Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Skipped Heart Beats And Fast Heart Rate?
Question: Hi doctor I have one last question before I close the discussion. Today has been a very busy and hectic day at work. I just finished and I had lots of anxiety today. Now that I'm finished I have a birthday party to attend. I am driving and getting palpitations. Skipped beats and fast heart rate. Is this normal? I also checked my pulse and felt something that felt like a double beat. Is that dangerous? I had all cardiac tests a few months ago which came back normal and I saw my cardiologist yesterday and had an ecg which was normal
Brief Answer:
These symptoms are due to anxiety only
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries
I can understand your concern. You have underwent all cardiac tests few months ago and all tests came normal. Your ECG also came normal yesterday. This rules out the heart illnesses or any serious cause of your current symptoms so there is no need to worry.
Your day was hectic and busy and this could have precipitated the anxiety. It is normal in individuals with anxiety to have rapid racing heart, missed beats and some times even ectopic beats or PVCs. So all these symptoms are perfectly normal. Please don't get distresses. If you have prescription of drugs like beta blockers as Propranolol or benzodiazepines as Clonazepam, Lorazepam etc then you can take either of these drugs. This will help in relaxing and your symptoms will decrease.
If you can take then Green tea would also help in relaxation. This will result in reduction of beats.
Be assured there is nothing dangerous, all these symptoms are due to anxiety only.
Thanks, Hope this helps you. Please feel free to ask again for more doubts.
These symptoms are due to anxiety only
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries
I can understand your concern. You have underwent all cardiac tests few months ago and all tests came normal. Your ECG also came normal yesterday. This rules out the heart illnesses or any serious cause of your current symptoms so there is no need to worry.
Your day was hectic and busy and this could have precipitated the anxiety. It is normal in individuals with anxiety to have rapid racing heart, missed beats and some times even ectopic beats or PVCs. So all these symptoms are perfectly normal. Please don't get distresses. If you have prescription of drugs like beta blockers as Propranolol or benzodiazepines as Clonazepam, Lorazepam etc then you can take either of these drugs. This will help in relaxing and your symptoms will decrease.
If you can take then Green tea would also help in relaxation. This will result in reduction of beats.
Be assured there is nothing dangerous, all these symptoms are due to anxiety only.
Thanks, Hope this helps you. Please feel free to ask again for more doubts.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you so much for the reassurance doctor. My Holter 4 months ago showed 400 PACS over 48 hours. My cardiologist insists they are anxiety related. My echcardiogram showed a structurally normal heart and I passed my stress test . I do have anxiety and I've been doing cbt therapy which has helped. Today has been very busy and I was anxious a lot
Brief Answer:
Heart conditions are ruled out easily no need to worry.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for asking a follow up
400 PACs over 48 hours are not at all alarming and this can occur due to anxiety issues also. So no need to worry. Your heart is structurally and functionally normal so there is no need to worry as I have said earlier.
Please continue to attend CBT sessions and relax yourself. Try to ignore these beats because the awareness of beat is further aggravating the anxiety.
Thanks, Still have more doubts please ask again.
Heart conditions are ruled out easily no need to worry.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for asking a follow up
400 PACs over 48 hours are not at all alarming and this can occur due to anxiety issues also. So no need to worry. Your heart is structurally and functionally normal so there is no need to worry as I have said earlier.
Please continue to attend CBT sessions and relax yourself. Try to ignore these beats because the awareness of beat is further aggravating the anxiety.
Thanks, Still have more doubts please ask again.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Doctor thank you for your reply I have one last question before I close the discussion. Last year I was at the gym. I did not eat very well all day and I worked out quite vigorously. Near the end of my workout my heart rate spiked to 190. An ambulance was called and my BP spiked to 180/100. After seeing this I panicked even more and my BP went to 210/108. I was taken in the ambulance and while on way to hospital I started to calm down and my BP went lower to 160/95. It later returned to normal. At the hospital I was given ecgs and blood work and everything was normal. My question is can anxiety really cause BP to spike like this
Brief Answer:
Yes anxiety can raise heart rate and BP to such levels.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for asking a follow up question
Yes anxiety or severe panic disorder can cause increased heart rate and BP to such levels. No need to worry. At that time too, your investigations came normal so it was due to anxiety only. In anxiety adrenalin rush occurs which raise heart rate and BP. Please remain relaxed and don't think about the palpitations again and again. Try to remain relaxed and don't think about having any cardiac condition.
Thanks, Hope this helps you. Still have more doubts please ask again.
Yes anxiety can raise heart rate and BP to such levels.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for asking a follow up question
Yes anxiety or severe panic disorder can cause increased heart rate and BP to such levels. No need to worry. At that time too, your investigations came normal so it was due to anxiety only. In anxiety adrenalin rush occurs which raise heart rate and BP. Please remain relaxed and don't think about the palpitations again and again. Try to remain relaxed and don't think about having any cardiac condition.
Thanks, Hope this helps you. Still have more doubts please ask again.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Thank you doctor for all your reassuring words. It's nice to speak to a great doctor who can put my mind at ease.
Brief Answer:
Thanks for appreciation.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your appreciation. Wish you a good health.
Remember one thing that these occasional racing heart symptoms are due to anxiety only. Your physical health and heart is perfectly normal.
Take care
Thanks for appreciation.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your appreciation. Wish you a good health.
Remember one thing that these occasional racing heart symptoms are due to anxiety only. Your physical health and heart is perfectly normal.
Take care
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
