Heart palpitations

[Spencer0963]

About 4 days ago, I woke up normally, but I soon realized that I was having a weird heart pattern.  I ignored this, considering it's pretty common.  The rest of the day was pretty well, until after school.  I started getting these very frequently.  Up until today it's been happening pretty much all day.  I drink energy drinks though.  Last week I had about 4, 2 in one day.  I know this is very stupid, but sometimes I just do it without thinking.  Today I went to the doctors and I am now on a 24-hour monitoring system.  I have noticed these past few days that I only seem to realize the palpitations when I'm standing.  I may have them while lying down, but I notice them when I'm up.  I don't know if it's anything serious, and I pray to God that it isn't.  I don't know how it could be, I'm young - 16, I've ran cross country and track for 3 years, and I workout almost everyday.  Could this be serious considering the circumstances?  I really don't want it to interfere with my training..

[Spencer0963]

I don't think that my heart rate changes when sitting/standing, but I do notice the palpitations more when standing.

I've been running more often and it seems to be helping with the palpitations.  I don't have them as often, or as severe.

[Lynn63]

Have you noticed if your heart rate increases when you stand or is it just that you seem to have more palpitations when you stand?

You might check your blood pressure/heart rate laying down, then again sitting up with feet hanging off side of bed then finally standing.  There is a dysautonomia called Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome which is a disorder that can be indicated when your pulse increases by 30 beats per minute from the laying down position to the standing position.

Something as simple as mitral valve prolapse can cause palpitations which are very common and not life threatening.  About 20% of women have MVP....not sure other stats of it.

Either way I agree with above.....energy drinks are not good for you.  One of the first questions doctors asked my daughter in trying to figure out her diagnosis was whether she drinks them.

btw My daughter's holter monitor was 'normal' as far as arrhythmia's anyway....but her heart rate did go over 160 bpm a few times during the 24 hours.  (Surprising since she was laying around the entire time she was wearing it....)  She was finally diagnosed with POTS.

Good luck in finding a diagnosis....

Lynn:)

[Spencer0963]

Well, we got the 24 hour monitor results back.

Apparently I have no signs of any type of arrhythmia or anything serious.

After I got the monitor, I still had palpitations, but a few days later they stopped.  After a week of feeling pretty good, they came back.  My doctor said that it was probably from the energy drinks, and advised me to stay away from them.  I have not had one since they started, and it's been about 3 weeks.  Why would they last this long?

Thanks for all the input you guys have given me thus far.

[andie5]

I hope everything checks out okay! It is good that you went to the doctor and got a monitor though!

[Spencer0963]

Thanks for the info guys, going to go get my 24 hour moniter checked out now, I'll let you know how it went.

[Jerry_NJ]

You say you are on a monitor prescribed by your doctor. Is the doctor a general practice or a specialist in heart care?  In either case I'd suggest, as you have, that stopping high caffeine intake would be a good first step.

Not sure about the standing up verses laying down other than the blood pressure is higher when standing/active as the heart is working against gravity to get blood up to the head.  Not sure I understand hydraulics of the blood system all that well, but I think what I said is correct.  

Let us know what the monitor shows, and what else is learned from and EKG, as rbeans suggested, show.

At age 16 and an athletic life style, I'm sure you'll be fine, but still be sure to follow the doctor's instructions.

[rbeans]

Hey,

Take no chances. I would go see a Dr. They can do an EKG right in their office most of the time. ’m sure he/she will tell you everything is ok.

I have had pvcs/pacs (skipping beats you feel) since I was 19.
Most are just annoying extra beats that the Dr tells you not to pay any attention to. (Very hard to do)

Sometimes they will give you meds to help calm them down.  

What do your parents/guardians think? Talk with them about it.



Good luck!