Sorry to bother people again with the same old problem - I'm 25 years old and I've been suffering from a fast heart beat (not too bad when I'm sat down but really races when I do even the lightest activity or even just stand up). I also get twinging pains in my chest and feel short of breathe, not to mention the occasional extra heart beat that seems to thump in my chest. I'm on the waiting list to see a cardiologist (my decision - my doc didn't seem to be too concerned) and have a 24hr ECG booked (although three trips to A&E with 3 ECG traces, a chest x ray and blood tests have led several doctors to say they don't think there's a problem - mor ethan likely anxiety). I was recently put on beta blockers which seemed to do the trick although my doc has taken me off them in preparation for the 24hrs ecg test. To say I'm frightened is an understatement -I'm terrified that it's some serious problem like a faulty valve or something (although once again my doc told me I'm just scaring myself)- it's always been my worst nightmare to have to undergo open heart surgery ever since my uncle had it done when I was a kid.
Can anyone offer any advice or empathise with my position? The thing that concerns me is the fact that my pulse can be normal when I sit down but races when I stand and I didn't feel particularly anxious when this started - although as you can probably tell, I'm somewhat of a worry wort.
Any advice or help would be very much appreciated.

[This message has been edited by Soodle (edited 10-26-2003).]

Soodle,
Hi, sounds like one of the symptoms I used to have.. actually I still get it here and there and after several tests with the cardio I am convinced there is nothing wrong with my heart. (I am worried 'bout my face now, different story)

My heart would race whenever I was anxious, even though I was calmly sitting down. Then I would noticed it beating faster whenever I would stand-up or walk to the next room... I am 27 now and always been active in the past so yes, this worried me... so I would always check my pulse.
What really convinced me it was definetly something stress/anxiety related was when I started swimming. I did laps and really started having fun and forgot for a moment there that I had 'something'. After I finished my laps I checked my pulse and from what I remembered it was in the 90s.. so I was shocked to find out my pulse was lower than when I was sitting at home...
From the posts I have read many people do recommend exercice.. so I am now trying to re-schedule everything to go back to swimming and gym, it's been months now... I was caught up in the new job.. long hours, moving in a new area, finding a roommate, my car's engine blew..etc.. so I guess my stress is making me anxious and presenting itself in new ways.

Hope everything goes good for you,

Jonathan.

anxiety is often the cause of rapid heartbeats or skipped beats, the tests usually come back clear.

beta blockers help
it also helps to ignore the heart, monitoring and checking the heart always makes it misbehave

dont tune in to your heart, tune out!