Heart Arrhythmias….can they cause panic attacks? Yes, they can. For those who suffer from anxiety, a racing heart and shortness of breath might be a reaction to a stressful situation. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you might jump to the conclusion that you have a heart condition. This make sense, since we’ve always heard that those symptoms are related to a heart attack. Heart arrhythmias can be the culprit.

You should always contact a physician first before assuming that you are experiencing anxiety. A medical doctor can run tests on your heart which can either confirm or deny the presence of a heart condition. From there, you can seek the necessary treatment. If it is found that you have an arrhythmia, it may be the cause of your panic attacks.

Some heart arrhythmias can feel like a flutter, or a skip, in your heart beat. But these are generally harmless and most people don’t even realize they have an arrhythmia. This “skip in your heart” might send an alert to your body that something isn’t right, thus creating anxiety. If you experience these flutters frequently, it can lead to panic attacks, which can feel like full-fledged heart attacks. Sometimes, the more you worry about your heart, the more anxiety it causes, which can put you into panic mode. Those who experience a panic attack might feel:

• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Racing heart
• Feeling of choking
• Chest pain
• Trembling
• Fight or flight adrenaline rush

There are other forms of heart arrhythmias that can be harmful. Supraventricular and Ventricular Arrhythmias make your heart beat faster, while a Bradyarrhythmias Arryhthmia makes your heart beat slower, than a normal heart.  Contact a doctor if you experience these symptoms.

Heart health is of utmost importance to maintaining an active and healthy life. If you feel like you might have heart arrhythmias and would like an evaluation, please contact the physicians at Tampa Cardiovascular Associates! Call us at (813) 975-2800 or visit https://tampacardio.com Take charge of your heart health today!