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What Causes Palpitations While Lying Down And Anxiety?
Question: hi i am having race heart for 1-2 days at a stretch after every 10 days and i guess i am too stressed about this. I am a26 yr old male with borderline cholest26erol and anxiety issues. I recently had an EKG and it was normal.my heart beat ranges from 95-110 in the stressed days. I keep feeling my heart beat and that scares me even further. Do you think i need to see a cardiologist or just my anxiety?
I feel the heart racing when i am lying down or at rest. I feel restless too.
I feel the heart racing when i am lying down or at rest. I feel restless too.
Brief Answer:
Your symptoms seem to be related to anxiety.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that your symptoms seem to be related to anxiety.
You should know that anxiety can increase the plasma levels of catecholamines, (adrenaline and noradrenaline) leading to a higher heart rate and ectopic beats.
Do you have any family history for cardiac disease?
I recommend consulting with the GP for a careful physical examination besides the resting ECG, a chest X ray and some blood lab tests like:
- complete blood count
- fasting glucose levels
- kidney and liver function tests
- blood electrolytes
- thyroid hormone levels
to exclude some metabolic disorders that may cause this symptomatology.
An ambulatory 24 hours ECG monitoring should be performed to rule in / out possible cardiac arrhythmia.
If all the above tests result normal, the most probable cause of your symptoms would be anxiety.
In such case, anxiolytics like alprazolam would help relieve your symptoms.
I would also recommend avoiding caffeine intake which can exacerbate this clinical scenario.
Regarding your lipid profile some modifications to your lifestyle (a healthy diet full of vegetables and fibers, avoiding fatty or sugary food and a lot of physical activity) would help reduce your cholesterol levels, leading to a lower cardio-vascular risk.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask any other questions whenever you need!
Greetings!
Dr. Iliri
Your symptoms seem to be related to anxiety.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that your symptoms seem to be related to anxiety.
You should know that anxiety can increase the plasma levels of catecholamines, (adrenaline and noradrenaline) leading to a higher heart rate and ectopic beats.
Do you have any family history for cardiac disease?
I recommend consulting with the GP for a careful physical examination besides the resting ECG, a chest X ray and some blood lab tests like:
- complete blood count
- fasting glucose levels
- kidney and liver function tests
- blood electrolytes
- thyroid hormone levels
to exclude some metabolic disorders that may cause this symptomatology.
An ambulatory 24 hours ECG monitoring should be performed to rule in / out possible cardiac arrhythmia.
If all the above tests result normal, the most probable cause of your symptoms would be anxiety.
In such case, anxiolytics like alprazolam would help relieve your symptoms.
I would also recommend avoiding caffeine intake which can exacerbate this clinical scenario.
Regarding your lipid profile some modifications to your lifestyle (a healthy diet full of vegetables and fibers, avoiding fatty or sugary food and a lot of physical activity) would help reduce your cholesterol levels, leading to a lower cardio-vascular risk.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask any other questions whenever you need!
Greetings!
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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