Heart Disease and Heart Attack Forum - Why is my Heart Beating Fast? It hurts...

I have been having these symptoms and I can't figure out what it is or what to call them. It has happened several times and always in the middle of the night while I am sleeping.

This last time I woke up just as it started and I noticed that my breathing was like a stacatto both inhaling and exhaling. Then my heart started beating extremely fast ( approx. 175/min) and with a lot of force. So much so that it hurts. The discomfort/pain creeps up into my neck along the sides. It will last anywhere from 15 - 45 minutes.

When it stops, it as though some one has "changed gears". There will be one good thump, and then it returns to a normal rate of beating.

Replies(2)

Dr. Nikola Gjuzelov , MD

replied on June 5th, 2006

Heart Disease & Heart Attack Answer A1007

It seems highly likely that you have experienced attacks of some typeof tachycardia. You must visit your GP to perform an ECG. ECG's can identify tachycardia if it occurs at the moment of examination. You can also monitor your heart rate and discover a possible heart arrhythmias by wearin a holter-apparatus. A holter apparatus performs 24 hours of ECG monitoring. ECG's can also discover other heart related diseases such as angina pectoris. You will have to consistently check your blood pressure, too.

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