Heart disease anxiety

[Pooyan01]

Hi, I've had concerns about my heart health for 10 months now, during that time I've had many heart tests all which have come back as clear. I do have an rhythm problem sometimes called ventricular bigeminy but I'm told this is nothing to worry too much about. I suffer from chest pains, usually but not always when I'm not exercising. Exercise seems to help usually but I do feel ill afterwards sometimes.

I remain extremely concerned that I have a heart problem and feel my symptoms could be angina, my doctor says no its anxiety or possibly gastric related. I am now seeing a counsellor to see if this helps (just one visit so far). I am skeptical as although I understand that the mind can have an effect on the body I just dont think this is the case with me.

I think I do have anxiety but because I am getting chest discomfort/burning sensations and pain every single day. I think I'm anxious because of the symptoms and have trouble accepting it could be that anxiety is actually causing the symptoms.

I am so worried that the doctors have just missed something or are too easy to use anxiety or gastric reflux as an excuse. I went into A&E in October with palpitations, pulse was more than 150 if I stood up, had several tests and was given an Omeprazole tablet and some gaviscon!

Despite everything I've said above, I do accept the fact that perhaps this is all anxiety related and that my worrying about it is making it worse and worse. This thing has completely taken over my life and is badly affecting both myself, my wife and my work.

My question is, has anyone experienced anything similar to this? Any advice, thoughts or opinions would be most welcome.

[Alisonj29]

You have just described my life I think!
I have had a nonstop worry over my heart since my dad passed from a heart attack at 40, I was 14. I have had test after test and everything is usually ok. I had a time that one of my cardiac enzymes were elevated but after repeating the test they figured my is just on the higher side naturally. I have spent numerous nights in the ER with chest pains, shortness of breath, palpitations and so much more. I have a low HDL cholestrol level which makes me panic so I have that checked often. I am 34 with no factors other than family history yet I take Centrum cardio vitamins and just about every other vitamin or supplement recommended for heart health. I dont think its something I will ever get past but I have really learned to deal with it the past couple of years. Now I look at it with the attitude I am doing everything I can by eating right and exercising etc. If that is not enough and something happens, its not within my control so why obsess over something I cant change. I look at it with the outlook that the constant worry is not helping matters at all and if I can just let go of the fear it will be much better for me.
Now with that being said, I still take my blood pressure nightly, and still take all the vitamins etc. Just try and look at the positives. That all your tests came back fine. Many people have heart attacks never knowing that they had a defect. You know now you dont. Thats a huge plus!

[cj29]

The good thing is that you received the applicable tests and your heart is fine....that is a good thing!

My original source of my anxiety came with concerns about heart health.  I made multiple trips to the ER, was referred to cardiologists and had many tests done all stating that I was fine, but I just "knew' something had to be wrong because of all the symptoms I was feeling.  I would feel every little pain, palpatation, twinge, etc.  You name it, I felt it.  

In the end, of course absolutely nothing was wrong with my heart.  In my experience, I became so hyper aware of everything going on that could be possibly linked to my heart that I obsessed with everything.  I would constantly take my BP and pulse and could feel skipped beats (it didn't matter to me that when we are stressed, it tends to happen anyway).  I also believe that I interpreted every little symptom as something that was wrong with me, when in fact aches and pains are a normal part of life.

Remember that we have unique rhythms to our heart.  What is normal for you could be abnormal for someone else, so if the doc says its fine trust him/her.  For example, when I have a resting ECG done with my physical it always says that I have had a prior heart attack and have heart failure, but it actually turned out my heart was just super effecient at pumping because I have run distance for the past 15 years and the cardiologist said that it would be the last thing to go on me...and that it was actually much better off than an average person my age.

But that can be of little comfort to us, when we are suffering from anxiety in my opinion.  I was VERY skeptical about counseling or medications in the beginning.  I chose to do both which worked very well.  Just give the counseling time.  It took a good couple of months for me to actually make some progress but once I did, I really learned so much about the anxiety and panic.  I also realized what I was going through was quite common which helped me tremendously (I guess misery loves company).

Having gone through this from the lowest of the low to a much more well rounded and patient person that I enjoys life much more now, I can with confidence that you will get through this and become a much better person for your experience with this.  I know you don't see it now, but as humans I believe we learn so much more in the difficult times than when everything is going smoothly.  Just keep your head up...you will get through this.  Keep us posted!

[mammo]

Hi.  Anxiety can, and does present with your symptoms.  The burning is indicative of acid reflux (GERD), and being able to exercise pain free is a very good sign.  Since exercise helps, I'm guessing it takes your mind off the worrying and this is why you feel better.  This also points towards it being anxiety.  Exercise is one of the best things for anxiety, but you may want to add therapy to this.  Sometimes we just get caught up in worrying so much about our health that it consumes us and our lives.  Therapy can teach you how to not obcess over this.  Our anxiety feeds off our fears and worrying creating more symptoms, the symptoms increase our worrying creating more or even worse symptoms, a vicious cycle. So you need to head off the symptoms by not worrying about your health, and since this is easier said than done, therapy plays a big role is helping us to do this.  Accepting that everything is fine is imperative in your situation.  If you read some posts on here, you will find you are not alone with this, there are so many dealing with the same issue.  But there is help, so don't delay in getting it so you can get your life back.  Hope this helps and take care.