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

Before I start I want to inform you that I do have severe anxiety and panic disorder. I'm also a 25 year old female. About 2 years ago I started experiencing these awful chest pains. It scared me so bad I went to the ER to get checked out. They did chest x rays, ekg, etc. All of those came back normal. So they sent me home and said to take asprin. The pains kept coming back. It was to the point where I couldn't leave the house. I quit my job and everything. Everyone told me it was just my anxiety. I finally set myself up with a PCP. Told him all the symptoms I was experiencing, convinced I was going to have a heart attack. He had me do another xray, a stress test, blood work, and wear a heart holter monitor for 72 hours. All of those once again where clear. So he put me on a low dose beta blocker and it's done wonders for me up until about 2 weeks ago. The chest pains, dizziness, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, left arm pain and tingling, etc all came back. I missed 4 days of work cause I couldn't leave the house. Again went to the ER a few days ago over this.... nothing was found... is it all anxiety and in my head? Or is there something wrong with my heart? It's ruining my life... I had all these tests done to show my heart is healthy but I can't help but think my dr missed something... thanks for reading.

Before I start I want to inform you that I do have severe anxiety and panic disorder. I'm also a 25 year old female. About 2 years ago I started experiencing these awful chest pains. It scared me so bad I went to the ER to get checked out. They did chest x rays, ekg, etc. All of those came back normal. So they sent me home and said to take asprin. The pains kept coming back. It was to the point where I couldn't leave the house. I quit my job and everything. Everyone told me it was just my anxiety. I finally set myself up with a PCP. Told him all the symptoms I was experiencing, convinced I was going to have a heart attack. He had me do another xray, a stress test, blood work, and wear a heart holter monitor for 72 hours. All of those once again where clear. So he put me on a low dose beta blocker and it's done wonders for me up until about 2 weeks ago. The chest pains, dizziness, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, left arm pain and tingling, etc all came back. I missed 4 days of work cause I couldn't leave the house. Again went to the ER a few days ago over this.... nothing was found... is it all anxiety and in my head? Or is there something wrong with my heart? It's ruining my life... I had all these tests done to show my heart is healthy but I can't help but think my dr missed something... thanks for reading.

First and foremost I want to thank you for sharing. Our bodies and minds are very complicated, intricate organs. I am a nurse and also suffer from anxiety and depression. I have a heart murmur, as well as had history of SVT. I have an extensive family history of heart disease, stroke, myocardial infarction, bypass surgery, and stent placement. I take Metoprolol daily, limit my sodium intake, am active, and try to get adequate hydration and rest daily. By BMI is at a healthy percentage.
I too have been to the ER for symptoms I thought to be heart related. At times they were in fact my heart (SVT and palpitations) and other times it was anxiety and panic attacks.
I applaud you for listening to your body and seeking medical care. Many will not even take that step out of fear they are wrong, “it’s in their heads”, etc. It just takes one time of it actually being a true heart symptom and not seeking care to end a persons life. With that being said it’s important to advocate for yourself with your PCP. Request referral to a cardiologist for a second opinion. It sounds like an adequate work up was completed. Bloodwork including Troponin levels, EKG, Halter Monitor, stress tests, knowledge of family health history are all extremely important to properly diagnose. We also must do our part to maintain proper health. Taking the advice and trusting your PCP, taking medications as prescribed, eating a balanced diet, exercise to maintain our BMI, adequate hydration, rest, counseling, self help techniques (I.e. deep breathing, warm baths, self talk, etc.), social support, are all crucial.
I wish you the best moving forward! Our bodies are so extremely awesome, especially when we do good for them! Keep putting one foot in front of the other, and make the most of each day! We’re all here to support you!
Alicia

Hi, @arowlands6 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Sounds like your background of going to the ER for symptoms which at times were in fact your heart and at times were anxiety or panic attacks fits in beautifully with what @libby93 has been discussing.

From your experiences, @arowlands6, were there any key differentiating factors between the times the symptoms turned out to be anxiety or panic attacks and when they turned out to be heart issues?

Before I start I want to inform you that I do have severe anxiety and panic disorder. I'm also a 25 year old female. About 2 years ago I started experiencing these awful chest pains. It scared me so bad I went to the ER to get checked out. They did chest x rays, ekg, etc. All of those came back normal. So they sent me home and said to take asprin. The pains kept coming back. It was to the point where I couldn't leave the house. I quit my job and everything. Everyone told me it was just my anxiety. I finally set myself up with a PCP. Told him all the symptoms I was experiencing, convinced I was going to have a heart attack. He had me do another xray, a stress test, blood work, and wear a heart holter monitor for 72 hours. All of those once again where clear. So he put me on a low dose beta blocker and it's done wonders for me up until about 2 weeks ago. The chest pains, dizziness, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, left arm pain and tingling, etc all came back. I missed 4 days of work cause I couldn't leave the house. Again went to the ER a few days ago over this.... nothing was found... is it all anxiety and in my head? Or is there something wrong with my heart? It's ruining my life... I had all these tests done to show my heart is healthy but I can't help but think my dr missed something... thanks for reading.

Before I start I want to inform you that I do have severe anxiety and panic disorder. I'm also a 25 year old female. About 2 years ago I started experiencing these awful chest pains. It scared me so bad I went to the ER to get checked out. They did chest x rays, ekg, etc. All of those came back normal. So they sent me home and said to take asprin. The pains kept coming back. It was to the point where I couldn't leave the house. I quit my job and everything. Everyone told me it was just my anxiety. I finally set myself up with a PCP. Told him all the symptoms I was experiencing, convinced I was going to have a heart attack. He had me do another xray, a stress test, blood work, and wear a heart holter monitor for 72 hours. All of those once again where clear. So he put me on a low dose beta blocker and it's done wonders for me up until about 2 weeks ago. The chest pains, dizziness, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, left arm pain and tingling, etc all came back. I missed 4 days of work cause I couldn't leave the house. Again went to the ER a few days ago over this.... nothing was found... is it all anxiety and in my head? Or is there something wrong with my heart? It's ruining my life... I had all these tests done to show my heart is healthy but I can't help but think my dr missed something... thanks for reading.

@arowlands6- Good morning. I'd also like to welcome you to Connect. This is such wonderful information. I thank you. I agree with both you and @lisalucier- We certainly need to listen to our bodies. On the occasions that I have visited the ER with a panic attack the things that have been said about things being in my head were so derogatory that it made me afraid to go back. Some in the medical field think that it's their duty to pass judgment too.
It keeps people away from being able to make good decisions. It sounds as if you got sound medical care without any judgments.
It's more important to be afraid of what is wrong than any uncalled for judgment.
Fast beating hearts and being sweaty are scary symptoms. DId you learn this from you nursing background or your experiences with the ER?

Before I start I want to inform you that I do have severe anxiety and panic disorder. I'm also a 25 year old female. About 2 years ago I started experiencing these awful chest pains. It scared me so bad I went to the ER to get checked out. They did chest x rays, ekg, etc. All of those came back normal. So they sent me home and said to take asprin. The pains kept coming back. It was to the point where I couldn't leave the house. I quit my job and everything. Everyone told me it was just my anxiety. I finally set myself up with a PCP. Told him all the symptoms I was experiencing, convinced I was going to have a heart attack. He had me do another xray, a stress test, blood work, and wear a heart holter monitor for 72 hours. All of those once again where clear. So he put me on a low dose beta blocker and it's done wonders for me up until about 2 weeks ago. The chest pains, dizziness, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, left arm pain and tingling, etc all came back. I missed 4 days of work cause I couldn't leave the house. Again went to the ER a few days ago over this.... nothing was found... is it all anxiety and in my head? Or is there something wrong with my heart? It's ruining my life... I had all these tests done to show my heart is healthy but I can't help but think my dr missed something... thanks for reading.

Before I start I want to inform you that I do have severe anxiety and panic disorder. I'm also a 25 year old female. About 2 years ago I started experiencing these awful chest pains. It scared me so bad I went to the ER to get checked out. They did chest x rays, ekg, etc. All of those came back normal. So they sent me home and said to take asprin. The pains kept coming back. It was to the point where I couldn't leave the house. I quit my job and everything. Everyone told me it was just my anxiety. I finally set myself up with a PCP. Told him all the symptoms I was experiencing, convinced I was going to have a heart attack. He had me do another xray, a stress test, blood work, and wear a heart holter monitor for 72 hours. All of those once again where clear. So he put me on a low dose beta blocker and it's done wonders for me up until about 2 weeks ago. The chest pains, dizziness, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, left arm pain and tingling, etc all came back. I missed 4 days of work cause I couldn't leave the house. Again went to the ER a few days ago over this.... nothing was found... is it all anxiety and in my head? Or is there something wrong with my heart? It's ruining my life... I had all these tests done to show my heart is healthy but I can't help but think my dr missed something... thanks for reading.

Before I start I want to inform you that I do have severe anxiety and panic disorder. I'm also a 25 year old female. About 2 years ago I started experiencing these awful chest pains. It scared me so bad I went to the ER to get checked out. They did chest x rays, ekg, etc. All of those came back normal. So they sent me home and said to take asprin. The pains kept coming back. It was to the point where I couldn't leave the house. I quit my job and everything. Everyone told me it was just my anxiety. I finally set myself up with a PCP. Told him all the symptoms I was experiencing, convinced I was going to have a heart attack. He had me do another xray, a stress test, blood work, and wear a heart holter monitor for 72 hours. All of those once again where clear. So he put me on a low dose beta blocker and it's done wonders for me up until about 2 weeks ago. The chest pains, dizziness, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, left arm pain and tingling, etc all came back. I missed 4 days of work cause I couldn't leave the house. Again went to the ER a few days ago over this.... nothing was found... is it all anxiety and in my head? Or is there something wrong with my heart? It's ruining my life... I had all these tests done to show my heart is healthy but I can't help but think my dr missed something... thanks for reading.