Heart health anxiety

Hi guys,

I just want to know that i’m not alone on this and there is a bit of hope of getting over this.

I’m 19 years old and for 2 months now ive been living with acid reflux and since i started with this ive started to suffer from heart health anxiety. I think this has started because the reflux pain is around the heart area. My reflux symptoms seems to have calmed down alot since ive been on esomeprazole and i dont get heartburn as much as i used to. However, any but of pain or movement near my heart and i’m worried sick that theres something wrong with my heart. Ive had a blood test and the results came back normal but i constantly fear for my heart that something is wrong with it.

I can feel my heart beat and feel pulses all over my body, when my heart beats faster i go into over drive and think somethings wrong, i get weird feelings in my chest and chest tightness, im constantly checking that my heart is beating at a good rate. Its like i’m over aware of my heart. I get kept awake at night because of weird sensations in my chest and i worry i wont wake up. I havent had an anxiety attack for nearly 2 weeks and my last one was because i sent my head into over drive thinking i was going to have a heart attack becaise it was beating fast and i could feel it kind of pounding out my chest. I come on these forums to get reassurance but i want to see if people feel like i do? I’m a very healthy young man and everything in life is going well for me but this is getting me really down. I appreciate any of your responses and i look forward to reading them.

Hi scaredy cat,

Thanks for your response i appreciate it. Is it common for acid reflux to start anxiety? I really only worry about my heart and nothing else, ive never had this before and it started when i was diagnosed with acid reflux. My symptoms of acid reflux have calmed down a lot but i still fear that there is something wrong with my heart. I have occasional muscle spasms around my body and my arms tingle and have shooting pains which is caused by anxiety? But in my head i think i’m having a heart attack. It is really getting me down. What would be your solution to this?

Many thanks

Thanks Cilly,

Its horrible isn't it. One of the worst experiences of my life as far as my health is concerned. I'm just going to write everything down so anyone else suffering the same as us can read this and know they are not alone. It's important people know that others suffer with the same as them and there is help and something can be done about it. I think it could be hypochondria but then again thats where you check your whole body for signs of deadly things.

It all started with chronic heartburn that i didn't know was causing it. After looking back i found out that after having certain drinks such as smirnoff ice which is very acidic and lemony it caused very bad heartburn. I went to the doctors to see what was the problem and i was diagnosed with acid reflux (which runs in my family). After i was diagnosed my head went into over drive and i started to really worry about my heart. I'd get tingly arms and legs at night and it would keep me awake because i would think i'm having a heart attack. I then wondered if i was suffering with a vitamin deficiency as my mother suffers from B12 deficiency which was caused from acid reflux medication (omeprazole). I was on these tablets for a short time until the Dr. prescribed me with esomeprazole because these were stronger. I had a blood test and everything came back normal. However, my mind is still fixed on thinking i have a heart problem. Any bit of pain, tingling sensation, muscle spasm and i fear for my life. I've never had any serious health problem and i'm generally a healthy person. There should be no reason why my heart has a defect or something wrong with it. I've never worried about my heart before so my guess is that the acid reflux has brought it on due to the pain being so close to my heart. There is no other worry in my life at all, work, social, family life is all fine never been better and i have no money problems either. The only worry i have is that there is something wrong with my heart. And the reality is there isn't. I had a blood test, doctor checked my blood pressure and heartbeat and everything is perfectly fine. It's all in my head and its getting me down and probably having an effect on my body as sometimes i'm awake til early hours and with me stressing it will be causing a lot of the symptoms i'm feeling. Everything is pointing in the direction towards anxiety. All the symptoms i'm feeling: feel heart beat more often, feel pulse in parts of my body, hot flashes, tingling arms, muscle spasms, chest tightness, the feeling of struggling to breathe even though i'm breathing fine, headaches. I haven't had an anxiety attack for a while and ive only ever had 2 which was 2 weeks ago. if it wasn't for my friends being with me who also suffer with anxiety i would have phoned an ambulance as i thought i was having a heart attack. I've noticed i only really get it during the week as well. Weekends are usually fine i think because i'm occupying myself and keeping myself busy whether its hanging out with friends or going shopping. During the week i have time on my hands at work sat behind a computer wondering what to do with myself.

I hope this goes away and i will be seeking a therapist if it doesn't any time soon as i just want to live my life. Maybe a trip to the doctor to get reassurance that my heart is fine would be best thing to do.

For anyone reading this who suffers these symptoms PLEASE DO NOT look on the internet especially WEBMD. They will have your mind going 100mph thinking you have a serious disease or problem. All i can say is get reassurance from your doctor that everything is fine and from there POSITIVE THINKING. That is the key to a healthy mind and for me the key to getting over this.

Have a nice day

Elliott,

I have to make this quick, but in 2011 or 2012, I thought I had an issue with my heart. I had two EKGs done not too far apart. No problems. I was then referred to a gastroenterologist and had an EGD endoscopy. I had a hiatal hernia, esphoigitis, and GERD. None of these should cause you great concern as all are typically easily treatable. My symptoms were mostly what I would describe as 'heart fluttering'.

-smooth