Most likely chinese restaurant syndrome (due to high MSG foods)

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thank you for asking HCM.

I have gone through your query. Your problem can be most likely chinese restaurant syndrome. This is due to consumption of food containing MSG (monosodium glutamate). Avoid MSG containing foods in future. Japanese foods contain Soy sauce which has high MSG.

This usually get resolved after sometime. But if symptoms are more troublesome then approach ER. In such case ECG should be taken and vitals should be checked.

Your cholesterol level is very high. Thyroid profile test should be done to rule out hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism also causes high cholesterol levels. If it is that then thyroxine substitution will help to normalize this. If that is normal then diet , exercise and lipid lowering drugs like statins should be taken.

Hope this may help you. Let me know if anything not clear.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Nishad BN (24 minutes later)

Thank you so much for your answer. I had my physical in September and my thyroid levels were normal. I was at the Japanese restaurant on Saturday and wonder if that should have gone away by now? I have eaten there in the past but did not have this reaction. It got much worse yesterday when I had two pieces of dark chocolate and some dates. My heart was pounding and the antsiness and burning got really bad. I did not eat last night because I thought and sandwich, bread would turn to sugar and maybe that is the problem? I am mostly vegetarian and I am not used to MSG. My Dr. Put me on Crestor but I don't want to take it because of side effects. I was on statins before and got very bad muscular pain. I preference to go on a diet and exercise, which I have started since my physical in September. What do,you think of the timing with the restaurant, also some of my numbness and jitteriness.

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Explained below.

Detailed Answer:
Welcome again.

Thank you for your follow up query.

If you have food on saturday from restaurant then most likely not related to that. High cholesterol can give cardiac problems dysrhythmias or block. So better to have an ECG to rule out that. Blood pressure should be measured also.

If you can't tolerate with statins (crestor) then cholesterol lowering drugs like ezetimibe can be can be considered. This doesn't have such side effects. Diet and exercise usually won't be effective for a cholesterol level like yours. Taking oily fishes like sardines and mackeral is good also.

Let me know if anything not clear.
I am happy to help you.
Thanks.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar