heart palpitations?

[mstuhr]

Coffee

Howdy,
I am 57 and about five years ago I was working a stressful job. 12-14 hours a day. Six and seven days a week and three to four hours of rush hour drive time on top of it. I would drink two pots of coffee a day and a good amount of cola on top of it. No big deal, I had lived like this most of my life. When my heart would near rattle out of my chest it sent me to the doctor thinking I was going to die. The good doctor O'Donnel tested and and when all was said and done told me to lay off the caffiene.
I told her I had done this all my life. She was quick to remind me I was not as young as I used to be.
I laid off the soda and it went away. I can still get it to do it if I am on a 24 hour drive or other activity that where I caffinate around the clock.
Could be as easy as that or it could be something that might kill you.
I do my best to find out more than "It's no big deal".
Good luck
Mike

 

[BOB THE PALINDROME]

the doctor tells me there no big deal

He's wrong, period. If you have a concern regarding your health and that's his answer, you need a new doctor. If you can feel these palpitations under normal circumstances, somethings wrong. It could be something physical or maybe stress. Always remember, management of your health is your responsiblility. If you're not satified or comfortable, the issue is not resolved.

If your Doc did an EKG or Holter and found PVCs or other benign ectopic beats then actually he is right. The Army will let pilots fly with PVCs so perhaps he ain't wrong after all.

 

[DGNY]

Heart Palpitations

You have received much good advice here, esp re liquor, pressure, stress, vagus nerve... As one who has experienced PVCs and some PACs for maybe 15 years [now 95% in remission], one other help for me, in consultation with my cardiologist, is to take 100mg magnesium citrate morning and night. Used to take more than the 200mg/day. Yes, it is also a laxative, so....

Of course, YMMV and ask your MD if changing supplements, etc.

Best wishes,

Dyson

 

[guntownuncle]

Howdy,
I am 57 and about five years ago I was working a stressful job. 12-14 hours a day. Six and seven days a week and three to four hours of rush hour drive time on top of it. I would drink two pots of coffee a day and a good amount of cola on top of it. No big deal, I had lived like this most of my life. When my heart would near rattle out of my chest it sent me to the doctor thinking I was going to die. The good doctor O'Donnel tested and and when all was said and done told me to lay off the caffiene.
I told her I had done this all my life. She was quick to remind me I was not as young as I used to be.
I laid off the soda and it went away. I can still get it to do it if I am on a 24 hour drive or other activity that where I caffinate around the clock.
Could be as easy as that or it could be something that might kill you.
I do my best to find out more than "It's no big deal".
Good luck
Mike

One summer in college I worked the night shift at a Whataburger. All the free coffee and cokes I could drink. I needed lots to in order to stay awake. Pretty soon I started having episodes where my heart would feel like it was trying to cram to many beats in at once and then do a flip. The doc told me to lay off the caffeine and sure enough it went away. I still occasionally get them, primarily after to much coffee and stress.

 

[ditrina]

I've had PVC's (Premature Ventricular Contractions) for over 20 years. They were scary at first and then became just irritating. A couple of years ago I also developed tachycardia (rapid heartbeat) that would last for up to several hours. My cardiologist sent me in for a heart ablation where they run a catheter into the heart and "zap" the nodes that were misfiring. (At least that's how it was explained to me.) The result is the tachycardia is gone and so are the PVC's except for rare occasions that I think are triggered by have too much salty food.

Ahhh a fellow member of the " Ablation" club.. Mine helped only after 4 times of a 20 minute sleep drug and " CLEAR" ZAAAPPPPP....

 

[Cyrano]

I've had arythmias (PVCs?) since childhood; in my 20s I was denied an RA commission because of them. Still have them and several docs, including a very good cardiologist said not to worry. I'm 76 and still going.

 

[Hotcoley]

I too have dealt with this annoyance for years. I got the workup and halter monitor done. Doc said it's not life threatening. He told me to quit my second job, quit smoking, lose weight, eat healthier, and exercise, and then I would see an improvement if not resolve the problem. Well, I quit smoking cold turkey that day, quit my second job, started weight watchers and have since lost 50 pounds and exercise everyday. I still have incidents now and then, but really only notice it when I haven't gotten enough sleep or when I don't exercise or when it is "that time", which my doc also said a fluctuation in hormone levels can trigger it too. Also, when I bend down, I try to bend at the knees so that I don't trigger it by bending forward. Also, I find if I don't drink enogh water that day, it tends to happen alot too. Nice to know I'm not the only one going through this. Good luck everyone!!

 

[Gun-runner]

I get these palpitations about every third or fourth beat. I had all the heart tests and the doctor tells me there no big deal, forget about them. It's hard to forget something that's on your mind constantly. Anybody else dealing with this problem?

I know what you mean. I have the same problem every time Barb posts pics of her Fords! LOL
Seriously though I've had the same problem and tests and have been told the same thing. If you aren't satisfied get a second opinion.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I too have an extra beat thrown in there now and then. The doctors say that's the least of my concerns; a permanently blocked artery being chief among them. My wife has arrythmia, and they did an ablation on her, which didn't work very well, although many have had success with it. The extra beats typically aren't great cause for concern - lower your blood pressure, lay off salts, drink plenty of water, watch your diet, exercise, yadda yadda.

 

[perrazi]

i see some others have had the same problems i am having. i get to do the ablation thing in very near future. hopefully it goes ok,but due to other health issues,my dr. says it might wind up being an open heart issue. not looking forward to that.