Gas Related Heart Palpitations!??

I've been searching through the posts, and can not find anything similar to what I am experiencing.

So here is my dilemma, this may be a bit lengthy, so I apologize in advance:

I am a 25 year old female, I eat very healthy, I follow an acidic-alkaline PH balanced diet, and drink tons of water. I try to stay away from a lot of dairy and a lot of gluten. I do not drink alcohol except for a very occasional glass of red wine with dinner, I do not take illegal drugs, I do not take any medication including antibiotics or even aspirin. I do not drink caffeine or take other stimulants.

I've always had a light feeling or sensation of "heart flutter" or heart palpitation. I can remember the first one arriving when I was about 16 during a very stressful situation at school. It didn't scare me then, and never has scared me all the times it's happened since then, maybe once every one to two years. I do have acute anxiety that I do not take any medications for, that I have dealt with since I was maybe 10-11 years old, and have always had good control over it.

about 5-6 months ago, I was sitting down eating dinner, noticed that I had a somewhat upset stomach - gas, bloating and gurgling. I had a very LARGE thump of a palpitation during the middle of a bite of food. It stopped me completely, really scared me and I rushed to the bathroom to splash water on my face and my heart began to race. It continued to race for a good three hours until I was so exhausted from the adrenaline pumping through me that I fell asleep. I starting having these palpitations more frequently after that night, maybe three of four a day. each equally as scary and I started becoming nervous of night fall because that's when it would happen. I wouldn't be doing anything in particular, just sitting watching a movie, or eating dinner, but they usually came late at night after about 8pm.

I went to the doctor many times, I've had everything checked from overgrowth of bacteria, to candida, I've had blood drawn for thyroid tests, I've had ekg's and heart monitors that never seem to pick anything up, but my doctor heard one through her stethoscope and said my heart is beating strong and healthy, it doesn't sound as if it's skipping a beat or if it's irregular, rather that it's pausing, she explained that the palpitation is occurring because something about my blood pumping too fast, so my heart is pushing it backwards to catch up so thats the sensation I'm feeling, but that it was benign and wouldn't hurt me. She said that I am perfectly healthy in all areas and that I have the basic symptoms of IBS, and there isn't much I can do for it, except maybe peppermint oils, teas, and relaxing, as it was stress related. BUT I never started feeling stressed out or anxious until I started having the palpitations, and I got the palpitations because I was stressed out about them...vicious circle.

So as advised I changed my diet I began taking magnesium, and other vitamins and minerals, I drink chamomile tea, ginger tea, take peppermint oils, and other holistic ways to eliminate my IBS symptoms. These have helped. I try to take them as regularly and often as directed.

I feel as though when I start to get a lot of gas build up, or a lot of gurgling and bubbling, my heart palpitations begin to flare up. Not necessarily coming from what or when I eat, but just when my IBS symptoms begin to flare up. Which is about every 4-5 days for about 2 days at a time. Then everything will cool down and I wont have symptoms of gas, or heart palpitations. Then about 4 days go by and they all begin again.

I'm wondering if there has been any study or anyone is having similar reactions to IBS, relating to heart flutters or anything?

I've also noticed that sometimes I'll get the palpitations from moving quickly, or bending over, also just thinking about it too much triggers them.

So I would like to know if anyone has any advice, or known remedies. Also if anyone has any known ideas on how to reduce them, or exercises you can do to prevent the recurrence?

THANK you so much for taking the time to read this lengthy post! I appreciate any response, even if just to relate...

Hi Jaki.

Just a quick reply... Firstly i am not a doctor and you need to take advice regarding your issues.

However, i have experienced very similar sensations. My GP has explained to me that they are completely normal and many, many people have these episodes. Some people are a little more in touch with what their body is doing and recognise the sensation as abnormal.

Google ' Ectopic heartbeat ' and you'll probably relate to a lot of what is written

By the way, i have IBS and Dyspepsia and consequently suffer quite badly with wind (Gas across the pond!). It can sometimes be confusing to know weather or not they are linked or one necessary aggravates the other.

Hope this helps.

Dave.

Jaki,

I could practically cut and paste your situation and it would apply to me. 

I am 29, active and healthy.  My anxiety started a year ago last week and after trying a couple meds and having worse anxiety because of them I decided to go the natural way.  Lavender, Magnesium, chamomile and sleepytime teas, etc. 

Well, of course, with the anxiety came the digestive problems and gas and more recently the pounding heartbeat and mild chest pains.  The strong heartbeat is off and on practically every day but the pains almost always occur in the evenings or less frequently after lunch.  What is it about the night time that aggravates this? 

I am waiting for the results of the blood tests, ekg, etc that I had done but the doctor seemed to think that it was all anxiety related and prescribed xanax  (which I haven't taken yet because I am trying to avoid medications if possible) but I am more inclined to agree with others that it is a combination of stress and digestion rather than only stress/anxiety related.  I do believe that the two feed off of each other but it is so hard to control one when the other is acting up, it's like the chicken and the egg!  

At any rate, I feel your pain (or palpitations!)

First, I'm no doctor, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

The big thump-type palpitations aren't particularly worrisome to me, I think it's just the occasional PVC most of us have. But the racing heart (tachycardia) is a problem I have had to deal with - since I learned what was causing mine, after it triggered a heart attack.

My problem always came after eating, particularly after breakfast, but usually within 2 hours of a meal. Back then I was eating a lot of commercially prepared foods. I went to an allergist who had me keep a log book of everything I ate and my symptoms after an hour and two hours. With the list of foods that I produced I did "challenge testing" and came up with a list of "trigger foods" which would produce gastric reflux and often tachycardia.

Then I searched the internet and found all my trigger foods contain sulfite. As long as I avoid any quantity of sulfite-containing foods I don't have a problem.

I have since read research articles on what the connection is between the stomach, esophagus and the heart. I knew there was a connection via the vagus nerve, but I found the name is "cardio-esophageal reflex" or "linked angina."

This may not have anything to do with your problem, but a food journal is a really cheap way to eliminate food intolerances as a couse.

Hi, i'm sorry this isn't going to be the most useful reply but it has helped me as I have occasionally had strange heart palpitations but i noticed them after being diagnosed with IBS a few months ago.
They seem to come at random times when i'm just sat down not doing anything particularly strenuous, I did mention them to my gp but as i have a diagnosis of IBS he said they were nothing and didn't even check my heart.
I have noticed feeling stressed and anxious aggravates my IBS symptoms so I guess the palpitations are anxiety related too but like you say its all a vicious cycle for me it seems to be suffering from my IBS symptoms then worrying about them and how long I'm going to feel bad and whether I can do things I want to or not :(
basically IBS sucks and makes life as a student a lot less fun :(
Anyway sorry it's not useful but I'm glad other people feel the same.

Thanks, everyone, for your input here. I've seen a cardiologist, who had me do a treadmill stress test. She said I had no irregular beats since going off Nexium (which had caused them after five years of use for heartburn).  She also said my blood pressure stayed nice and steady during the stress test, so that's not the issue. Maybe anxiety is playing a role, or maybe trapped gas as some of you mentioned.  I'm trying not to worry about it too much.  It helps to hear your comments!

I have another suggestion you might want to consider, especially given your age. I know of someone who had similar issues with palpitations. A young woman in her early 20s, high stress, prone to anxiety, didn't always eat the best diet but was in very good health according to her physicians. She tended to have periods of palpitations when standing for any length of time, or when awakened from a deep sleep suddenly. All of her heart tests (EKG, Stress test, etc.) came out fine. Long story short, after going through an invasive test at one of the best heart hospitals around to see if she had Super Ventricular Tachycardia, it was determined that what she actually was suffering from is something called POTS. Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia. Not sure of all the nuances, but her doctors basically said she needed to eat a high salt diet, and drink LOTS of water - it seemed to be triggered by a combination of not enough salt, dehydration, and stress. Even if the original poster doesn't see this, perhaps the info will help someone else.

I have the same exact issue avrilf

I know this is an old forum, but all the same i have to reply. My first ever Palps came after i took an antimalaria drug which skyrocket my heart beating fast and skipping. I went to the hospital and did test only to find out i had PUD i.e Peptic Ulcer Disease and the test showed i have excessive gas in my bowel caused by who knows what?

I was put on drugs called HeliKit a triple therapy of antibiotics, Pump-Ihibitor etc to treat the ulcer. Yet whenever i eat certain fruits like apples or oranges i have severe palps and i don't know whats with palps and night, like a wink and a smile. Believe me it was quite frightening until i said "Enough is Enough".

I decided instead of listening to my heartbeats with palps, i prefer to go into prayers. I pray and pray until i fell asleep. Every night i pray then lie down and sing in my heart until i fall asleep. And miraculously it works.

There is nothing like a prayer! Talk to God, there is nothing that is difficult for Jesus to do. I know most of you will call it a bluff, but what do you have to lose, i mean you have tried everything else and yet you are still suffering with palps.

Try praying, tell God about your palps, and i promise you, God will heal you like he healed me.

If you need guidance on what to pray and how to pray. Email me [email protected] or call ±2348034220144

Pray right now, "God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, i humbly come to you to seek your face. I know i am a sinner and not worthy to come to your presence, but your word said that if i confess my sins, you will forgive me and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Oh Lord, have mercy on me and forgive me of all my sins. I repent of my wicked ways and now i tap on the mercy of the blood of Jesus my Lord and Saviour, and i ask you heal me from all afflictions. Lord, you are my creator, and i am wonderfully and fearfully made by you. Create in me a new person, old things have passed away and new things have come. Oh Lord, right now i take authority in the NAME OF JESUS, and i command every disease, afflictions in my body to be washed away right now and never to return in Jesus name because the weapon of my warfare is not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Purge me oh Lord and make me whole again in Jesus name. Amen"

Wow, how does that feel? Don't you feel good? I know you do because you have just prayed a powerful prayer and God heard you. But you must continue praying. The bible says, "Pray without ceasing", and also remember you must turn away from sin and surrender your life to Jesus Christ.

God bless you. I love you all but God loves you more.