What Causes Racing Heart Beats?

Posted on Mon, 16 May 2016

Question: What is the cause of racing heart beats?

Answered by Dr. Dr.Arnab (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
There are Several in fact.... as following..

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXX, Welcome to HCM,
I've gone through your query.

Well Racing heart beats is broadly know as Tachycardia. Which is seen in healthy person as well as diseased.

Causes can be starting from any stressful condition like pain, fear, emotion, physical exertion , to any disease and it's cumulative affect to the heart. There are almost every disease which can cause this (few exceptions are also there) .

Even low hemoglobin state (Anemia), nutritional deficiency , hormonal imbalance and several other factors contribute to racing heartbeats .

Now I've seen the list of your medications and let me assure you that none of them are prone for causing this (if that's your concern). However arthritis and osteoporosis are both very painful condition so if the pain is not managed appropriately , they can in turn cause this.

So can you please specify in which context you want to know about this as I've already explained the brief overview of it.

Awaiting your reply.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Dr.Arnab (2 hours later)

Dear Doctor,
Thank you for your reply. On a regular visit to my Primary care last week,she informed me that my heart was racing.A few days before that,while mopping floor,my lower back went out.It was very painful.A few weeks previously,the arthritis in my left knee flared up and I was unable to move the leg for a couple days due to severe pain and swelling. I am still experiencing some pain in my back.
Could this be the cause of the racing heart? Since my Dr. told me,I have been watching to see when my heart races .I experience it mostly when I climb the stairs with laundry or other things in my arms.
Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Dr.Arnab (41 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes Pain Can Certainly Trigger the heart rates...

Detailed Answer:
Hello, Welcome Back to HCM,

Appreciate your detailed Reply.

Now from your reply , what I'm gathering is - You'd experienced a very painful incident while mopping the the floor or taking things in your arms and climbing stairs, but the question is - If that Pain episode lasted continuously for that whole time span, cause otherwise it'll be very difficult to determine what causes this?

Is it the Pain or something else....

Now at your age , I'm sorry to say this, please don't get me get wrong, but you shouldn't be doing all those heavy works specially when you're already dealing with Arthritis as well as Osteoporosis.

However Dyspnea (Heart racing causing panting for breath) while climbing stairs needs further evaluation i.e. a 12 Lead EKG along with a Stress test to rule out any underlying Angina which might be causing this and also a CBC, Electrolytes and Renal function test to be on the safer side.

I believe you must be on some pain killer medications, if not then I should advise you t o start Tab PARACETAMOL 650 MG Three times a day after food for the next week along with Tab PANTOPRAZOLE 40 mg Once Daily 15 min before breakfast .

Please discuss this with your PCP , and let me know if I can assist you further, as it seems , you need all of those tests to rule out some important pathology .

I remain at your disposal for any further queries.

Kind Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Dr.Arnab (23 hours later)

Dear Dr.Banerjee,
Thank you very much for your reply.I completely agree with you that I should not be doing mopping floor etc. I was mopping a few feet of tile in a passage way when the mop stick broke,so I bent down without bending my knees when I felt the pain in my back.This is not something I do often because I do have a cleaning lady.My Doctor prescribed Baclofen-10mg which I took it for seven days. I am not really panting whenI climb the stairs.I place my hand on my heart to see if I could experience the racing heart beats that my Doctor mentioned,and that is when I would feel them.

Thanks for the information and your suggestions.

Answered by Dr. Dr.Arnab (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Pleasure Is mine....

Detailed Answer:
Hello there, welcome back to HCM.

Well it's always good to know that you don't have any severity of symptoms.

However even in normal course also , if someone places the hand over chest they can be able to feel the heart beat in a regular fashion. Racing of heart beat can even be caused if you're too much aware of it.

In other words , the over consciousness can also cause the heart beating faster. Now to rule out whether there is underlying pathology or not , it's always advisable to go for a 12 Lead EKG as well as the Stress test as I've already mentioned.

Please discuss this with your PCP.

Let me know if there's any further doubts.

Take Care
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Dr.Arnab (9 hours later)

I am grateful for your information and advice.I shall certainly act upon your advice.
Again ,thank you.
Best wishes.

Answered by Dr. Dr.Arnab (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Yes , please do that....

Detailed Answer:
Hello , Welcome back to HCM,

I'm really glad and wish you the very best of health. Yes please discuss all of the above with your PCP and let me know how it goes.

It's always being a pleasure to Serve the patients , love that in every context . Please stay in touch.

You can always reach me with my direct link and for any queries , always welcome.

Take Care
Regards

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee