Anxiety and Symptoms related to the heart

[vauf]

I am interested in anyones experience with anxiety/panic disorder and how it has affected the heart?

For example. Skipped beats. Palpatations. Heart pausing. Fast heart rate. Breathing difficulty. Heart slowing.

Anyone?

[Nicki63]

Yes I do all the time.my dr said you dont die from the skip beat feeling.its actually an extra beat..I hate it so much.now since off of clonopin it's really bad.you could ask your Dr for a beta blocker for this.it's not a true heart pill but does stop all your symptoms.you should get this cked out by Dr first to make sure its nothing more.

[andalina1982]

I know my heart was afffected by stress. "Skipped beats. Palpatations. Heart pausing. Fast heart rate. Breathing difficulty. Heart slowing." - as you said.  I had all these symptoms you mention, and I had them for years. Everytime I went to the cardiologist, I was healthy - ECGs, echoes, holter, treadmill, all proved I was healthy heart related. Doctors never gave me any meds because they all concluded my symptoms originated from stress.

I have researched about this a lot through the years, also talking to doctors, cardios, and psychologists.. they all agreed to one thing, "over the years it is possible to develop real heart problems if this continues"

The more I think about these symptoms at the time happening, the more stress I develop. Finally I got some cardio meds since I did develop high blood pressure. I feel more relaxed now. And I am trying not to think of it much trying to keep the stress down.

It always starts in your mind before it goes into the organs....if you dont clear your head it will never go away.

[vauf]

Well I had my Cardio on 18th. Apparently I have mild mitral valve prolapse. Doc said he heard a click sound and said to go ob living my life. I asked about Holter results as I had a few pauses when going to sleep when i wore that and he said aside feok heart rate going up a bit. Nothing to worry about. I am going for a 2nd opinion but it likely wont change. For now it is all about defeatinf the panic. I am so sick of it.

[Duffo]

I'm glad you're working with a cardiologist to learn if you do have heart rhythm problems. Speaking only for myself, when my anxiety was untreated I had frequent panic attacks that seemed to affect my heart rate and rhythm. I don't know if they actually were affected, but I experienced the events as if they were. That, in turn, caused me to fear or believe that I was having chest pains and a heart attack, which then caused me to become dizzy and flushed with visual disturbances. I often began to black out but managed not to.  As with most uncontrolled panic attacks, these types of experiences snowball and overwhelm our ability to cope and function. I did not have or experience such heart problems at other times. So, I would speculate that sometimes some people with anxiety and panic disorder experience cardiac symptoms but may or may not actually have them. I will add that once I started taking a new antidepressant that led to atrial fibrillation as confirmed by ER doctors, an EKG, and a cardiologist. It's unclear if that event was caused by the drug itself or symptoms of anxiety it didn't control. I stopped that medication, and the problem did not recur.

[Dragonfly4me]

I have ptsd and dysautonomia. My heart rate is,over 200 without medication.

[vauf]

That is insane. I feel for you and I hope you always have your medication on hand. Bless

[Dragonfly4me]

Have take it everyday

[specialmom]

Anxiety and stress will affect heart rate.  And prolonged increased heart rate will lead to heart damage in some people.  AGree that breathing exercises and exercise in general help keep the heart healthy and treating anxiety and working to eliminate stress have a positive cardiac affect.  good luck

[vauf]

That's the thing. I want to work put and exercise but not until i get cleared. So still waiting for doc.

[Paxiled]

I disagree with the premise that stress "will" affect heart rate.  It might, but it probably won't.  Anxious people think their heart rate is accelerated, but when they get it checked out it almost never is.  This forum alone is absolutely filled with people fearful their anxiety is causing heart rate problems and they go to doctors repeatedly and always get the same result -- no discernible affect.  I don't doubt that some people will have heart problems due to prolonged stress, but nobody will ever know if it will be them or not -- it's based on the innate health of your heart.  But everyone dies of heart failure, folks, everyone -- you're determined to be dead when your heart stops beating, whatever the cause, and because of that we'll never really know if it was the anxiety that did it or some other condition.  I'm sure it doesn't help, and we all want to not have the problem, but I think one of the biggest problems with those of us with depression and anxiety is that it causes us to despair and not take the same care of our overall health as we would if we didn't suffer from mental illness.  But nothing is predetermined, it all depends on the totality of who we are and the state of our bodies.  Not to use a really politically loaded example, but we have a President in the US right now who has been putting incredible mental stress on himself since he became an adult and his father put him nominally in charge of the family business.  Donald Trump failed miserably at it, and had to therefore make his way by conning people.  He's really good at it, but that's a very stressful way to live.  He doesn't exercise, eats horribly, has out of control anger issues, lies all the time, and made it to 71 without a major heart problem, though he is on medication for the heart so he does have serious risks.  So folks, you just never know how the health thing is going to work out.  

[specialmom]

While there is research needed, stress and anxiety often DO affect our heart.  Fight and flight response for example has a direct relationship with your heart and many suffer that when highly anxious. Per my cardiologist, reduce stress for better heart health.  

This is or the poster, your concerns are valid and I hope you find a more peace in your life!  Keep a journal and document triggers.  However, exercise can help with heart issues AND anxiety.  You don't have to put your heart in jeopardy to exercise it.  DO speak to your doctor first, but a mere 30 minutes a day of moderate activity such as walking will help the heart muscle and overall cardiac health.  This can be walking around the block a few times.  I try to make sure I'm exerting (breathing a little harder).  And if you don't have 30 minutes, you can break it into three 10 minute increments.  It does need to be for at least 10 minutes at a time to get the heart health benefit.  

Are you working with a doctor?  

I'd also say that many people FEAR heart issues because anxiety feels so bad.  It IS so often intertwined, and working on the stress will often help with the heart.  But sometimes people create a condition in their mind as well.  I always think it is wise to speak to a doctor, have a physical and rule out anything they can find.  If they find your health is healthy, then you work on the anxiety and do the things necessary to keep your heart healthy.  (eating right, exercise, rest).  

Hope this helps.  

[vauf]

I am working with a primary and cardiologist. Waiting until follow up appointment for results. Anxiety definitely plays a role on heart rate increase but previous poster is valid as well because there are times when my heart feels as though it is jumping and it isnt. It could be the adrenaline which is uncomfortable to the max in unnecessary situations where it isn't warranted. I always stay moving around. With3 kids its impossible to sit still. At the end of the day its wise to get healthy and fit regardless of any present issues. Preventative maintenance goes a long way but anxiety is determined to make it worst. This is something i am currently trying struggling with. I am hopeful and always trying to find a solution. Eventually I will. This is no way to live. For anyone

[Paxiled]

Never had any of it, despite a severe anxiety problem.  Might be because I meditate and exercise regularly, but most likely different people just experience anxiety differently.