Very fast heart rate
Hi to everyone. I am hoping that someone can help with this, I have had panic attacks for many years but lately when I have them my heart feels like it is coming out of my chest. My heart beats are so hard and fast that I can't breathe well and I am afraid that I will blackout or have a heart attack. My last checkup with my doctor was uneventful, he said that my heart is fine and it is just the anxiety. Does anyone have any advice or anything they can say to help me...........thank you so much....Pam
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Guest
Pam, I have had the same issues in the past. I try really hard to keep it under control with the breathing, it helps greatly, but I still do experience an increase in the rate. I know it is hard to do, but we have to be sure and remind ourselves, that we will be fine, and once it does pass, things get back to normal. Keep working on it, because we are all a work in progress. Good Luck.
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Guest
Hello-
I'm sorry that you are being frightened by this. It would be scary.
A book that I love, that helped me alot is called "Freedom from Fear" by Dr. Howard Leibgold. In the book, he says there are a few ways to stop these symptoms. You can work on the anxiety and stop squirting your adrenaline and your heart symptoms will lessen, or you can exercise and make your body more resistent to adrenaline's effects and your symptoms will lessen. If you do both-- you have double benefits. I can vouch for this personally.
I'm glad you checked it out medically. Now that you know the answer-- you can get to work.
You need to empty your stress bucket, so that when you do have a surge, your panic symptoms don't squirt out. If your bucket is brimming, any little change or jiggle is going to make you spill out panic.
God's blessings to you.
I'm sorry that you are being frightened by this. It would be scary.
A book that I love, that helped me alot is called "Freedom from Fear" by Dr. Howard Leibgold. In the book, he says there are a few ways to stop these symptoms. You can work on the anxiety and stop squirting your adrenaline and your heart symptoms will lessen, or you can exercise and make your body more resistent to adrenaline's effects and your symptoms will lessen. If you do both-- you have double benefits. I can vouch for this personally.
I'm glad you checked it out medically. Now that you know the answer-- you can get to work.
You need to empty your stress bucket, so that when you do have a surge, your panic symptoms don't squirt out. If your bucket is brimming, any little change or jiggle is going to make you spill out panic.
God's blessings to you.
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Guest
Newrunner, I have never heard of anxiety and panic being described as a brimming bucket before. That is really interesting, and very accurate. I like it.
Pam, I can relate to your story. My heart always pounds like that during an anxiety attack. Can you imagine? I am 25 and am very healthy yet I was convinced that I was going to die from a heart attack or a stroke if I couldn't get control over myself. I also, consulted my doctor who informed me that a severe panic attack is equivalent to a 30 minute cardio workout. That's all. It's not going to hurt you. Once I knew this, the attacks seemed less intense, because I wasn't feeding them with my fear of dying from them. Next time you feel the panic coming on, just tell yourself "I know what this is, it's not going to hurt me. I may be uncomfortable for a few minutes, but I'll be just fine when it's over," Stay positive, and remember to breathe! I hope that helps! Good luck!
Pam, I can relate to your story. My heart always pounds like that during an anxiety attack. Can you imagine? I am 25 and am very healthy yet I was convinced that I was going to die from a heart attack or a stroke if I couldn't get control over myself. I also, consulted my doctor who informed me that a severe panic attack is equivalent to a 30 minute cardio workout. That's all. It's not going to hurt you. Once I knew this, the attacks seemed less intense, because I wasn't feeding them with my fear of dying from them. Next time you feel the panic coming on, just tell yourself "I know what this is, it's not going to hurt me. I may be uncomfortable for a few minutes, but I'll be just fine when it's over," Stay positive, and remember to breathe! I hope that helps! Good luck!
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Guest
Hi Pam,
I have experienced this several times. I have had hundreds of panic attacks over the past 8 years when the anxiety/panic attacks all started for me. During those times, my heart would race so fast that I felt that I could not breathe either.
I went to the ER several times only to be told that it was anxiety and nothing to worry about at all. My heart rate has gotten to 160 and I have just been sitting there at the ER or the doctor's office, but glad that I was with doctors and others during those times so that they could run the tests to check things out and they did several times and it was always anxiety! I have had my heart checked out, and lots of other tests that ruled out everything else. I just KNEW I was dying as well. I knew that something terrible was wrong with my heart because I could not believe that my heart could speed that fast without any exercise. I agree with Hebb Reese when she said it was equivalent to a 30 minute cardio workout. My cardiologist assured me of the same thing. He explained to me that my adrenaline was so high that it was just like I had worked out. He said that it does not hurt our heart at all. Working out is good for the muscles in the heart and he said that the more we workout the stronger those muscles get. I know exactly how you feel though. It is very scary when it is happening and you can only think something terrible is wrong. Just know that nothing is wrong and you will be fine. Try to use your breathing techniques also.
I am happy to say that the more I started to realize that the adrenaline would not hurt me, the less I feared the panic attacks. My heart hardly ever races now, because I am no longer afraid of it. You will get that way in time also.
Blessings to You!
I have experienced this several times. I have had hundreds of panic attacks over the past 8 years when the anxiety/panic attacks all started for me. During those times, my heart would race so fast that I felt that I could not breathe either.
I went to the ER several times only to be told that it was anxiety and nothing to worry about at all. My heart rate has gotten to 160 and I have just been sitting there at the ER or the doctor's office, but glad that I was with doctors and others during those times so that they could run the tests to check things out and they did several times and it was always anxiety! I have had my heart checked out, and lots of other tests that ruled out everything else. I just KNEW I was dying as well. I knew that something terrible was wrong with my heart because I could not believe that my heart could speed that fast without any exercise. I agree with Hebb Reese when she said it was equivalent to a 30 minute cardio workout. My cardiologist assured me of the same thing. He explained to me that my adrenaline was so high that it was just like I had worked out. He said that it does not hurt our heart at all. Working out is good for the muscles in the heart and he said that the more we workout the stronger those muscles get. I know exactly how you feel though. It is very scary when it is happening and you can only think something terrible is wrong. Just know that nothing is wrong and you will be fine. Try to use your breathing techniques also.
I am happy to say that the more I started to realize that the adrenaline would not hurt me, the less I feared the panic attacks. My heart hardly ever races now, because I am no longer afraid of it. You will get that way in time also.
Blessings to You!
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Guest
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Guest
Do you smoke ptsd? Smoking increases the heartrate so I'd always get anxiety shortly after I smoke b/c I'd link the increased heartrate to very mild anxiety attack instead of to the immediate effects of smoking. So now that I know, I tell myself that it's just the cigarette making my heart speed up and I don't end up turning the heart part into an actual attack w/ difficulty breathing, shaky hands, and sweaty pits.
If u don't smoke then that info helps u none
But the same should be considered of anything that speeds up heart rate. Climbing stairs, walking a little faster, lifting, being startled by a little bug or a person even. Calm urself down immediately by remembering that these things and many others WILL make ur heart speed up. Ur NOT about to have an anxiety attack. It took me years to figure that out so I'd instantly turn any notice of my heart or breathing into an attack when it wasn't to begin w/.
I hope this helps.
If u don't smoke then that info helps u none
But the same should be considered of anything that speeds up heart rate. Climbing stairs, walking a little faster, lifting, being startled by a little bug or a person even. Calm urself down immediately by remembering that these things and many others WILL make ur heart speed up. Ur NOT about to have an anxiety attack. It took me years to figure that out so I'd instantly turn any notice of my heart or breathing into an attack when it wasn't to begin w/.
I hope this helps.
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Guest
Beatingheart, yes I do smoke (horrible I know)I have noticed though that is not the problem. I get really hard and fast heartbeats when I have a panic attack and they scare me so bad. I also have pvc's that are benign but those scare me also. I need to calm down I know, but, easier said than done!! Thank you for your help.....Pam
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Guest
You're welcome ptsd! Anytime! I'm sure you'll be fine. Since the doctor has told you that your heart is fine, it now gives you permission to STOP letting scare you. You know what the problem is now (stress) so don't be afraid of it. Just blow it off until it slows back down. Remind urself that its just anxiety, do your steps and distract urself. Listen to the sounds around u instead of ur heart, change ur focus and stay positive. I wish u the best and I know u can do it!
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