Heart palpitations with anxiety? If so, what to do?

19y female

for the last few days in particular, i wanna say just a bit over 2 weeks at this point, i’ve been waking up with severe heart palpitations for a few minutes at a time that - while they go away after a few minutes - still are noticeable to the extent that they in turn make both my normal and health anxieties worsen. this is followed by having them throughout the day at random intervals, some days to a point where i have to lie down and either take a nap or go to bed early due to how bad they are.

medication wise, i currently don’t take anything for my anxiety consistently but i have been diagnosed with severe anxiety for a few years now. i have as-needed propanolol prescribed for face flushing / “panic attack” episodes, however it makes me super tired so i try not to take it unless absolutely necessary

i used to wake up in the morning feeling the same severe palpitations due to severe anxiety from loud alarms (which - in theory, having a tornado alarm as my alarm wasn’t a good idea) or waking up having missed a social event / something that i was looking forward to due to oversleeping. this has also made me wonder if it’s a recurring feeling coming back?

doctors-wise i had a test conducted on my thyroid a few months before this that came out absolutely normal, though i have been treated for persistent neck / muscle spasming / tightness a couple months after the fact. i also had an ekg done (albeit before these palpitations started) that also came out normal

on the nausea aspect - i don’t have much to say on that outside of the fact that it’s been a persistent feeling of stomach pain / nausea accompanying these palpitations that i’m not sure are associated or not, but it usually comes and goes with the palpitations, and i’ve dealt with nausea due to my depression before, so i thought thatd be important to add

my main questions out of all of this are if anyone else has had the same due to anxiety in turns of palpitations to this extent, and if it’s become a recurring thing for you? and if anything in particular has been able to help or any ways that you manage it?

thank you so much in advance !! 🙂

Please go to mayoclinic.org and put in your symptoms. Also, if your insurance allows it, please go to an Internal Medicine clinic at a University Hospital clinic. There are so many causes for your symptoms, that one thyroid test should not be the end of a proper diagnosis and treatment. One cause that comes to my mind is that your neck problem is irritating your Vagus nerve. I personally know that when I put my neck in certain positions, I get heart palpitations and nausea. Many Decades ago, when I was a teen, I was seen by an old, uncaring, doctor who, after a few blood tests, declared me a depressed teen who needed to talk to a psychiatrist about my teen problems and take medication. The only way for a person to find out any medical information was to go to the public library and ask to see the medical book called the Merck Manual. It is how I diagnosed and saved myself. Now most people can help get the proper diagnosis and treatment by using legitimate websites.
Advocate for yourself, and inform yourself of possibilities for the doctor to consider.

19y female

for the last few days in particular, i wanna say just a bit over 2 weeks at this point, i’ve been waking up with severe heart palpitations for a few minutes at a time that - while they go away after a few minutes - still are noticeable to the extent that they in turn make both my normal and health anxieties worsen. this is followed by having them throughout the day at random intervals, some days to a point where i have to lie down and either take a nap or go to bed early due to how bad they are.

medication wise, i currently don’t take anything for my anxiety consistently but i have been diagnosed with severe anxiety for a few years now. i have as-needed propanolol prescribed for face flushing / “panic attack” episodes, however it makes me super tired so i try not to take it unless absolutely necessary

i used to wake up in the morning feeling the same severe palpitations due to severe anxiety from loud alarms (which - in theory, having a tornado alarm as my alarm wasn’t a good idea) or waking up having missed a social event / something that i was looking forward to due to oversleeping. this has also made me wonder if it’s a recurring feeling coming back?

doctors-wise i had a test conducted on my thyroid a few months before this that came out absolutely normal, though i have been treated for persistent neck / muscle spasming / tightness a couple months after the fact. i also had an ekg done (albeit before these palpitations started) that also came out normal

on the nausea aspect - i don’t have much to say on that outside of the fact that it’s been a persistent feeling of stomach pain / nausea accompanying these palpitations that i’m not sure are associated or not, but it usually comes and goes with the palpitations, and i’ve dealt with nausea due to my depression before, so i thought thatd be important to add

my main questions out of all of this are if anyone else has had the same due to anxiety in turns of palpitations to this extent, and if it’s become a recurring thing for you? and if anything in particular has been able to help or any ways that you manage it?

thank you so much in advance !! 🙂

19y female

for the last few days in particular, i wanna say just a bit over 2 weeks at this point, i’ve been waking up with severe heart palpitations for a few minutes at a time that - while they go away after a few minutes - still are noticeable to the extent that they in turn make both my normal and health anxieties worsen. this is followed by having them throughout the day at random intervals, some days to a point where i have to lie down and either take a nap or go to bed early due to how bad they are.

medication wise, i currently don’t take anything for my anxiety consistently but i have been diagnosed with severe anxiety for a few years now. i have as-needed propanolol prescribed for face flushing / “panic attack” episodes, however it makes me super tired so i try not to take it unless absolutely necessary

i used to wake up in the morning feeling the same severe palpitations due to severe anxiety from loud alarms (which - in theory, having a tornado alarm as my alarm wasn’t a good idea) or waking up having missed a social event / something that i was looking forward to due to oversleeping. this has also made me wonder if it’s a recurring feeling coming back?

doctors-wise i had a test conducted on my thyroid a few months before this that came out absolutely normal, though i have been treated for persistent neck / muscle spasming / tightness a couple months after the fact. i also had an ekg done (albeit before these palpitations started) that also came out normal

on the nausea aspect - i don’t have much to say on that outside of the fact that it’s been a persistent feeling of stomach pain / nausea accompanying these palpitations that i’m not sure are associated or not, but it usually comes and goes with the palpitations, and i’ve dealt with nausea due to my depression before, so i thought thatd be important to add

my main questions out of all of this are if anyone else has had the same due to anxiety in turns of palpitations to this extent, and if it’s become a recurring thing for you? and if anything in particular has been able to help or any ways that you manage it?

thank you so much in advance !! 🙂

thank you all !! 💌💌 i'm very bad with writing replies on these kinds of things but very very appreciative nonetheless especially with such bad health anxiety making me feel like these are the end of everything sometimes (；_・)

i recently went to the doctor a few days ago with a bit of money i saved up and ended up getting an ekg done and even though there were concerning results at first with low oxygen / very fast palpitations, all of my bloodwork and monitoring for it turned out fine in the end after a few hours !! they're still there but havent been as severe lately especially after i had a lot of fluids as well
i now have a referral to a psychiatrist that im following up on and also a referral for a physical therapist for the neck pain 😀 and will definitely advocate for looking into possible medication / further going into anxiety :] thank you all so much again 💧💧

@grannynacky-Welcome to Mayo Connect. I'm sorry that you have to endure anxiety attacks with palpitations. I am no stranger to anxiety. The strangle hold it had on me was enough to change my normal behavior of a normal teenager to a scared and very nervous person. When something triggers and anxiety attack adrenaline floods your system and starts a chemical reaction that can cause a lot of different symptoms. Palpitations, nausea, dizziness, aches and pains and on and on. I really feel for you, it's scary and feels awful.
Here are some links that hopefully will help you understand them more. Are you taking anything for them or doing any exercises? Have you sought counseling?
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-palpitations/symptoms-causes/syc-20373196
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/panic-attacks/symptoms-causes/syc-20376021
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/generalized-anxiety-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20360803
Keep me posted!

Hello. I’ve been diagnosed with anxiety. It started over a year ago. I initially noticed my heart skipping a beat, the feeling of blood rushing through my body and my muscles twitching all over. I went to the ER 5 times, ekg each time and told nothing wrong. Long story short, I’m told I have heart palpitations from anxiety. Anyone else experience heart palpitations with anxiety? My sternum also crack just like you crack your knuckles. I’m currently on Prozac for this and it helps a ton, but I still get palpitations and get freaked out from them. Thanks in advance.

I understand what ur going through, I’m the same way and the anxiety rules & somewhat ruins my life with excessive worrying!!! I read into things like it sounds u do too! Try to do some deep breathing and get out and keep ur mind busy with something else, that said I know a person keeps on ruminating and it builds more anxiety.
Good luck!