Hi all, I’ve had a really weird moment earlier where my heart went into a strange rhythm for what felt like about 30seconds to a minute. It was like my heart was beating really fast, or like just generally irregular. I felt kinda ok except a bit faint because I guess I started to panic about it. I’ve been absolutely inundated with stress the last few months. Especially the last 18 months really. I got married and two new jobs , just a lot going on in my life and I had it once back in November last year, the same sort of thing and I had an ECG done, and it came back OK. I feel it’s only on for 15 seconds so how can they possibly know about my heart in that time. And now makes me worry I have something really wrong. I’ve been reading some articles online and PVC, and afib or something and wonder is it that. The articles says it can be caused by stress and anxiety and an abundance of adrenaline. And I used to take propranolol for that. But haven’t so some time and feel maybe I need to go back on it. I’m just generally feeling stressed about a lot of things recently and just wonder is it all down to stress and anxiety. I’m the kinda person who can’t talk to people without feeling anxious tbh. This is ruining my life.
Heart rhythm
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I think EKGs work because a lot of times they're being used to check for damage from a heart attack or something, so those irregularities would be easy to catch. The sort of random irregularities usually get you a holter monitor IF the doctor thinks you have something to be worried about.
Did your heart kinda feel like a fish flopping around in your chest? Because I get those benign weird beats a lot and they feel freaky but they're not dangerous.
Did your heart kinda feel like a fish flopping around in your chest? Because I get those benign weird beats a lot and they feel freaky but they're not dangerous.
bin_tenn
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Consult with your doctor if this continues to occur. It's true that an ECG alone will not find anything if the issue does not occur during the test. It can possibly detect electrical defects that are not intermittent, and it may detect damage from prior heart attacks, but it won't catch an arrhythmia if it doesn't occur during the test.
With that said, yes, anxiety and stress can absolutely cause these episodes and it not be cause for concern. They feel scary, but that doesn't mean they are a serious problem. I've experienced all sorts of anxiety and stress related issues with my heart, mostly racing and skipped beats.
I've also experienced an episode of AFib with RVR (AFib with rapid ventricular rate) back in late 2016. Everyone experiences things differently, but my own experience was extremely obvious. I didn't feel faint or short of breath, but it was very obvious that my heart rhythm was abnormal. Not only that, but my heart rate was over 200 BPM. It was caused by some other things, a "freak incident" or "perfect storm", if you will. I've not had any episodes since.
So yeah, talk to your doctor if you continue to feel concerned and especially if you experience more of these episodes. Try not to panic though, because that will make you feel worse. Easier said than done, but necessary.
With that said, yes, anxiety and stress can absolutely cause these episodes and it not be cause for concern. They feel scary, but that doesn't mean they are a serious problem. I've experienced all sorts of anxiety and stress related issues with my heart, mostly racing and skipped beats.
I've also experienced an episode of AFib with RVR (AFib with rapid ventricular rate) back in late 2016. Everyone experiences things differently, but my own experience was extremely obvious. I didn't feel faint or short of breath, but it was very obvious that my heart rhythm was abnormal. Not only that, but my heart rate was over 200 BPM. It was caused by some other things, a "freak incident" or "perfect storm", if you will. I've not had any episodes since.
So yeah, talk to your doctor if you continue to feel concerned and especially if you experience more of these episodes. Try not to panic though, because that will make you feel worse. Easier said than done, but necessary.
I have tons of PVCs, like several every minute and sometimes 3 or 4 in a row which feels really scary. I had an ablation for them 3 years ago and they were a lot better until recently so I am checking into getting another ablation. It's hard to say what is happening unless they see it recorded. I know the fear that irregular heart rhythm causes. I am trying with everything in me not to go to the dark place I did 3 years ago, but I'm scared all the time. You could do a 24-hour Holter monitor just to see if that catches anything weird. I think everyone gets out of rhythm occasionally, but it's when it's happening a lot that is hard to take.
Jonathan123
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First of all it doesn't take long to do an ECG test. They do know what they are doing. Palpitations, 'missed' heart beats are so common in anxiety that I expect them to occur. If it's any comfort to you it was palpitations that started my GAD many years ago, and I still get them If only I had known then what I know now. If only!! Hindsight can be a real bogey because memory pays a big part in anxiety.
Any sort of stress can cause palpitations. The 'skipped' beats are the heart making up for the lost one. Perfectly normal. Strangely, it's the normality of the symptoms that throw us because we can't see how normal they are when we are under stress. The body is behaving naturally as it will under any sort of stress in the mind. The body reacts according to what we think. Negative thoughts will tell the body 'danger' and it will react accordingly.
Yeah! Jesus it was exactly like that. I would have explained it just that way but figured everyone would think that would be a mega concern but it did feel like that. All fish like, it was trying to break free. Really fast too, just made me really panic. I’ve been suffering anxiety for about 5 years now and that was the weirdest thing. I usually get palpitations but that really was on another level. Just need to accept that’s all it is , I guess instead of thinking I have some mega heart issue. It’s happened to me twice in the space of 6 months, this weird fish type behaviour but I have been so dam stressed, it has to be related right ?
bin_tenn
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Most likely, yes. That flopping sensation is very familiar to me as well, and it tends to happen when I'm experiencing a more severe episode of anxiety or nervousness.
Yeah it sounds like you're getting the same thing I am, which can be stress related though a lot of times it just happens for no reason I can understand. Always freaks me out a little - it feels awful - but it always fixes itself.
restlessduck
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I went to get a holter monitor session done last year when I also had this thought of "oh my god, my heart is beating irregularly". A holter monitor test is basically a 24 hour monitoring session but for people like us, who aren't born with illnesses, an ECG is just alright too. It was completely unnecessary. All it did was calm me down when the doctor told me there's nothing wrong with me or my heart. And I wasted the doctor's time when there's patients who actually need that holter monitoring session done. I remember I was obsessed with measuring my heart rate with my smartwatch and kept doing it when I was exercising, sleeping and working. The numbers that meant nothing cause they weren't precise took control of my life.
I get this "heart skipping" feeling every now and then and when I do it's usually when I have been skipping my cardio workouts or been sitting down for a long time (I work an office job). Do stretches, yoga and some light cardio every now and then. Aerobics and dancing works well.
I get this "heart skipping" feeling every now and then and when I do it's usually when I have been skipping my cardio workouts or been sitting down for a long time (I work an office job). Do stretches, yoga and some light cardio every now and then. Aerobics and dancing works well.
JustMe
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After covid I started getting SVT episodes on top of PACs and PVCs.
To me PVC feels like a skipped beat or hard thud. PAC like a flutter. SVT feels like a lot of either of these continuously for a few (or more) seconds or beats.
When I'm super stressed I get them more but sometimes I get them for no reason.
To me PVC feels like a skipped beat or hard thud. PAC like a flutter. SVT feels like a lot of either of these continuously for a few (or more) seconds or beats.
When I'm super stressed I get them more but sometimes I get them for no reason.
During and after Covid I started getting horrible heart palpitations where I get all kinds of flutters in my chest and hard thumps sometimes, one right after the other. Happens everyday, several times a day without fail.
I was referred to a cardiologist and they did a monitor for 3 days, ekg, stress test and an echocardiogram. Everything was normal. It’s been 3 years of this happening daily and I am still here. Most heart palpitations are benign.
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I was referred to a cardiologist and they did a monitor for 3 days, ekg, stress test and an echocardiogram. Everything was normal. It’s been 3 years of this happening daily and I am still here. Most heart palpitations are benign.
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Jonathan123
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Whoa!!! Lets not run away with ourselves. Palpitations or so called 'missed' heart beats are one of the most common symptoms of anxiety. If anyone has been checked out and told that their heart is fine, then accept the fact that almost everyone with anxiety will get them. It was palpitations that set me on the GAD path many years ago. If I had known then what I know now. I wore out all the ECG machines in the County, but was still not convinced. 
IF!! I still get them if I am a bit stressed, but I just accept them and carry on. I am talking about 30/40 years ago and as far as I can see they have done no harm.
We need to accept all these weird symptoms once we have been told we have no physical problem. If we continue to fear them and anticipate their arrival, then our lives will become very upsetting. Let it all come with total acceptance.
IF!! I still get them if I am a bit stressed, but I just accept them and carry on. I am talking about 30/40 years ago and as far as I can see they have done no harm.We need to accept all these weird symptoms once we have been told we have no physical problem. If we continue to fear them and anticipate their arrival, then our lives will become very upsetting. Let it all come with total acceptance.
Sophiexoxo
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As someone who suffers severe cardiac anxiety and has also had episodes palpitations and flutters & EKGs & holter monitors- your comment really isn’t helping the original poster. You’ve basically discounted everything that everyone else has said about it being more likely anxiety & benign.
JustMe
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Why would you reply with such an ignorant comment? If you like to cause drama, please go somewhere else. People with heart anxiety do not need to be reading a comment like yours which is not only incorrect but causes more anxiety. Most heart palpitations are benign and if Dr says you are ok and have a healthy heart then there is no reason to fear these palpitations. Please think before you post.
Hi mollyfin can you talk a little more about the feelings you get leading up to this happening to you? - do you feel tense, stressed and anxious ?
I freaked out yesterday because I have a virus and a Decent fever then I noticed my heart rate was faster and beat harder. I couldn’t ignore it.
I think that’s normal but I also think in the past that I would have just chalked that up to being sick. But now I analyze everything.
I recently went to the doctor and my blood pressure was really good.
Anxiety is relentless. Grateful for all of you!
I think that’s normal but I also think in the past that I would have just chalked that up to being sick. But now I analyze everything.
I recently went to the doctor and my blood pressure was really good.
Anxiety is relentless. Grateful for all of you!
I’ve been told by multiple doctors that heart rate increases when sick, even in reference to my 6 year old daughter