[Youngboii]

I noticed that sometimes when I'm just sitting down my heart is beating really fast, or in school if I have to talk in a socratic conversation my heart starts to beat hard and fast, it usually happens but I don't recall it being as elongated and deep. I could be stressing myself also I just don't know

[poetrymom]

Hi Youngboli

The heartbeat is a symptom of PCS. I read it somewhere, but I am not sure where??!! I think I have it too, but have not noticed it as much. I can get it from midlife hormonal stuff for women too --

Have you limited yr caffeine or quit caffeine yet? I am in the process of getting off caffeine and think that will help me.

Hang in there,

Poetrymom

[CountNomula]

I also suffer from this. It usually happens when I wake up in the middle of the night. I'll be sleeping soundly, and then wake up, and be WIDE AWAKE, even if it had only been three or four hours of sleep - adrenaline pumping, heart pounding, head filled with regret, lamenting for my uncertain future. The more I try to ignore it, the more the thoughts creep in.

I believe the best way to get past it is to change what you're doing at that moment. Sometimes I'll try to rest through it in bed, but I find that I usually need to get up and do something to get my mind off of it.

[Mark in Idaho]

Youngboii,

These heart beat situations sound like anxiety attacks. Anxiety attacks can have many forms and intensities. The need to think deeply may cause stress leading to the attack. This is a common symptom of PCS. I suggest you get an 'at home' blood pressure monitor. They cost $15 to $25.00. A simple wrist model is fine. You can even keep it in your book bag so you can check your BP and pulse at school. Keep a journal of your BP and any activities or unusual environments.

Sometimes, the only issue is the mind focuses on the heart beat. The BP and pulse may be normal but the mind has focused on the heart beat so strongly that it overcomes any other sensation. This is again a symptom of PCS. When this happens, find something else to focus on, just like one would to ignore tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

[DFayesMom]

The last time I was at my primary care physician, I was diagnosed with a very mild heart murmur. I've noticed since then that I'll get these little bursts of rapid heartbeat--something that just seems off, but I don't know if it's related to the heart murmur. She said that the heart murmur was perhaps caused by medication or by pregnancy, but that it was nothing to worry about. The little bursts of rapid heart beats seem not to be anxiety related for me. Usually it happens when I'm just laying in bed or sitting in a chair watching TV. I have had panic attacks before, so I know that's not what's going on!

[Mark in Idaho]

I have had very short anxiety attacks. The fast heart and a sense of pressure to the head and/or face hits me then goes away in 5 minutes. I blame it on a temporary surge in stress hormones.