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What Causes Heart Palpitations And Breathlessness On Exercising And Exertion?
Hi, I am a 50 year old female. I was diagnosed with mitral valve regurgitation two years ago. My heart is slightly thickened. Dr said nothing to worry about, just to have it check once a year wearing a heart monitor. My problem occurs when I exercise especially when hiking in the mountains. I get heart palpitations on the inclines and when running during boot camp. Dr said it is not related to heart condition. Could you give me your opinion on this condition? I worry I may have a heart attack while exercising. I love hiking but high elevations cause my heart to pump so rapidly, i had to stop to catch my breath. It scares me...
Mon, 19 Oct 2015
Hello, madame. Thank you for your question and welcome to HCM. I understand your concern.
Heart attack and heart rate problems are two totally different things in original aspects. Heart attack can be caused by blockages in coronary arteries, or a sudden cessation of the blood supply to the heart muscle, caused by a total blockage of a certain coronary artery. It is manifested with a sudden onset of heavy chest pain.
Palpitations or heart skipping a beat are merely electrical "firings" from other areas of the heart muscle, rather than from the original pacemaker of the heart. When this happens, the next electrical stimulus comes from the sinus node, which "takes over" the situation, by producing a first beat as a more forceful beat which produces the palpitation itself and is accompanied with a shortness of breath. Every single human being is prone to extrasystoles whenever the heart muscle is put on a physical or psychological stress. Therefore, if this phenomenon happens few times a day, and related to excessive physical or psychological activity, then I would suggest you that there is nothing to worry about. I understand your concern, when it happens, it seems as you heart is going to jump out from your throat. Then anxiety follows, which produces all other symptoms: high heart rate, high blood pressure, breathlessness.
I hope I was helpful with my answer.
Kind regards,
Dr. Meriton
Heart attack and heart rate problems are two totally different things in original aspects. Heart attack can be caused by blockages in coronary arteries, or a sudden cessation of the blood supply to the heart muscle, caused by a total blockage of a certain coronary artery. It is manifested with a sudden onset of heavy chest pain.
Palpitations or heart skipping a beat are merely electrical "firings" from other areas of the heart muscle, rather than from the original pacemaker of the heart. When this happens, the next electrical stimulus comes from the sinus node, which "takes over" the situation, by producing a first beat as a more forceful beat which produces the palpitation itself and is accompanied with a shortness of breath. Every single human being is prone to extrasystoles whenever the heart muscle is put on a physical or psychological stress. Therefore, if this phenomenon happens few times a day, and related to excessive physical or psychological activity, then I would suggest you that there is nothing to worry about. I understand your concern, when it happens, it seems as you heart is going to jump out from your throat. Then anxiety follows, which produces all other symptoms: high heart rate, high blood pressure, breathlessness.
I hope I was helpful with my answer.
Kind regards,
Dr. Meriton
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