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What Causes Heart Palpitations?

Posted on Thu, 12 Mar 2015

Question: Hello. XXXXXXX name is XXXXXXX While I was working at my desk today, I experienced heart palpitations for about three seconds. I immediately became terrified and I had a sudden dull pain just to the left of the center of my chest. The pain was mild, but it was dull and lasted for about one hour, Needless to say I was terrified and the whole thing was accompanied by an anxiety attack. I'm 36, slender and athletic. I don't drink alcohol, I don't smoke and I don't use any drugs. I also don't eat anything with refined sugar and I exercise five times a week. What could be going on???? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answered by Dr. Divakara (31 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You need to get tested.

Detailed Answer:
HI XXXXXXX

Greeting from Dr. Divakara.P
First of all thanks for choosing Healthcaremagic for posting your query.

There are many causes of Palpitations from simple and harmless to serious and life threatening.

Simple Causes are :

1.     Anxiety, Fear , Stress
2.     Fever, Pain. Exercise
3.     Low Blood pressure
4.     Low Blood sugars
5.     Low Hemoglobin
6.     Thyroid diseases.

Serious causes are :
1.     Problems of heart.
2.     Adrenal Problems .
3.     Problems in the nerves supplying heart.
4.     Problem in the brain.
It requires an evaluation to find out the cause of your palpitations . I would recommend you the following tests. Kindly get it done and revert back .

Complete Hemogram , Serum TSH, Fasting and Postprandial Blood sugars, Treadmill test and 2d ECHO.

Hope this information was useful to you.
Any clarifications feel free to ask .

Regards.

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

Follow up: Dr. Divakara (40 minutes later)

Thank you very much, Dr. Divakara. I should have mentioned that I went to a cardiologist about 14 years ago and I had all the tests you suggested. He told me everything was fine. But I will get tested again.

Answered by Dr. Divakara (16 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Get it done again.

Detailed Answer:
HI XXXXXXX

Thanks for the information .

14 years is a long period . Its better you do the tests again . Do let me know what the report says.

Good Day.

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

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