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What Causes Heart Palpitations When I Lay Down Despite Having Normal Normal Cardiac Tests?

Posted on Tue, 16 Jun 2015

Question: Hi doctor. I have had all cardiac tests done and everything came back structurally normal. I do have some pacs 400 per 48 holter and only 15 pvcs. I usually will only feel them at night when lying down after a long day or in the morning when I wake up. I am a chef and tonight while cooking I ate some raw garlic and my stomach felt a little uneasy and I got a few etopic beats and felt lightheaded for a few seconds. I do suffer from a lot of anxiety so I'm not sure if the lightheaded XXXXXXX was due to the anxiety or the etopic. I usually never get them during the day or don't feel them but tonight while working I did.

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Following advice...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
I read your new symptoms and would like to say that today symptoms are related to uneasy stomach.

As i said earlier to you a distended stomach (uneasy) may trigger palpitations (ectopic beats). Once you will experience those ectopic on unusual time of the day you will provoke a panic attack (anxiety).

In this case you have nothing to worry about. My advice is to stay calm and to take an antacid (Malox) tablets to relieve stomach discomfort. Please avoid over thinking about palpitations because this will increase your anxiety levels.

Hope this will be of help!
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu

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

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (1 hour later)

hi doctor thank you for getting back to be. I agree i think acid could have triggered this. After one hour they stopped however i came upstairs and am lying in bed and i am getting 5 - 6 etopics per minute right now. My cardiologist told me last time it doesnt matter how many per minute they are harmless. Is this true?

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Following advice...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

Yes this is true, no matter how many per minutes they are harmless. You should stay relaxed and calm nothing is to worry about.

Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu

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

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (9 hours later)

Doctor I have a quick question. I know that with anxiety blood pressure rises. Does this cause etopic beats or is it the anxiety itself. Also I have heard that high blood pressure is usually silent. Are there any symptoms from high blood pressure or are they rare. Usually when I get checked at my Gp my blood pressure is 135/85 when I get bad anxiety it goes as high as 175/100 or a little more but goes back down soon after. I was just wondering if high blood pressure causes the symptoms of etopic beats or the bradycardia and tachycardia? Or is that just the anxiety

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Following advice...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

The spike of hypertension is associated with anxiety and this is a normal reaction to anxiety. The fact that BP comes back to normal immediately after the anxiety panic go away shows that you have a normal heart and everything is anxiety related.

You don't have hypertension and your symptoms aren't related to hypertension. The contrary is true, hypertension is a manifestation of anxiety.

Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu

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

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (27 hours later)

Doctor thank you for your reply. I just arrived in the location to do some training. I did what you said and tried to relax and the trip here was ok. I just sat down now and I have some etopic beats. As my anxiety lessens will these etopic beats start to diminish? Also if someone has etopic for a few years on and off is that dangerous. I have spoken to some people who told me they have had pvcs for 20-25 years

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Following advice.

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

As your anxiety levels will be lowered you will experience fewer heart palpitations. Since the anxiety never will completely go away you may experience palpitations for year.

However keep in mind that palpitations per se aren't harmful even if you experience them for a long period. Anxiety may be harmful for a long period and this is why we insist that you should treat it properly.

Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu

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

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (18 hours later)

Hi doctor one last question before I close the discussion. Today I did a lot of training and didn't sleep much last night
Everything went well and I felt good while working. I even exercised last night. Today I catered a party and after it was over I had some acid reflux and some anxiety and I could feel palpitations and some etopic beats. Is this dangerous and does it matter whether they are pvc or pacs? Also can the etopic be triggering the tachycardia or is it just the anxiety? I don't understandwhy. I felt great last night and today and now it all hit me. Is this dangerous. I'm being as calm as possible but I feel it in my chest.

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Following advice.

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

You shouldn't worry, what happens to you is a harmless thing. It's only palpitations triggered by acid reflux.

Acid reflux increase anxiety and the combination of stress and acid reflux has caused palpitations and tachycardia.

It doesn't matter if you have had PACs or PVCs they are harmless. I suggest to follow this way and to avoid over thinking about those episodes.

Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu
p.s if you are satisfied with my answer please close this query and rate it to maximum.

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