What Causes Fluttering Sensation In Chest?

Posted on Tue, 9 Sep 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 9 Sep 2014 Answered on

Thu, 25 Sep 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I have had a fluttery feeling in my chest for 3 days now. It wakes me up in the night and it comes and goes. First felt it after a "heartburn like discomfort in my chest while working in yard. Iam 57y.o. 5'2" and weigh 140 lbs. I am a non smoker and drink 2 glasses of wine daily. I take simvastatin for cholesterol and vitamins

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (52 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
GERD - Anxiety or both

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
I hope there are no palpitations ,meaning feeling your own heart beats.

Well, the major cause of fluttering in chest are few:
First, the GERD itself- heartburn like discomfort, which you already have
Secondly, anxiety, possibility as it is waking you up in night.
Thirdly it can be both, the anxiety as well as GERD, each causing other and are associated with each other. No one knows what comes first.
Fourthly, Heart origin- but the patient fells and tells about this as palpitations.

I would advise the following in such a patient:
Continue Zantac 12 hourly.
Pepcid every 3 to 4 hours when on empty stomach.
Add Domperidone or such motility regulators.
Soft bland diet.
No aerated colas / soda/ drinks.
Early dinner. No late nights.
Treatment for anxiety (as prescribed / needs a prescription by your Doctor)
Lying in a reclining position
Walk around after dinner.
Think of the factors which increased the present problem, GERD, anxiety and try to avoid.
If no relief, get Upper GI endoscopy done and get prescription for added Medicines.
EKG for the heart n a safer side to rule out cardiac problems.
This helps all my patients and should help you hopefully.

Continue your previous medicines as they are.
Wishing an early recovery, please feel free to ask for more , you may please rate this answer whenever you feel so.

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