What Causes Increased Heart Rate And Numbness In The Left Shoulder After Eating?

Posted on Tue, 4 Jul 2017

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

Tue, 4 Jul 2017 Answered on

Mon, 24 Jul 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : I have tachycardia and anxiety / panic disorder. The past 2 days I have had episodes of fast heart rate with numbness or burning sensation in my left shoulder and down to my left elbow. theses episodes seem to happen after eating. I take atenolol for the tachycardia and have had to take a hydroxyzine to calm myself down when this happens. Should I be concerned that it is heart related or is it more my panic disorder?

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (29 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Most likely it's anxiety

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HealthcareMagic.

I can understand your concern. Your EKG came normal and a cardiologist opinion revealed nothing so we can easily rule out heart condition. You had sudden onset palpitations which are most probably related to anxiety.

Atenolol a beta blocker drug can enter brain and this is the reason you got relief. So remain relaxed this is anxiety only.

Thanks and Take care

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana