Don't take any offence to this please but I think you may be convincing yourself that your heart is this way more than anything. It's very easy to do. And i'll admit, I think I might be doing it too. You feel that it would make sense that your heart is beating irregularly after the panic attack and maybe it is happening to you. But I don't think that could happen. It doesn't seem right. It could also be that you're having worse panic attacks after a big panic attack. That's happened to me before. You could just be in the process of getting over your previous panic attack.

I don't think that's it. At school i'm fine, I don't think about it or anything, then I do up the stairs and it's beating out of my chest at 150 bpm. I'm not anxious going up the stairs at all, and i'm really not an overly anxious person. I have had panic attacks after the big one but they stopped several months ago and I haven't been anxious since, yet my heartbeat is still higher than it should be. I still don't know what to do :cry:

Hi crippled, sorry to hear what you're going through. I think medication is the best ay to go with this as you say nothing else worked. Well...What's wrong with that? I get a feeling that you don't want to take medicines. Don't be afraid to take them- instead be proud that you are helping your body and yourself to have a better life. You deserve that for yourself. Music is a great way to calm down -its soothing and relaxing when you are hassled. Working out can make your heart healthy too- but when it seems to be ebating so fast all the time. Maybe you want to see another Dr. To make sure its safe. You seem to be really determined to make your life better and that's great. Take care of yourself and keep me posted on how you are doing ok.

Well then you may just have a medical condition and you should probably talk to someone about it. :d

Natalie - that's the problem, because we're not even sure it's anxiety for sure. If it is, it sure isn't your classic case.. I can't even go up the stairs without my heart racing like mad! I've given up my horse because I can't ride which is one of the saddest things i've ever had to do. Whatever this is, it's ruining my life!!

I'd really appreciate any help that anyone can give me. Everything is getting ruined and I don't know how much longer I can last. If it helps, these are the things that i've been tested for and nothing came up:

- had ekg
- oxygen tests to check my lung capacity
- x-rays done on my lungs
- blood was tested for creatine, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium (which was low but is now fixed). Phosphorus, t4 (done several times), white blood cell count for mono, checked for anemia
- halter monitor
- echo cardiogram
- ultra sounds done on legs and heart
- 24 hr unine sample
- injected radioactive chemicals to check for blood clots near heart and lungs
- strep test

i need help so badly and i've been to about 6-7 different doctors and none of them can figure out what it is for sure. I don't know what to do anymore and i'm running out of hope. It's my 16th birthday tomorrow and for once in 3 months i'd like to feel good again. Please, please, please help me get through this!!

Hello crippled,

unfortunately most doctors have no clues as to what causes anxiety attacks and yet the treatment is so simple.



Anxiety attacks are caused by excess adrenaline production. This happens when the brain senses a energy starvation as during a hypoglycemic dip. This means that the brain is starved of energy. Biological energy is derived form glucose found the food we eat. When we eat too much sugar it may result in insulin resistance (hypoglycemia) meaning that receptors for insulin fail to push glucose (as well as other nutrients) across the cell membrane. The brain needs a constant supply of biological energy (derived form glucose) to synthesize our feel-good neurochemicals.



Insulin resistance causes an increase in the blood sugar level, triggering the release of more insulin. Excess insulin causes a sudden drop in blood sugar levels and now we have a hypoglycemia and brain starvation.



In response, the brain send stress hormones to increase blood sugar levels, but these very stress hormone also cause the anxiety attacks.
Pleas read:

“beating anxiety” at our web site for more details.



Jurriaan plesman, ba(psych), post grad. Dip. Clin. Nutr.


For more articles see free web site at
Hypoglycemia.Asn.Au

Jurplesman - would not that sort of thing show up in blood tests? In the 24 hour urine sample, they checked my adrenals (i don't know the results, never really got them back so i'm assuming it was all okay) and in a blood test it showed that I had great sugar levels.

Thought i'd add, for about two weeks i've been on a health diet and not allowing myself to have any sugar what-so-ever.

I went back to visit the doctor again today and since we've ruled everything else out he believes it is a form of anxiety and perhaps a virus as well.

The anxiety attacks you have described sound exactly what I was having. They would be worst when I was very tired but on the weekends I wouldn't get them.

Basically, what i'm really trying to get past right now is the constant racing heart beat. My heart needs a rest, and i'm not able to get in to see a phychologist until the end of june!! :cry:

Hello crippled,

it is unfortunate that most conventional doctors do not know how to test for hypoglycemia. It is done by a special glucose tolerance test for hypoglycemia designed by dr george samra in sydney and described at our web site as

"testing for hypoglycemia and how the doctor can help".


See his book “the hypoglycemic connection ii”.


There is a letter attached for a doctor explaining how to test for hypoglycemia. Unlike a test for diabetes it measures the fluctuations of blood sugar levels over time, that is about four hours. Blood samples are taken every half an hour. Some of the readings may be in the normal range, but looks at abnormal peaks and falls as a result of insulin (prediabetic insulin resistance). It will also indicate a possible hypothyroidism and a possible imbalance in zinc and copper levels. There are many reasons for an abnormal glycolysis, such as various nutritional deficiencies or other medical conditions ( that should be excluded).


We in fact are looking for any abnormality in the conversion of glucose to atp in glycolysis and it may affect an abnormality at any stage during glycolysis.


Thus what we are looking at how the brain is fed by atp.


Any abnormality in energy supplies to the brain may result in the excess production of adrenaline (the hpa reaction in medical terms) that may be responsible for unusual ‘psychological experiences’ or ‘physical experiences’ such as abnormal heart beats.


Normally the hypoglycemic diet should be able to overcome the problem, but if this fails then further medical tests may need to be performed.


Jurriaan plesman, ba(psych), post grad. Dip. Clin. Nutr.

Thanks for all your help, i'm really looking into it as I have way more then half of the symptoms listed. I went to one of my doctors who knows about hypoglycemia and said we might as well check for it because the symptoms are the same as anxiety symptoms. However, he recommended a different test which I will have done on monday. I don't think it's the g.T.T. Though. If nothing shows up on this test, I will go to my other doctor and request the proper test. I have high suspicions that I have something wrong with my metabolism. Thanks again.

I went to a couple doctors this week that said my resting heartrate is still in the normal range (74-86) when sitting. It's probably a little higher than most people's because I haven't done any physical activity since february basically.

I think this may all be caused by the shortness of breath. Since I have this, doesn't it mean my heart has to beat faster to get more oxygen? Does this make sense?

I'm looking for any input on this as too how I can get better. I tested negative to hypoglycemia. I have no other health problems what-so-ever and am perfectly healthy besides being out of breath and having a racing heart. I get extremely out of breath just walking around or going upstairs, although i've done every lung test and theres nothing wrong, and I am breathing deep and slow. Any other thoughts?

Hello crippled,

you said that you tested negative for hypoglycemia.



Well, can you tell me the results of the test?? There should be at least nine readings.

Jurples - I had only two readings and I didn't get them back. My doctor is very familiar with hypoglycemia and he said that the g.T.T. Can actually cause hypoglycemic symptoms even if the person does not have it, which can lead to the wrong diagnostics. I had a 12 hour fasting glucose blood test and another blood test that they took 2 hours after eating. They we both fine.

Something else has come up though. I had a pulmonary lung fuction test about 6 weeks ago and the dlco levels were very low, showing that somehow my circulation to my lungs is being restricted. I am going in for a cat scan soon.

Hi crippled,

you write:

"jurples - I had only two readings and I didn't get them back. My doctor is very familiar with hypoglycemia and he said that the g.T.T. Can actually cause hypoglycemic symptoms even if the person does not have it, which can lead to the wrong diagnostics. I had a 12 hour fasting glucose blood test and another blood test that they took 2 hours after eating. They we both fine."

the above test seems to be a test for diabetes. I don't know where your doctors got the idea that a gtt causes hypoglycemia! This is exactly what we are testing for. If you have a hypoglycemic reaction in a gtt, you have the hypoglycemic syndrome. The test does not cause hypoglycemia, but your inability to metabolize the glucose load properly causes you to have a hypoglycemic reaction. This is indicative of hypoglycemia.


I am afraid I can not be of further assistance if you do not have a proper test for hypoglycemia as explained at our web site.


Perhaps you should see a naturopath, or a nutritionist, or a 'complementary doctor' familiar with nutritional medicine.


Jurriaan plesman, ba(psych), post grad. Dip. Clin. Nutr.

I suffer from panic attacks and anxiety (well suffered!!), I understand them and can control my anxiety to live my normal life again without to much fuss. For me it was all in my mind, yes, I was having symptoms, shortness of breath, racing heart, nausea etc. I also went to the doctors for a few years and they all said it was anxiety. The way I got over it was to say to myself "does it really matter if my heart races for the rest of my life?" I mean the doctor said my heart was all normal and I was quite healthy, so who cares?! The best thing I ever did was to live my life as normal with my racing heart, and you know what? As soon as I calmed down and wasnt scared of it anymore it went!!!!! It takes quite a while (months), but it didnt kill or even hurt me. Dont analyze how you are feeling cause this feeds it. If your heart races just say "who cares, it's not going to hurt me" and occupy your mind with something else. Dont give it another thought. Be strong and get back on your horse. Has your racing heart ever stopped?, have you passed out?, has it hurt you in anyway (besides just feeling uncomfortable and scary)? I had it for years and I was terrified that something bad was going to happen but day after day month after month, year after year nothing happened to mean until I wasnt scared of anything anymore. I reckon that your heart has felt like this before but you didnt give it another thought. Its just that this time you paid attention to it and it scared you. Good luck and give it a go!!!

I think thats very good advice fiona

Thanks fiona. I think this is excellent advise as well. Before I do anything too strenuous though, i'm waiting to get in to have a cat scan, just to make sure there isn't something more serious that's restricting my blood flow to my lungs. For all I know, I could have a virus (it did all start with a cold after all..)