Panic Attacks Support Group

When I have a panic attack my heart has went up to 160 bpms. That is pretty fast. My doctor says that it is all anxiety though and it can't hurt me. I have had EKG, chest xrays, blood test, great blood pressure and everything is normal. I have also had a few different doctors listen to my heart. my question simply is has anyones heart gone this fast during a panic attack? And does anyone just get a racing heart out of the blue? I do and it drives me nuts. I would so appreciate anything you can share of your own experiences. Thanks!!

My heart doesn't race anymore in panic attacks. I take medication for that. Before the medication I think it would go about 120-140...very slow deep breathing would help but it was hard to do cause my heart was racing..lol..I would get caught in the "trap" of things.

Normally I'm high 98-110. I can't imagine what it would be during a panic. Sugar, Some meds and caffeine can cause a racing heart. But your dr is correct, it can not harm you. They have beta blocker or calcium cannel blockers which help slow down the heart. But medciation is a decision you and your doctor need to make together.

Post edited by: PhilPhil46, at: 11/17/2010 07:58 AM

My normal heart rate is

80-95(seated)

95-120 (walking or doing house work)

120-130 (running around the house)

I have a at home BP machine and I have seen my heart rate at 148 and even 160 during an attack so yes it can be a "normal" thing to have the high heart rate due to all the adrenal running through your system at the time of that attack.

I have a beta blocker at home for this but I still am too scared to even take it so lol

Thank you njhoppe for writing and PhilPhil and Leandrat Thank you also. My resting heartrate ranges from 80-100 and heck it has been 110-120 especially when I ovulate. And that will last all day it seems. How irritating it is. That is when I have most of my hardest times dealing with the anxiety and panic attacks. My doctor prescribed me Metoprolol and Ativan which I have taken a few times but that is it because I have such a fear of medication. I go into panic just getting ready to take something so I just can't take it then and am left to just wait it out a do the deep breathing or just go for a walk outside till my heart slows back down. Again Thank you so much for writing in something. Anything gives me peace of mind.

Post edited by: AmyGirl, at: 11/17/2010 09:08 AM

HA not laughing at you laughing cause thats me too, I have the beta blocker but by the time I THINK I should take it my panic is going crazy and it tells me that pill is going to kill me I am a med FREAK HUGE trigger on that they wanted to numb me at the dr's yesterday and I was like HELL no that medication your nuts lol......

I've been on heart meds for years because of a "racing" heart. To me anything over 70 feels like it's racing! Usually in a panic i've been as high as 130 but I panic when my heart rate goes up that fast because my dad has tachycardia and has had to have surgeries and been on meds and in and out of the hospital my whole life with this..oh..well I guess thats a trigger too that I forgot to put down on Lee's questionnaire!! So..yes it's normal. I would say if you can't get it to slow down within an hour or so that you may need to head to the ER even though 130 isn't life threatening I heard the cortisol it releases after time is...

I've had a lot of heart issues with my panic and am terrified by them because my father died suddenly of a heart attack at 54. My heart rate has definitely gone as high as yours during panic, and I've also had pvcs, which feel like skipped beats. I had a complete cardiology workup, and some of those results helped me feel better - an echocardiogram which showed a structurally normal heart, a stress test which showed no blockages or problems during exercise, and an event monitor that I wore for 30 days and recorded times when my heart felt off. Each time I had to call and play the event for a nurse, who would tell me it was not an emergency and I was ok. If that type of thing would comfort you, definitely go ahead and look into seeing a cardiologist - it can't hurt.

And speaking of can't hurt, it helps me to monitor my heart rate during exercise occasionally and realize that - hey, my heart rate goes as high as it does during a panic attack just from jogging or something, and it doesn't make me pass out or have a heart attack or anything then! Yeah, your body is causing an inappropriate reaction by raising you heart rate during panic, but essentially that is because it thinks you need to run away from danger. I was also given a beta blocker but I only took it for a few days because it made me feel very out of it - but they do work well for some people and I definitely noticed an even, steadiness to my heart beat, I just chose to try and deal with it differently because the side effects were making me just as anxious.

I'm no expert of course, but I've been where you are and I know how much it sucks. During my last pregnancy I called 911 because of panic, and my elevated heart rate was one of the things that was scaring the hell out of me. It seemed surreal to hear the paramedic say, "she's a little tacky" (as in tachycardia) like it was no big deal - because it was horrifying to me! Take care of yourself, I hope things get better soon.

Hey Chickaboom great to see you posting.

Thanks AliKatt I appreciate you writing. Thank you ChicaBoom also, it sure makes me feel better knowing I am not the only one this happens to during a panic attack.