Heart palpitations?
September 4th, 2010
I am a 33 year old female. I have been diagnosed with heart palpitations. The doc mentioned atrial fibrillation. Ive studied the issue and I guess it has never been coaught on an ECG. My heart rate tends to be fast. I had a heart cath and the heart itself is physically fine. I suffer from sporatic angina attacks and TIA’s. My bp tends to run around 130/99. I used to be an athlete that trained on a high level. I was 1995 National Champ. I had a paramedic say once that that could be the problem. I dont know what to look for as far as the problem goes. What does it sound like to you and what should be my next step in treatment. I see my doc tomorrow about my BP, only the nurses seem concerned. The docs keep saying they r going to put me on medication but never do. This BP has been this way for about 6 years now and is getting worse.
Tags: 6 years, angina attacks, athlete, bp, docs, heart cath, heart palpitations, heart rate, medication, national champ, nurses, paramedic
Your diastolic blood pressure (the 2nd number) is high, especially for your age. I do think medication to bring it down is in order. What bothers me a whole lot more is the angina attacks and TIAs you mentioned. High blood pressure can sometimes bring on TIAs but it would have to be much higher than the reading you gave. I can’t make sense of a doctor telling you your heart is OK when you are having angina attacks. Except during your AF attacks, your heart rate should be pretty low as is common in highly trained athletes. If it is fast even when you are not having an attack, that would speak to even more reason to reevaluate what’s going on in the heart. Depending on how much your AF is bothering you, you might consider a catheter ablation procedure. I went in at 5AM for one and was back home having dinner at 5PM the same day. Never had another attack. Best of luck and take care.
Many times females, especially athletes, can have heart problems (as well as reproductive, metabolism, etc issues) from anorexia. I’m not accusing you of anything, but if you at one time struggled or still do struggle with anorexia this is something that your doctors should know.
If your doctor refuses to treat your high blood pressure go to a different doctor . Tia’s and high blood pressure are warning signs of a possible future stroke. You need to have venous studies done part of your symptoms may not be related to your heart.
Go to other doctor.
Well firstly I see nothing wrong with ur BP! Esp seein the fact that you have been an athlete… & I am not sure if your doc mentioned atrial fibrillation coz if it is it would have showed up on the ECG! As far as your fast heart beats are concerned it again is a consequence of you being an athlete at some point of time in your life & having undergone rigorous training regimes! So as far I am concerned you need not worry about anything! Just calm yourself down!
Would you say these are like episodes? Does your heart just seem to speed up at random times out of no where? My only guess, and it’s because I had it at one time, would be Wolff’s Parkinson’s White Syndrome. Its kinda hard to explain, but the heart gives off charges which cause your heart to beat. Sometimes those charges get off track and bounce around causing your heart to speed up. You can read up about it by simply doing a search in google, or ask your doctor for more information.