14 years old, very common heart palpitations

[Nimidian]

I am 14 years old, active, and weight about 100 pounds. I eat regularly and well, though I do tend to forget to drink enough water. I have severe anxiety problems. Though I don't tend to have anxiety attacks per se, I do feel anxious for most of the day, and it even gets to points in which I feel faint. I have very frequent heart palpitations (i.e. 4-5 per day), mostly when I am relaxing or going to sleep. Though I attribute this mostly to my stress and anxiety problems, the frequency and occasional intensity of these palpitations is very frightening, and I'd like to learn more about them. My family has a history of heart diseases and problems. Furthermore, my age is another point of confusion for me. I am only 14 years old, after all, and heart problems are not things that match young children, or so I assume. Again, I'm sure these palpitations are benign and are caused by stress and anxiety, but I would like to learn more about them, or gain any advice I can to stop them. I have never seen a doctor about my anxiety problems or heart problems, and I have not been diagnosed with any major health or heart problems that I am aware of. I would greatly appreciate some advice or some knowledge on these palpitations, as they are starting to agitate and frighten me.

[MichelleP_3811]

It is hard to say for sure what your heart is exactly doing without it being captured on the monitor.  Do you know how fast it is beating when you sense it speeding up?  Try to check your pulse and figure out the rate.  Or check to see if it is irregular meaning you can feel skips or pauses.  If it is simply fast there could be a number of reasons.  Dehydration being a big one considering you state you do not drink enough water.  You could have thyroid issues which can cause an elevated heart rate.  You could have what is called an svt which is caused by an extra muscle fiber in the heart allowing the heart to get caught in a fast looping beat.  The way to tell if you have this is that the episodes start and stop in what feels like one beat.  I had it and it was very manic fast and it was hard to breath.  Since you do not sense that you may not have an svt but just try to pay attention to whether or not it starts and stops abruptly.  If it is a gradual rise and slow then it could be anxiety.  All of this said, you do need to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis.  I would honestly not initially talk about the anxiety to the doctor.  Just have your parents make an appointment to get your fast heart beat checked out.  A blood panel to check all your levels and a few tests to check the heart may be all you need to be told you are in the clear but it is important to see a doctor when you develop new symptoms regardless if they are heart related or not.  If it turns out there does not appear to be a physical cause to the elevated heart rate at that time you may need to start to seriously focus on your anxiety.  Anxiety causes your body to produce extra adrenaline which raises the heart rate.  The longer you go without confronting it and learning ways to cope with fear the harder it will be to break the habit so regardless if your elevated rate is or isn't caused by anxiety I highly suggest that you take some steps to work on it sooner rather than later for you long term well being.  Even if you just get a hold of some books or do research on line on ways to cope with fear and anxiety you will be doing yourself a huge favor.  Take care and best of luck sorting it out.  Do go see a doctor and keep us posted on how you are doing.

[Nimidian]

Also, I do not tend to feel lightheaded after or during these palpitations, nor do I have huge problems with breathing or functioning in any way, I ususally sit up and take a deep breath to get rid of them.