Join Our Community!
Share
Mental Health > Anxiety and Stress Forum > Irregular heartbeat makes me think I'm on the verge of death
Learn how doctors clinically diagnose one of twelve kinds of anxiety disorders...and which doctors you should see for an anxiety diagnosis....
Anxiety disorders can affect anyone. But do you know the common signs and symptoms of anxiety disorders? Learn more now....
Anxiety is a normal, healthy emotion when experienced during specific moments. But do you know the signs that anxiety has gotten out of control? Read more here...
User Profile
Q: Irregular heartbeat makes me think I'm on the verge of death
asked by: DoctorQuestion on September 20th, 2006
I am a 21 year old male. Was a two-sports varsity athlete in high school. I am 6 foot 3 and weigh 245 pounds. There is no history of heart disease in my family, both pairs of my grandparents are alive-and-well at over 75 years old. I do not smoke but enjoy alcohol on a somewhat regular basis. Four months ago I experienced what has been described as anxiety-panic attacks for the first time in my life. Since that time I have been in and out of the hospital 6 times, twice were ER visits. I experience a variety of different problems almost daily, ranging from split-second very painful head pain, a tightness/cramping from my left shoulder to the lower end of my left pectoral, split second sharp chest pains, waking up with increased heart rate, varying heart rate (I sampled my resting heart rate 10 times in a one 2 minute period, the results were, 62, 81, 89, 77, 87, 101, 99, 80, 89, and 85, all using an electronic heart rate monitor). Sometimes I will monitor my heart rate manually and feel it fluxate like crazy, as in, it will go "beatbeatbeatbeat...beat...beat.......," and then I will feel what I used to think was numbness but now have decided is a rush of adrenaline shoot through my body before it continues, "beatbeatbeatbeat." I have been prescribd Xanax and yes, the Xanax works in the sense that it takes away the ANXIETY, but on Xanax I still notice my heart rate being very weird. This does not happen all the time, rather at random points during the day. Both EKGs done ahve showed perfect marks, all 6 times the doctor has told me I have great blood pressure and heart rate has been below 80 those times. I have not yet had an "echo," whatever that is, or a stress test done. These problems have grown and grown to the point where I cannot live a normal life, I cannot concentrate in class and cannot have fun with my friends because I constantly think I am on the verge of death, I think about what I read about heart disease and how you can just suddenly die. Basically, I have a really hard time believing that anxiety/panic attacks can make my heart skip beats like I described earlier, and would just appreciate any help at all. It always takes at least 10 days to fit in an appointment with my primary physician so that is why I came in here, for the meantime.


Did you find this post useful?
|
Replies(1)
User Profile
Dr. Nikola Gjuzelov , MD
replied on October 5th, 2006
Anxiety & Stress Answer A1554
According to the symptoms you are experiencing (constant obsession with your health), it seems likely that you are experiencing hypochondria. Hypochondria is a kind of neurotic disorder wherein a person thinks irrationally that he has a/many severe disease(s). The patient often visits many doctors searching for a disease but all examinations indicate an absence of disease. Treatment for hypochondria includes psychotherapy and/or medications. You can visit a pscyhologist, psychiatrist, or another mental health professions for an expert opinion and help.


DISCLAIMER: "Ask a Doctor" questions are answered by certified physicians and other medical professionals who volunteer their time on eHealth Forum. For more information about experts participating in the "Ask a Doctor" Network, please visit our medical experts page. You may also visit our Anxiety and Stress , for moderated patient to patient support and information.

The information provided on eHealth Forum is designed to improve, not replace, the relationship between a patient and his/her own physician. Personal consultation(s) with a qualified medical professional is the proper means for diagnosing any medical condition.
Did you find this post useful?
|
This question has been answered by the doctor. This topic is now open for public discussion, however no comments below this point will be answered by a doctor.
Quick Reply
Search