Hi! Over the last three years I have had threeepisodes of rapid heartbeat.
The first two within eight weeks of each other three years ago and the last one a week ago.
each time BEFOE THE RAPID HEARTBEAT, I have felt extremly hot, and tired and very down, as the family had been gouing through some tough times, then my heart will thump twiCE AND MY HEARY WILL RACE LIKE MAD, THE FIRST TIME IT WENT ON FOR AGES, MAYBE THREE HOURS, The seconfd time for three quaters of an hour and the last time for just under three hours, it seemed to start suddenly, but the end sort of gradually stopped, especially the last time, when my hubby came home anad I had a drink of water, and he spoke to me and calmed me down.
What I was wondering was can rapid heartbeat be caused by really bad stress? As when I was ok I did not get the rapid heartbeat.
Also I am 45 so can this type of rapid heartbeat be caused by the menopause?
Thanks

stop after m

I started getting heart palps, rapid heart rate, at perimenopause. I still get them, even though I've been in menopause for 5 yrs or more. Hormones can do strange things, but also so can anxiety, it can cause these as well.

Thank you so much for your comments, it has eased my mind.
When the last lot of rapid heartbeats happened I was escorting a autistic child home, as is my job, and almost as soon as he was in the car I had two thumps and my heart raced, I did panic alot then, as I had to look after the child,I think this made my racing heart a lot worse.
My hubby then had another job to go to and I was home alone, scared witless, but when he returned and sat with me I calmed down and the heart beat returned to normal.
Thanks once again,.

i dont think hot flashes last that long
i would see a heart doctor if it last that long or go to the ER
so they can record it and see what is going on
some people have heart problems for years and it never comes up .Then whammy! it does

I agree seeing a doctor would be adviseable.