Scared heart hypochondria

[Logan00]

Hi guys for the last year I've been afraid of my heart from overgrown to arrhythmia's now I had a ultrasound of my heart done about 6 months ago and it came back normal but every few days ill get a little heart flutter and during basketball I would sometimes have like 2 minute flutter but they would go away after I drank some water I am a huge hypochondria  and I don't no what to do I can't ease my mind can some calm me down I need so reassurance

[MichelleP_3811]

Stress and anxiety is not the cause of the extra beats but they are a trigger so anything you can do to get on top of your stress and anxiety will help you to live a happy full life instead of one spent worrying about your heart.  From what I have read, ectopic beats are harmless and I would not doubt if most very athletic people get them it is just not everyone feels them.  You unfortunately do so maybe try what Achillea suggested and see someone just to help you find some tools to get past your hypochondria about your heart.  You deserve to pursue your goals in life and not spend it worrying about your heart.  But also, try to maybe not push yourself physically for so long maybe trying to take more breaks and see if that helps to get rid of the ecotpics.  If you are really pushing yourself for your basketball you could just be working out the heart a bit too much and you just need to ease up just a tad.  But in general try to do your best to not worry unless you start to pass out or something like that.  But your tests were good so you are not likely in any danger from your extra heart beats.  Take care.

[achillea]

Yes, it certainly could be an anxiety issue.

This is something to talk about with your regular doctor.  Do you have a doc of your own?   You should.  If you do not, tell your parents that you need to talk with a pro about some heart-related worries.

I have anxiety problems myself and know that it is almost impossible to talk yourself out of them, but a good family counselor or shrink will be able to help a lot.

It is *very* important to realize that anxiety is not a failure of will power or anything like that;  it is a medical disorder that deserves medical treatment, just the way headaches or sprained ankles do.

[Logan00]

i am 16 so since im so young could it be anxeity?

[Logan00]

what were some of your ways of getting through the anexity because it is effecting my life my parents, and some of my friends

[Logan00]

i really do appreciate im a basketball player going for a d1 scholarship and this is completely scaring me and everytime i get one or get light headed or anything like that i get completly freaked out but i only get them maybe one a day this helped so much

[dolphin8808]

Your echo came back normal which is great!!! I also get skips in general but I get them while working out as well. I have learned to skip say SCREW IT and not let them worry me but it took awhile.

I also have severe health anxiety and when I started with the skips I was a mess. I had such a hard time and was totally cardiophobic. I still am in fact I email my doc and need reassurance but they have gotten better mentally.

Good luck and like Michelle said, we are always here :)

[MichelleP_3811]

It sounds like you may be having ectopic beats.  If from the atria they are pacs or from the ventricle pvcs.  In an otherwise healthy heart they are not considered dangerous.  Even in an unhealthy heart they won't necessarily hurt you but you have been evaluated to have a healthy heart so you should not have anything to worry about.  Did a doctor tell you that you had ectopics?  Essentially they are simply extra little beats that flare up sometimes for no reason.  They can be there to help the heart beat if something is amiss but they for some reason can flare up without cause.  I think the going theory is the heart is a bit irritated so maybe you are just pushing your workouts a bit too hard so maybe easy up or take more breaks if possible.  But in general unless you are having somewhere around 20,000 of these a day or they are causing you trouble functioning they really don't' do much about them except to tell us to try and ignore them.  That can be easier said then done sometimes but they really are harmless and nothing more than some random extra beats.  Try to not let them rob you of your peace of mind.  You may not be able to control your heart having some extra beats but you can control letting them rule your life.  Stand strong and refuse to let them hold you hostage.  In any event, you have found a place where people can relate so if you have any other questions or just want to talk we are always here.  Take care.