Had a bit of a scare a couple of days ago. For about 24 hours or so I was having what can only be described as palpitations. Knowing that my family has a fine history of heart disease, I had my wife hustle me over to the hospital to get checked out. The EKG and blood work came out okay, but the doctor referred me to a cardiologist so I could be fitted with an event monitor. Basically, whenever I experience a palpitation I hit a record button and it records a reading of my heart activity for about one minute before and one minute after the “event”. (“Event” meaning whatever my heart may be doing which isn’t normal. I usually think of “event” referring to the opening day of baseball or something, not the potential opening of my ribcage. But, I digress)
Anyway, the palpitations have seemed to disappear for now. I don’t really drink much caffeine and I smoke only about 5 cigarettes a day, so I don’t think that’s a big factor. I’m reasonably young (35 years old) and about 20 lbs over my ideal weight. At any rate I’ll have these electrodes on my chest for awhile so that they can analyze what’s happening.
My question is this: has anybody else out there had to do this? If so, what kind of treatments have you used to work on fixing this problem? (I know the usual caveats about asking for medical information on-line. I just want to know what your experiences have been.)
Thanks!
I’ve got a Mitral Valve Prolapse. It’s a genetic trait, so it’s been there all my life, but I just got it diagnosed a couple of years ago (I’m 22). Basically I get palpitations sometimes. My heart starts beating really fast, irregular and weak.
The episodes don’t usually last more than a couple of minutes, and if I really try, I can act completely normal during them. I don’t often try, but at least I’m not going to get myself killed driving somewhere when it happens.
Stress and alcohol seem to increase the likelihood and severity of an episode. I’ve had them as often as two or three times a day during high stress times, and as infrequently as once in a few months for more normal conditions.
I never had to wear the monitoring gear, they could hear the problem through a stethoscope. My cardiologist said that there are medications, but the side effects tend to outweigh the benefits.
Guy, it sounds like what you have is ‘Pre-Death Syndrome’. If it is not congenital or genetic, it is something you are imbibing; probably a vitamin or mineral supplement containing some Androgenic complex, or a sexual stimulant such as Yohimbe or Viagra. Check with your pharmacist for possible drug interactions between prescription AND non-prescription drugs and supplements.
Quit smoking. No one ONLY smokes 5 cigarettes a day, and if they did, so what? Carbon Monoxide is not good for you, forget about the hundreds of other toxins. Get out of your cubicle and start exercising. Walking to the bathroom 20 times a day is not sufficient and demonstrates a Prostate problem. Have the doctor check your blood for heavy metals. Your wife, family or co-workers may be poisioning you. I won’t list all the toxic substances they might use, but the forensic pathologist probably won’t even check for them at the autopsy unless you ask in advance.
Another possibility is that you have been combining Clorox and lye to clean the toilet bowl. This is a good source of Chlorine gas which could cause symptoms like that. Waxing your car in an enclosed garage with the enging running might create problems as well.
Above all, relax. Tension can make your heart beat erratically. When I have heart palpitations (I am 53 years old), I say a prayer: " Thank you God, for 53 wonderful years, but make it 93 if you ever want to see your mother alive again, Amen". Works for me, or has so far. I am glad I was able to help. Let me know if you need some more advice.
I have a somewhat irregular heartbeat. I first had it checked out when I was 16, and was told to check again in 10 years time because of the fact that growth makes a heart problem analysis harder, apparently. So about 6 months ago, I had the full checkup. Blood tests, ECG, Event Monitor, the works. Turns out evrything was fine, and that a lot of people experience palpitations that don’t necessarily mean a structural heart problem. I have the occasional “stinging” sensation in the heart region too: also mostly psychological. As my cardio said: “When you feel a short sting in your upper leg, you think it’s a muscle contracting and go about your business. When the same thing happens in the chest area, people will immediately conclude that their heart is going to stop within 5 seconds”.
I discussed the factors affecting palpitations with my doctor. Being overweight is one of them, but 20 lb’s shouldn’t be a problem. However, those 5 cigarets a day might be a factor: I quit smoking 5 months ago and have experienced less palpitations since.
Large amounts of alcohol and/or too little sleep tend to influence my heart rate stability as well.
Broadly speaking, don’t we all have this?
Manhattan:
You’re absolutely right.
Thanks (almost) everyone for the valuable input.
Yes, of course. 
But not necessarily in a broad sense. I like to think of it as a specific clinical diagnosis. Sometimes the shock value of this diagnosis actually gets people to stop smoking. Sadly, not very often.
**
Keith J. corrects me as follows:
“I like most of your posts but the chemistry you described in the reply to Guy Incognito’s post was wrong. Its ammonia (ammonium hydroxide, NH4OH) and chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite, NaOCl) one should never mix. Combining lye and bleach is not a problem as it is the primary formulation in Tilex. Nasty stuff and the hypochlorite fumes will knock you down but not pure chlorine gas.”
Thanks, Keith. Right you are.