Palpitations - when to worry!

[jigglypuff81]

Hi

I know there are a few threads on this subject already but I can't find any recent ones? Sorry if I have missed them.

Does anyone have experience of palpitations that last HOURS. I've been having them on and off for a long time now, probably 18 months-2 years, but literally just one or two very short episodes per day. The last couple of days I have had episodes that are lasting hours. Yesterday they started at 4pm and continued until gone 8pm, and then the same today - started at around 4.30pm and still going on now (7.10pm). I don't have a doctors appointment to discuss until 23rd October!

I completely know that anxiety can cause palpitations, but I have dealt with severe anxiety my entire life and nothing much is different at this point in my life that I can explain these palps away as simply "anxiety". I'm likely in perimenopause which is possibly also contributing but good old google is telling me I need to seek urgent medical attention because palpitations shouldn't last for hours! I am on the verge of taking myself to A&E but a lot of that is the panic talking and I don't know what to do :-( HELP please

[NoraB]

I completely know that anxiety can cause palpitations, but I have dealt with severe anxiety my entire life and nothing much is different at this point in my life that I can explain these palps away as simply "anxiety". I'm likely in perimenopause which is possibly also contributing but good old google is telling me I need to seek urgent medical attention because palpitations shouldn't last for hours! I am on the verge of taking myself to A&E but a lot of that is the panic talking and I don't know what to do :-( HELP please

Over half of peri-menopausal women experience palpitations - it's a common symptom... (It's also a very unnerving one)

I'm no doc, but this looks like the anxiety/menopause combo that I went through. I had heart tests and they were always clear, even when it felt like my heart was racing away and banging like an owd barn door in a gale...

Also, the timings of these latest ones suggest you're ingesting stimulants that might be contributing (What do you eat and drink at tea-time?)

Another "perk" of the menopause is that food and drink that we historically tolerated well start to cause problems (alcohol, caffeine - dairy etc)

When I get my palpitations, I do a breathing exercise. (box breathing) and that naturally slows the heart down. (Also, put your wrists into some cold water)

Adding fear to the symptom will give you more of the same, and more often so it's worthwhile trying out methods to slow the heartrate down...

[jigglypuff81]

Thank you for replying.

I thought it could be something I am eating or drinking but I don't drink caffeine, tea, coffee or fizzy/energy drinks. I only drink water/squash.

I have had them all day today, on and off, started at work around 9am (before I had eaten anything and had only had water to drink) and have continued all day to the point I am still having them now. It's so panic inducing :-(

[jigglypuff81]

Sorry to go on, it helps to write it down, I don't expect replies :-)

I don't have a racing heart - I check my pulse (obsessively) and it's normal. I have what feel like extra or missed beats, sometimes they feel like flutters, more often they feel like a thump in the chest.

[B_uk87]

Sorry you are having a rough time. I'm experiencing the same and I have asked for a blood test to check iron levels etc. I'm wondering if mine are worse at the moment due to hormones. It's a horrible feeling isn't it. Just wanted to say you're not alone. Research pressure points on hand to help anxiety, I've found this helps a bit, hopefully it can help you a bit too!

[NoraB]

Sorry to go on, it helps to write it down, I don't expect replies :-)

I don't have a racing heart - I check my pulse (obsessively) and it's normal.

Obviously it's not a good idea to keep checking like this as any perceived anomaly and you'll go into fight or flight which will feed into the heart fears you have...

These sound like ectopic beats - of which a daily percentage is perfectly normal.

Always best to get checked out by your GP if you're concerned and they can order a monitor for you to wear over 24 hours...

I've found that I have more ectopic beats when I burn scented candles or use certain chemicals..

If you burn candles or incense etc, try leaving them off and see if it improves...

I have had all manner of heart symptoms over the last 13 years and they keep telling me my ticker is perfectly fine...

[jigglypuff81]

Well, I ended up in A&E last night for hours :-(

I tried to get an earlier appointment with the GP - you have to fill in a form on the surgery website - but they sent me a text saying I should go to urgent care immediately as, by that point, I had been having non-stop palpitations for over 10 hours. Over 20 missed beats caught on a 2 minute ECG, and doctor also felt over 10 missed beats when taking my pulse from wrist. He said "not AF" but something is going on! They wanted to admit me, which had me spiralling, but after discussing ECGs with medics I was told I could go home. I have a GP appointment tomorrow for bloods and have been referred for 24 hour ECG. I was given propranolol at A&E which I have taken - it definitely hasn't stopped the palps but I have had less today than I had yesterday. They seem to think it is a combo of high anxiety and perimenopause but want to rule out a deficiency/thyroid issue. I personally can't believe that good old anxiety alone is doing this! Just thought I would update for anyone reading/worrying/having same issue.

[NoraB]

The menopause can affect the heart like this. (Hormone imbalance messes with the body as a whole)

But, severe anxiety absolutely can do this... (I ended up in A&E with heart attack symptoms which were due to anxiety)

Is the doc running a full blood test on you as well? (some vitamin deficiencies can cause heart symptoms)

[Sparkling_Fairy]

I just had a cardiologist work-up. He said I had quite a few extra beats, but nothing malignant. He said they're usually caused by a combination of anxiety and hormones (so hello peri-menopause, look no further!).
He also said to me: your heart beats over 100.000 times per day, not every beat is going to be perfect. I say that line to myself every day!

[jigglypuff81]

The menopause can affect the heart like this. (Hormone imbalance messes with the body as a whole)

But, severe anxiety absolutely can do this... (I ended up in A&E with heart attack symptoms which were due to anxiety)

Is the doc running a full blood test on you as well? (some vitamin deficiencies can cause heart symptoms)

Yes, I had bloods today to check for vitamin/mineral deficiencies, and also thyroid and something else I can't remember/spell - maybe ferityn? Found out that I have also been referred for an echo, which is of course making me think something is definitely wrong.

They were less frequent today but started up again about an hour ago and have been pretty much non-stop since.

Thanks for replying to me :-)