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Suggest Treatment For Sinus Arrhythmia And Non Specific EKG Changes

Posted on Sat, 10 May 2014

Question: I have a significant family history of heart disease and recently got told I have a sinus arrhythmia and non specific EKG changes that are being evaluated. I am 35 and have also had bad anxiety most of my adult life. I took a beta blocker for a while to help with the anxiety and have also been on various anti-depressants over the years. I worry that these meds could have adversely affected my heart health. I have normal cholesterol, bp and exercise a lot but am a little overweight. Should I be worried?

Answered by Dr. Abhishek Kapoor (3 hours later)

Brief Answer: Non specific ECG changes are normal in anxiety Detailed Answer: HI Thanks for using healthcare magic. I, Dr Abhishek Kapoor, would help you in this query. Sinus arrhythmia is not a disease. It is normal variation in pulse rate and is observed particularly in children and young adults. Sometime anxiety symptoms lead to non specific changes in ECG. In that case, there is nothing to worry. There are few antidepressants like tricyclic antidepressants that cause arrhythmia, but that at higher dosage. Beta blocker like propranolol helps to control somatic symptoms due to anxiety like increased heart rate, tremor etc, but it does not cause harm at low dose. Please tell about the medications and their dosage, you have taken, so i could give you more opinion. Regards Dr. Abhishek Kapoor Psychiatrist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Abhishek Kapoor (24 hours later)

Hello Dr. XXXXXXX Thank you for your answer. I can't remember all of the dosages but have most recently been on 20 mg Lexapro. The other meds I have been on have been Citalopram and Pristiq. The beta blocker I took was metoprolol tartrate 25 mg. Thanks again for responding!

Answered by Dr. Abhishek Kapoor (4 hours later)

Brief Answer: Nothing to wrong in your medication Detailed Answer: Hi Nothing to worry about medications. Lexapro(escitalopram) hardly causes arrhythmia. You can take it. It would help to control underline anxiety. Try to do some relaxation exercise, that would keep you relax. Always remember one thing, our mind controls our body, if our mind stays tense, then our body would stay tense. That why, just relax and enjoy your life the way you want to enjoy. Regards Dr. Abhishek Kapoor Psychiatrist

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar