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What Causes Irregular Heart Beats While Having Anxiety?

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Posted on Thu, 2 Jun 2016
Question: Hello, I am a 19 year old male who has been suffering from anxiety and stress for a long time. This past month has been a stressful one, I'm very concerned about my heart. I'm always thinking about my heart and scared of having a heart attack. I don't eat the best foods, I work out occasionally, I'm not over weight, I'm relatively healthy I think. My symptoms are; Weird heart beats, palpations, (fast and slow heart rate ), fatigue, slight dizzyness, pains in arms and back and shoulders, sometimes jaw, slight chest pains that come and go, shortness of breathe, I feel dazed and out of it etc. These symptoms Come and go. I've been to the doctor and they've said its all anxiety and stress but something just always feels off. I'm scared I'm gonna have a heart attack because these all seem like heart attack symptoms!! The doc listened to my heart and said it sounds good, I got blood work and it came back good, I'm planning on getting my heart monitored. My heart rate just seems rather high and just inconsistent and all these weird symptoms I'm experiencing just are freaking me out, what could be going on? I am a huge hypochondriac.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (21 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Anxiety if medical causes ruled out.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I have gone through your details. I understand your concerns.
You have had your blood tests done which were normal. You doctor also feels that your heart sounds are normal. You still have doubts about having some Cardiac issues.
In such a case, you can go for ECG, TMT and ECHO (under your cardiologist's supervision). If the reports are still normal, then we can be sure that this is just because of anxiety.

Anxiety disorder can manifest as symptoms pertaining to any of the body system.
There is a sympathetic stimulation in body during anxiety which causes all these symptoms, commonly racing heart, chest pain and shortness of breath.
And, Anxiety disorder is a diagnosis of exclusion. This means that anxiety disorder should only be labelled only if the related medical disorders are ruled out.

However, you can still practice relaxation exercises like slow and deep breathing and meditation. This will help you anyhow.

You can consult your doctor for respective tests and investigations. Then we can discuss further on the treatment, once we are sure that this is only due to anxiety.

Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask further.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (13 hours later)
Thanks. Also at random times my heart will just start racing, like very very fast and it's frightening, it lasts for quite some time then goes away, it could be from the stress and anxiety I know that, but what could this be?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (13 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Probably panic attack.

Detailed Answer:
You are most welcome.

This could be a symptom of a panic attack.
There is adrenaline rush in the body which increases heart rate.

This is a very common symptom due to anxiety.

As I mentioned earlier, relaxation exercises will help you.

I wish for your speedy recovery.
Thanks.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Shubham Mehta

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 2145 Questions

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What Causes Irregular Heart Beats While Having Anxiety?

Brief Answer: Anxiety if medical causes ruled out. Detailed Answer: Hello Welcome to HCM. I have gone through your details. I understand your concerns. You have had your blood tests done which were normal. You doctor also feels that your heart sounds are normal. You still have doubts about having some Cardiac issues. In such a case, you can go for ECG, TMT and ECHO (under your cardiologist's supervision). If the reports are still normal, then we can be sure that this is just because of anxiety. Anxiety disorder can manifest as symptoms pertaining to any of the body system. There is a sympathetic stimulation in body during anxiety which causes all these symptoms, commonly racing heart, chest pain and shortness of breath. And, Anxiety disorder is a diagnosis of exclusion. This means that anxiety disorder should only be labelled only if the related medical disorders are ruled out. However, you can still practice relaxation exercises like slow and deep breathing and meditation. This will help you anyhow. You can consult your doctor for respective tests and investigations. Then we can discuss further on the treatment, once we are sure that this is only due to anxiety. Hope this helps. Feel free to ask further. Regards.