Heart palpitations

In my case the cause was stress. I had a variety of tests and was told that my heart itself was 'reassuringly strong'. But, however worrying the tests and everything were, it is better to know what the cause is, good or bad.

My (now late from another cause) wife had these all her adult life. In her case it was PSVT (paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia). A helpful utterly harmless remedy to try is the dive reflex. Plunge you face into a washbasin of cold water until the water surface surrounds your face not quite as far as your ears. Remain like that as long as you comfortably can then stand and dry your face whilst breathing. If this doesn't stop it in short order then, sorry, no further safe suggestions from a non-medic. Good Luck, she found it distressing and I'm sure you do too.

Fallingstar I only mentioned it because, having worn a holter for a week to try to catch an episode (and failing) I asked my EP if it would be worth buying a Kardia or smart watch. He advised me against buying one for the purpose of diagnosis but I agree they do have a use.

foxie48

Just be aware that Apple watches and similar are not good at recognising atrial flutter but they can be very useful for identifying other conditions.

This is true but since DH was diagnosed with AF after a stroke we can keep track of elevated heart rate when resting and give a beta blocker if it carries on over 130 for any length of time. The heart consultant at Barts was happy for us to track DHs heartbeat like this and has been invaluable.
Of course a diagnosis is required first and advice from a doctor or consultant.

Just be aware that Apple watches and similar are not good at recognising atrial flutter but they can be very useful for identifying other conditions.

If you have an Apple Watch it will give you readings via the health app.
This is not a diagnostic tool but useful info for your doctor.

Yes I had this for many years. I didn't realise anything was wrong. I mentioned it to the Doctor while I was there for a check up. He asked if it was there all the time, I said no, so nothing more was said about it. It wasn't until I started to have tia's, I didnt know what that was either and had no idea what was causing these symptoms. I eventually mentioned this and was sent for tests. Heart failure was diagnosed and I'm now on medication.
I suggest you see your GP. After tests and medication hopefully the palpitations will disappear just like mine.
All the best.

I realise this is an oldish thread, but agree with foxie about taking own pulse regularly and learning what's normal for you. I picked up my paroxysmal atrial fibrillation this way (prompted by Heart foundation ad) and am now on blood thinner.

Try not to worry as stress can cause changes in heart rhythms and be assured ectopics are very common and usually harmless. I have paroxysmal atrial flutter ie it comes and goes so it's really difficult to catch on a holter so be aware that it's not always easy to identify what you might have. Tbh being able to take my own pulse and identify if it's irregular or regular, faster or slower than normal (resting rate) can be really helpful. Keep a log. It was pretty obvious when I had an episode as my resting heart rate was a regular 150bpm, my daughter has svt and her resting HR is in the 200s when she has an episode. Atrial fibrillation is an irregular Heartbeat but it can be fast or slow and can be difficult to feel,whereas ectopics can often be felt as a thump or jump. Alcohol, caffeine, artificial sweetners are all thought to be triggers and for me dehydration is definitely a factor so I keep well hydrated these days and watch my alcohol intake especially in warm weather. I take a blood thinner as a precautionary measure. I'm another who recommends the British heart Foundation website but be aware we tend to stop using it once we have a satisfactory outcome so you'll get responses from those with long standing issues who aren't necessarily typical. Good luck.

The tannins in both tea and coffee adversely affect iron availability, which could lead to iron deficiency anaemia.

I had terrible heart palpitations when I was anaemic. Go to your GP and get bloods and a heart check up.

I got them when I was drinking too much coffee because apparently caffeine can cause them. Plus I was under a lot of work stress then. I would see your GP, you can’t really diagnose things online.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

And having just discovered this, couldn't resist sharing, never heard of the poet before, Michael Laskey:

Offering​

When did I last consider my heart,
pay it a little attention, honour
its sixty steadfast years in the dark?
Hardly notice it, my mind focused
on slicing an onion, on what I ought
to have said or done, the story I’m reading
now, Alice Munro, or remembering my dead
aunt Nin’s laugh, those half crowns for ice creams.
Yet all the time it’s working, beating on
constantly, like a god I forget
the existence of, keeping my blood
moving through its thousands of miles
of tunnels, making it still possible for me
to nod off after supper, to wonder
about Water Aid or no longer
postponing phoning my brother,
to nurse a baby grudge, fatten it up.
It’s the size of my fist and weighs no more
than eleven ounces. If I bend back
my wrist, I can see the pulse twitch.
Millions of times. You can do the sums.
That’s stamina for you, dedication.
Old squeezebox of mine, what do you mean
by your quiet insistence? What do you want
beyond the few lengths of the pool I swim
most days for you, and my sensible diet?
​
from The Man Alone (2008)
​

Thank you all for taking time to reply x

Any heart related issues need a GP initially.
You may find that the amount of exercise you are doing as you age is a trigger.
Try keeping a diary of when the palpitations happen and what you were doing when they started. Food and fizzy drinks can also have an effect.
Look up Dr. Sanjay Gupta on You Tube. He is a cardiologist based in York. He has lots of short videos on all matters cardio. He is sure to have one on palpitations.

I've had this issue of palpitations for nearly a year. I agree with Visgirl who is of course correct but my experience is that you need to beware of being fobbed off by doctors.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death of women worldwide yet many doctors will metaphorically pat you on the head and tell you not to worry 'everyone has palpitations, they're called ectopic beats. Most people have them but don't notice'. Note the put down in the last, I bet they wouldn't say that to a man!
I would say educate yourself, the British Heart Foundation is fantastic, informative website and helpline staffed by cardiac nurses. Do get a smartwatch, the Huawei one is excellent and only about £40 but read smartwatch reviews online. A smartwatch is good for letting you see your heart in action. There's also an app called Fibricheck which will check your heart rhythm and give you a response, they will get a consultant report if necessary.
As the palpitations are new, at your age you should be offered a 24 hour monitoring and if that indicates a problem, you should be referred for 10 day monitoring probably at your local hospital.
I have learnt all this the hard way and am still worried despite the tests, not least when the GP said the other day to me that really it was all about ageing and I might have to try and learn to do less!
I won't go into the details here but I don't think I'm just a worried we'll. I have a friend who had to pay privately to get her heart rhythm problems diagnosed and finally be fitted with a pacemaker. Sadly I also know two women in my circle who have died prematurely of heart attacks.
I wish you well OP and that the answer for you is simple but do find out as much as you can for yourself.

I'm a very recently Retired NHS Cardiac Physiologist, you need to see your GP for an ECG, or Ambulatory monitoring over a few days. Palpitations can be normal but if your aware, to be on the safe side you need to find out what's going on?

Iam64

I have AF. I take prescribed blood thinners which reduce the stroke risk

Yes am afraid my DH can’t take thinners due to bleeds on the brain. The biggest bleed occurred post stroke when they give you a huge amount of thinners, he had a subarachnoid bleed, then a subdural bleed when they tried thinners a few weeks later. Now they don’t try thinners.

I have AF. I take prescribed blood thinners which reduce the stroke risk

Sounds like AF so see the GP for tests and possibly he will start you on medication that will be very effective.It could be something else though so don’t hesitate to get a proper diagnosis.

May be nothing but certainly go to see your GP. Anything to do with the heart should be investigated. My husband had atrial fibrillation and didn’t know until it caused a stroke, AF is a quickening heartbeat even when at rest. Unfortunately an ecg won’t reveal this unless you are in AF all the time, but a smart watch will. Expensive but in my opinion well worth it. A doc treating my husband said that many older people walk around with undiagnosed AF.

Palpitations need a GP appointment

No disrespect intended but GN isn’t the greatest place for any health diagnosis………best see your GP if you have any concerns.