Question 1

I'm really worried because my heart rate is usually at 100 or above. I check it by counting the pulse on my neck, and it comes out to be something like 24 to 27 pulses in 15 seconds, which is more than 100 when I calculate it for a minute. I have a history of panic attacks that started back in 2015 with a very fast heartbeat, and I was told it might have been due to acid reflux. It happened again in 2019. I'm really scared of traveling, especially late at night during long journeys. I get these terrible thoughts about what if I have an attack and theres no one around to help, like if the train is passing through a jungle. These thoughts just make my heart race even more, and I end up feeling extremely scared. Can you please help me understand what's going on and how I can handle this?

Accepted Answer

It sounds like you may be experiencing symptoms of anxiety, especially given your history of panic attacks. The rapid heartbeat you are feeling could be related to anxiety and stress. To help manage your symptoms, I recommend trying relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, or yoga. In terms of medication, you can consider taking a beta-blocker such as Propranolol. Start with a low dose of 10mg once daily, and you can increase it as needed under medical supervision. Beta-blockers can help reduce heart rate and physical symptoms of anxiety. However, it's important to consult with a healthcare professional for a proper evaluation and personalized treatment plan.

Question 2

I'm really worried about my heart rate. I was prescribed Propranolol 20 MG for anxiety and palpitations by my cardiologist, but when I started feeling uncomfortable with light chest pain, I went to another cardiologist who told me to stop taking it. So I did, and I felt normal for a day, but then my heart rate jumped from 85 sitting to 145 standing the next day. I'm scared to go to the hospital because my heart rate might increase even more. If it's already at 140 just standing, I can't imagine how high it would go while working. Is this something very serious? Also, my blood pressure at night was 130 after eating and 127 before eating while I was on the medication, but it hardly ever went over 120 before all this. If just two days of using Propranolol caused these withdrawal effects, how am I supposed to handle this medication for the long term? I'm living in constant fear of dying. Can you help?

Accepted Answer

It sounds like you are experiencing significant anxiety and palpitations along with withdrawal effects from Propranolol. The sudden increase in heart rate upon standing is concerning and may indicate a condition called orthostatic intolerance. This needs to be evaluated further by a healthcare professional. To address your symptoms, you can try the following: - Discontinue Propranolol under medical supervision to avoid withdrawal effects - Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or meditation to help with anxiety - Stay well-hydrated and maintain a healthy diet - Avoid sudden changes in posture to prevent orthostatic intolerance In the meantime, it is important to consult with a cardiologist or a healthcare provider for a proper evaluation and management plan. They may consider alternative medications or therapies to help with your symptoms. Remember, sudden changes in heart rate and chest discomfort should not be ignored. Take care.

Question 3

I've been dealing with these ectopic palpitations for the last 8 months and it's really stressing me out. I went to a general physician who said it's nothing to worry about and it's just anxiety related. I have really bad cardiophobia anxiety. He put me on ciplar la 20, which helped a bit with the palpitations but they haven't completely gone away. I did a holter and an echo screening and showed them to a cardiologist. He said it's just anxiety too, but mentioned there was concentric LVH on the echo and a single ectopic on the holter. Should I be concerned about the concentric LVH and the single ectopic beat, or is it really just anxiety like everyone's saying?

Accepted Answer

Based on your symptoms and reports, I recommend continuing with Ciplar LA 20 for the ectopic palpitations. In addition, you may benefit from an anti-anxiety medication such as Escitalopram 10mg once daily to help manage your cardiophobia anxiety. It is also important to address the concentric LVH detected in the echo report. You can start taking Losartan 50mg once daily to help manage the LVH. Regular follow-up with your cardiologist is essential to monitor your condition and make any necessary adjustments to your treatment plan.

U can try exercise and diet control with low dose artorvastatin

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