Re: Palpitations - How do people manage them?
Palpitations are not always caused by anxiety alone, it's just that anxiety can keep them going. Sometimes they can be caused by eating and drinking anything that might irritate your digestive system and raise your heartrate such as caffeine, smoking, alcohol etc, as the two are connected. Sometimes they can be caused by bending down from the waist, or 'stooping' as this posture can press on the vagus nerve which then interrupts the heartbeat.
Sometimes they can be caused by extremes of temperature as this can alter breathing patterns...I get more of them in really cold weather or when I first get into a cold swimming pool...also with anything emotional such as crying or laughing hysterically, or when you first fall in love, and some people get them while having sex. Some of us are just more aware of these palps is all it is. Even my GP suffers with them so he knows how uncomfortable they are.
So finding your trigger for them might well ease them. I've lived with them for over 40 years. They started for me in my early 20s and i'm now 63. I've had all the tests over alot of those years and the palps have never turned into something to worry about. I'm still going.
I did discover the magic of beta blockers in 2007. They were given to me initially for raised bp but a bonus of them was how much they calmed my heart down and reduced the palps to almost nothing. So I've been taking them ever since. They're not mind-altering drugs like tranquilisers (benzos) are and can be taken as and when needed. Some people take them before flying or before an exam for example.
But ultimately, losing the fear of palpitations can make a big difference to calming them down. There are alot of members here who suffer with them so why not read up on them...there's loads of information about them here.
Last edited by Catherine S; 18-07-17 at 18:20.
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Without fear there cannot be courage - Christopher Paolini