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What Causes Extreme Rapid Heart Beats?

Posted on Tue, 17 Jun 2014

Question: Hi, I was wondering if anyone could help me out with this issue. Recently I hospitalized for extreme rapid beat and high blood pressure. It happened after I took a 5-htp pill (Tryptophan). So I thought maybe it was a reaction to the pill. But my Doc on the ship thinks it was an anxiety attack. (I work for the Navy) I don't believe it was, due to the fact that nearly every time I smoke a cigarette my heart beats extremely fast just like that night. I wear a heat monitoring watch and during these episodes my heart usually hangs around 170-180 bpm. What's causing this? I know nicotine speeds up the heart but is it supposed to get this high? And why all of a sudden (if it is due to nicotine) is my heart to sensitive to nicotine?

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Causes to fast heart beating rates...

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I have gone through your medical history carefully and understood your concerns.

To my opinion, you are experiencing tachycardia (rapid heart rates) due to:
- smoking
- alcohol
- work overload
- stress/anxiety

I advise to take Xanax and beta-blocker to control stress and high heart beating rates.

Taking tryptophan can also increase heart rates. So, I advise to stop taking this supplement until improvement.

I also advise to avoid/stop:
- drinking alcohol
- smoking
- try to control stress
- drinking coffee/energetic drinks

If no improvement, further cardiac assessment should be taken to identify the right culprit.

Hope it helped! Do write me back if you have further queries!
Dr.Benard

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (19 hours later)

ok thanks for the input. I just don't know anymore though. Because last night in bed my heart keeped speeding up every time I tried to sleep. I dont understand what's going on.....
whats weird is that once I get up and start moving it slows down. But once I try to sleep againg it speeds up. And I don't mean speeds up slightly, it speed up really fast and hard. I check my heart rate when this happens and it gets arounds 160bpm.
But once I walk around it calms down to around 90bpm.
This is really starting to stress me out. Because now I'm to scared to smoke a cigarette or even sleep without my heart exploding in my chest.
I also notice that right before this happens in bed I feel heavier. Intensely and instantly. its kinda like a warning of what's about to happen.
have you ever heard of this?

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (28 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Stress/anxiety related...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

Thank you for following up.

I think that your problems are primary due to stress and anxiety. I would advise betablocker drug together with Xanax for the moment. Meanwhile, you can schedule Holter monitoring and cardiac echo for further evaluation.

Dr.Benard
If you have further queries, do not hesitate to write me back.

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar