Heart palpitations for a year started after arguement with my other half

Hi Mel,

I promise you are not alone in this. I've had mine for about a year and a half now, and I'm 31. I went a little too hard at the gym and started getting them sporadically, mostly when exercising. One day I decided to Google what it could be, which was a very bad idea. I started to feel it every day, noticed everything. Eventually they would go away for weeks on end, but when they returned they would occur on a daily basis, for days on end. Sometimes it happens non-stop all day long, for 2/3 days straight. I'm going through one of those as I type, 2 days straight, non-stop. It's horrible, isn't it?

I've suffered from anxiety since childhood, so I didn't think that would be it, as why would it suddenly come on. I was sure it had to be something I did wrong. Plus it didn't start when I was particularly worried. Apparently this doesn't matter. I've learnt to accept that anxiety and stress can catch up with you, and it tends to be when you least expect it.

I've had blood tests, 24 & 48-hour monitors, echocardiogram. Nothing unusual. In fact, they said it was all healthy. I've since heard of people first getting this during pregnancies, after getting particularly angry, exercising, and some whilst doing pretty much nothing.

I would recommend talking to a doctor over the phone, considering the pandemic, and maybe getting through to a cardiologist. Mine started pre-pandemic but the tests stretched into it, so had plenty of phone calls. These things are rarely anything serious, but unfortunately something you have to learn to deal with. But first get checked over, just to ease your mind as that will help.

In November I was placed on propranolol 40mg 3x daily, as I wasn't dealing with it very well - this was before the 48-hour monitor caught the ectopic beats and a cardiologist confirmed they were not stemming from underlying issues. Once I got the news I weaned off them as I didn't want to rely on beta blockers forever. I now take magnesium tablets, go on walks, cut caffeine etc. These have seemed to help somewhat, but the recent bout has thrown me off, but baby steps.

I know you can't help but panic as it happens, as it's disconcerting. What gets me is a pinching/spasm feeling that shoots up my sternum and settles at the top, just underneath the neck. But I remind myself not to panic and, take deep breaths and focus on something else.

I hope this helps, if anything to let you know you are not alone.

Chronic stress can steadily damage our heart and extremely stressful events can do that quickly. That's not very comforting, I know, but it can happen.

Strange and unpleasant heart rhythm issues are very common. Mostly they are not dangerous, just unnerving & scary.

Please try not to worry too much about the chances of catching Covid at your GP's. They'll be super-cautious (for their own sake...as well as ours!).

So maybe just talk to your doctor and describe your unpleasant symptoms. They should preferably listen to your heart with a stethoscope (old-school!) then arrange for an ECG and maybe a blood test. An ECG is a very easy, comfortable & routine test. A nurse just asks you to lie on your back and they stick electrodes around your chest and that's it. A trace is taken for your doctor, or cardiologist to look at.

You might have a slightly "floppy" Mitral heart valve in your heart. This is a very common thing and usually nothing to worry about, but they can arrange for you to have further (also very easy) tests to check the structure of your ticker. These would be an Echocardiogram (just like an ultrasound scan but with funny sounds!) and maybe a 24 hour ECG monitor which is just a mini ECG that you wear while you go about your usual life. They even use smart phone apps for this test now!

Good luck!

This seems normal. Its normal for heart rate to increase with lots of exercise and also with stress. If the heart rate doesnt go down after a few minutes, after the argument, then its time to see the doctor.

hi how are you.

I know this post was a while ago now buy i too suffer from palpitations like you describe mine also started after a stressful time and now they won't go away they happen throughout the day everyday. I've had 2 24hr ecgs which didnt pick much up and and echocardiogram which was normal I'm waiting for a 7 day ecg which will be fitted in a couple of days.

Do you still get your palpitations or have they gone away I hope they have gone away for you.