Pulse is weaker than usual

[Murdoc_OS]

I'm 23 years old, so naturally I shouldn't be worrying about my heart. But lately I've noticed that my heart doesn't beat as forcefully as it used to. Months ago, before I noticed this, I could be doing absolutely nothing and without putting my hands to my wrist or my neck to check my pulse, I could feel my heart pounding throughout my body. Not only was it normal for me, it was soothing and it always calmed me down when I was stressed out.
But lately, as I said, it hasn't been doing that. To feel my pulse, I now have to put my fingers on my wrist or neck, and even then, it isn't very strong.
I don't get much exercise, but I'm not overweight. I do smoke, but I only started about 3 years ago, smoking about 12 cigarettes a day. When I DO exercise, and afterwards, I still can't feel my heart pounding. I still have to use my fingers to check for a pulse, with a heart rate of about 170 bpm when I'm running. Resting rate is 80 - 100 bpm.

I did stop drinking energy drinks around the same time I started noticing this. Used to have 1 or 2 a week. I was thinking that could be it, but I do drink coffee every morning and it hasn't made my pulse any stronger.

I can't see my doctor for a month, and I have been in and out of the ER (not for this, but for other things) too many times for them to take me seriously anymore. (I worry a lot)

Any idea what could be going on? And is there any way I can get my heart to beat as forcefully as it used to?

Thanks.

[achillea]

Non-medical people get no meaningful information--as in none, zilch, zip--from feeling the strength of their own heartbeats.  What's more, this behavior can turn into an obsession, while doing no good at all.  If you do this a lot, you probably need a couple of sessions with a counselor to talk about what's going and learn to wean yourself from it.

Since you're young, your chances at this point of heart trouble are really low.  However, smoking is going to change that, and do it pretty fast.  If you're interested in heart health, stop smoking, get your fingers off your pulse, and take up regular cardiovascular exercise.