Is this likely to be a heart problem..?

To be honest I'm really reluctant to say anything about this to anyone, including going to a doctor (maybe its to do with 'oh but what if I'm wrong/its nothing important'.. and all that) buuut maybe its a good idea to ask opinions of those who might have been in the same situation.

Since I was about 10 years old I occasionally get palpitations, and over the years (I'm 20 now) they have increased in regularity - this might happen a couple of times a week or several times a day now instead of every couple of months. I've also, throughout my whole life, been what I assumed was very unfit. I get out of breath very easily compared to everyone else I know, and on one occasion (recently) in particular I found myself taking 5-10 mins longer than everyone else with me to climb a long set of steps because I was so hopelessly out of breath! This is all despite my daily walking, usually about a half hour walk per day. I feel I ought to be as fit and able as everyone else my age as I get regular exercise and have a v good diet, but I can hardly keep up with my friends if they don't slow their pace to match mine.

Anyone have anything useful to say to this?? Am I needlessly worrying (if so please do reassure me so :tongue:

) or is this something I had ought to see a doctor about asap?

Thanks! :cool:

Reply 1

Saffie

11

do you get the palpitations when you're anxious/stressed/worried?

Reply 2

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3

Its probably nothing, but it doesn't hurt to get checked. I thought i was experiencing the same thing, went to the doctors and had an ECG and everything was fine. It turns out that no one's heartbeat is completely regular and that often once you notice this, you begin to pay more attention to it and as you get more worried you notice it whenever it happens, making you think that theres a problem when there isn't. So its probably nothing, but get it checked out anyway.

Oh and half an hour walking won't make you fit, you'll need to do some real exercise to raise your stamina.

Reply 3

pixiepeep

13

I know exactly what you're on about, I'm the same.

Turns out I have a heart condition called Wolfe Parkinson White, or WPW, which is far more common than it seems. It's basically, and I quote my doctor, a supraventricular tachycardia (sp???). Instead of there only being one electrical pulse making the heart pump, there's a secondary smaller one. It's all fairly newly discovered thanks to the development of more sensitive ECG machines. I basically find that when I am calm, or relaxing, and now more often when I'm just doing day to day things, I get a really powerful heartbeat followed by a number of palpitations, that last about half an hour to a few hours.

I'm not saying this is what you have, but the symptoms are very similar. I don't get so much of the breathlessness unless I'm having actual palpitations, but I do find it harder to get back to my usual pulse rate after exercise.

Reply 4

Hurricane Kat

OP

Saffie - no, they aren't linked to anything usually, although I do get them sometimes when I take a deep breath :s

3232 - Walking is real exercise, half an hour is my usual minimum per day, plus I do cycling when I can.

pixiepeep - Thanks for the info! Though this doesn't sound like something I have (possibly), the palpitations never last that long (only a few seconds at a time).

Reply 5

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3

Hurricane Kat

3232 - Walking is real exercise, half an hour is my usual minimum per day, plus I do cycling when I can.

I probably could have phrased that a little better. I meant more vigorous exercise. If you do the same thing every day your fitness won't improve, your body will adjust and it'll stay at the same level. If the problem is that you are unfit, then increasing the amount of exercise you do (and doing 'harder' exercise) will increase your stamina.

Reply 6

lucho22

13

3232

I probably could have phrased that a little better. I meant more vigorous exercise. If you do the same thing every day your fitness won't improve, your body will adjust and it'll stay at the same level. If the problem is that you are unfit, then increasing the amount of exercise you do (and doing 'harder' exercise) will increase your stamina.

Although I'd suggest a full cardiac review before you start sprinting on the treadmill.. - If you have a cardiovascular condition this will almost certainly not help it!

Reply 7

Hurricane Kat

OP

Well, yes, but I've been doing so for a while to no avail. I do try to increase exercise gradually and I do get a reasonable amount the year round; this is why it concerns me that I still haven't improved in the slightest and am still unable to even keep up with the walking pace of my friends. :frown:

I do see what you're trying to say though!

(sorry obviously took a while writing this - this is in response to 3232's 2nd post in this thread!)

Reply 8

*knowitall*

What possible reason could you have for NOT going to see a doctor?

Reply 9

Hurricane Kat

OP

1. Maybe I'm totally wrong about it or its nothing important
2. Needle phobia... the last thing I want is blood tests. :frown:

Yeah, sounds silly... anyway I wanted opinions of people with a similar problem first. Hence why I posted here.

Reply 10

Revd. Mike

17

1. If you're totally wrong about it, your doctor will say "Don't worry, it's nothing to worry about" and then you have some peace of mind.

2. What would you rather have, a few moments of unpleasantness having blood tests done, or die of some undiagnosed cardiac condition? (To put it bluntly)

Reply 11

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3

They probably won't give you a blood test, the first thing they'll do is give you an ECG and possibly strap one on for 24 hours to monitor your heartbeat.

Is this likely to be a heart problem..?

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