Skipped heart beat reassurance

[Mason06 1]

So background is ive had anxiety for ever. I had a stress test maybe 4 years ago with normal results. Had numerous EKGs which also resulted in normal readings. I'm a 28 y/o male. Have exercise on and off regularly for ten years. Recently I've been back into it heavily. Yesterday I actually had a checkup and my Bp was 108/70 and HR was 66. So I feel decently healthy. I have been on and off SSRIs for years as well. Recently though I stopped everything and have felt great. Even discussed with my doctor about not have a panic attack for awhile and not really experiencing anxiety. But not even 20 mins ago I felt what I would describe as a skipped beat. Almost like my heart fluttered and then beat real hard which caused a panic attack. How I explain may seem as if I've never experienced one which I don't know. Pretty sure I have but for some reason my brain blocks out a lot of previous panic attacks. I drank coffee this morning for the first time in awhile. That was over 12 hours ago. I drank alcohol also about two hours ago. Not a lot but I hardly drink anymore either. I feel asleep and woke back up and was just hanging around watching TV and it happened. I know there are threads and stickys for these things but I still would like reassurance. That I can get through this without jumping back on Prozac and starting to drop Xanax and that what I experienced is not an emergency problem. My heart rate is still heightened but admittedly I took some Xanax so hopefully that helps.

[philb 92]

I have had heart anxiety too. Your blood pressure is excellent and so is your heart rate. Heartbeat skips are common while stressed. For me, drinking coffee does make me more anxious, which is why I switched to decaf. Since you have had numerous EKGs, its probably safe to say you are okay. I have had heart beat skips this past month and have gotten panicky over it as well. What eventually made me feel okay about it was that I know, just like you, I have had numerous EKGs in the past and they were all fine.

 

[bin_tenn 1252]

I switched to decaf everything (coffee, tea, soda) a while back, and I've noticed a significant decrease in the "skipped beat" and other palpitations I used to get quite often. If these are new for you, it wouldn't hurt to mention them to your doc, but I don't think it needs to be rushed. If you begin feeling them more frequently, and they're new, they're different and/or you get symptoms along with them (aside from panic) then call your doc for an appointment. He/she will examine as needed and get you cleared up.