Heart Attack Fear

Hi all, I haven't struggled with health anxiety for a bit so this has thrown me for a loop.

The past 4 days, I have been having persistent heart palpitations. If it was just one or 2, I wouldn't worry. But it's been pretty frequent. This morning, I counted at least 10 in one hour! And on top of that, I have been feeling unusually fatigued.

I am a 20 year old woman and I am in relatively good shape. But I can't shake the feeling that this is the precursor to a medical emergency. Even worse - I checked "doctor google" and saw that many of my symptoms are symptoms that women feel in the days leading up to a heart attack. I'm so scared that I can't focus on any of my school work, and I've been cancelling plans because I'm too scared to drive by myself God forbid anything happen.

Any advice or reassurance would be greatly appreciated.

Hi

This is just a courtesy reply to let you know that your post was moved from its original place to a sub-forum that is more relevant to your issue.

This is nothing personal - it just enables us to keep posts about the same problems in the relevant forums so other members with any experience with the issues can find them more easily.

Please also read this post:

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=213239

Yeah, I’ve been where you are, could have posted the exact same thing 10 years ago. I’m still here though so I guess that’s a bonus lol. If it’s been awhile since your last physical, it wouldn’t hurt to contact your doc and request to be checked out. But definitely do not listen to Dr. Google. That guy will screw with your head at every opportunity lol. All of a sudden you’ll have symptoms you didn’t even know you could have. Hang in there!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by in-love-but-im-lazy

Hi all, I haven't struggled with health anxiety for a bit so this has thrown me for a loop.

---

You haven't successfully addressed the disorder then.:huh:

Quote:

---

The past 4 days, I have been having persistent heart palpitations. If it was just one or 2, I wouldn't worry. But it's been pretty frequent. This morning, I counted at least 10 in one hour! And on top of that, I have been feeling unusually fatigued.

---

First thing that springs to mind is how many stimulants you're ingesting - coffee, chocolate, carbonated drinks?

Secondly - school work. (stress?)

Thirdly, the more you fixate and stress over this, the more symptoms you will get.

Quote:

---

But I can't shake the feeling that this is the precursor to a medical emergency.

---

Classic with panic attacks. Horrible feeling.

Quote:

---

Even worse - I checked "doctor google" and saw that many of my symptoms are symptoms that women feel in the days leading up to a heart attack.

---

Dr Google to someone with HA is like what green Kryptonite was to Superman.

So, you have chest pain which never goes away? And you are short of breath etc? Wheezing? Because most of the other symptoms listed for heart attack in women are classic with anxiety - as is the feeling of foreboding that you're going to peg it at any second.

As always, it's common sense to run any new symptom, especially chest pain, by your GP. But the fact that this isn't your first dip in the HA pool suggests, to me, that this is anxiety?

Go see your GP. Have them reassure you, and really get to grips with your HA which has only been having a kip until you've given it something else to latch onto.

Hi everyone, thank you for the helpful comments and suggestions. I waited a few days then went to see my doctor just to put my mind at ease - turns out I'm slightly anemic. Not ideal, but I'm relieved to have an explanation for the palpitations. Hope you're all well!