heart palpations

I overdid it a couple of weeks ago by riding almost double my usual 70 miles on the road bike, last 25 was all big hills. Been busy both on and off the bike since then and have been experiencing what I can only describe as something not feeling ‘right’ in my chest or mild heart palpations. I did a couple of hard efforts on the MTB yesterday and could feel it in my chest more than ususal.

I’m training for a roadie event next month so don’t really want to lay off the bike too much.

rest and go to doctors is prob the thing to do, but instead I’m asking you lot.

rest and go to doctors is prob the thing to do

Can you feel your pulse when it happens or use a heart rate monitor? What rate is it, and is it regular or irregular?

Best to get it checked out, you’ll probably find that worrying about it doesn’t help as you start to imagine all sorts of worse case scenarios.

Do you tend to get this when you’re relaxed / sleeping? I went to a cardiologist for similar things a few months back. I get it more when sleeping / resting in the evening. I had a 48 hour ECG and it shows lots of ectopic beats (beats that originate from something other than the sinoatrial node) when relaxing / sleeping and a low heart rate in the middle of the night. For me though, during the day was totally fine and cycling to work showed nothing.

In the end, the very expensive cardiologist said it’s pretty normal and that if we did this test on the general populous we’d see similar things. He didn’t seem worried which means i’m not worried.

I’d forgotten about it ’til i read this so will probably be checking my pulse constantly again 🙂

Hope it’s nothing serious. While it could be similar to mine, it might be something totally different. I’m no doctor!

I used to have this – every so often my heart would feel like it stopped for a second then had a really loud/heavy beat before returning to normal. Went doctors and he said it was fine. Sometimes get it when I have lots of caffeine so the two are probably linked somehow. I had it worst when I was at uni probably due to lots of cheap vodka + red bulls or jagerbombs..

I had an ectopic beat for quite a while and it was very unsettling, had ecg in hospital a couple of times but because they only run for a short while it wasn’t picked up by it. Basically was burning the candle at both ends, drinking too much caffeine and so on, still get the odd hiccup now if I have more than 2 coffees a day but it isn’t anything serious.

Def worth getting checked out though, you only get one heart.

rest and go to doctors is prob the thing to do

I wish I never had….

Turns out I have episodes of atrial fibrillation.

And then my resting ECG prompted a test for Brugada Syndrome (genetic defect that causes people to drop dead). Nice….

Don’t have that. But now I’m being tested for another genetic defect, which may have similar effects. Grr.

Worst of all, I feel absolutely fine..!

Basically was burning the candle at both ends, drinking too much caffeine..

^this

I’ve had this for years now; what really brought it to the fore was whilst learning how to ‘drown’ for triathlons. I was savaging myself into what can only be described as poor technique + bloody mindedness O2 det! I had the 24hr ECG which id’d an ectopic beat caused by a rogue/confused/damaged/bored/belligerent cardiac cell sparking off and interrupting the cardiac electrical ‘wave’ that sweeps across the organ.

Likewise, I too experience the ‘jump’ or exaggerated/jumping beat, as mentioned. This is apparently caused (I might get this horribly wrong so don’t go quoting me) by the aortic valve slamming shut after just having a larger volume of blood shoved through and thus the back pressure had been increased towards the heart – clearly this valve has to prevent back flow.

I’m 76% confident that’s about right.

Mine kicks off big time if I’m tired, not physical (in fact it goes once my heart rate is up) but say after a long drive on top of poor sleep. Laying on my back increases the sensation, prone lying is best.
As all have said, it’s fine….loads of folk have em however I’d prefer to go back to my 20s when such things were nothing more than a journal article 🙁

Please go and see your doctor. Let the experts advise you not a bike forum. I have pace maker so know what I’m talking about. REST will not solve the problem. The longer you delay the more risk you run. Hopefully it is nothing. I still train like a mad man, pace maker isnt an issue.

Pawsy_Bear +1

could be lots of things, mine was abnormal thyroid.

As above, I had something similar a couple of years back when resting and lieing on my back.

After 2 cardiologists, 2x 72 hour ECG traces, 2x treadmill ECG tests, Ultrasound checks on the heart structure it turned out to be ectopic beats brought on by a virus. I was also training more than usual and working long hours. Scares the hell out of you at the time, but as other have said it’s best to get it checked.

EDIT: just remembered, they were pretty thorough and also did blood tests, chest x-rays and alot of prodding. Certainly settled my mind.

bigjim – Member
I had an ectopic beat for quite a while and it was very unsettling, had ecg in hospital a couple of times but because they only run for a short while it wasn’t picked up by it. Basically was burning the candle at both ends, drinking too much caffeine and so on, still get the odd hiccup now if I have more than 2 coffees a day but it isn’t anything serious.

Def worth getting checked out though, you only get one heart.

What he said, especially the last sentence. I got diagnosed with ectopic beats, but I lowered my caffiene content and try to stop stressing so much and its calmed down a bit. Can be a bit odd when it stops and “jump starts”, which for me is usually when I’m in watching the TV mode.

Get it checked.

Currently being checked out for similar symptoms too. Apparently can be down to all sorts of things and so get checked!

I have cut down the vast amount of tea I drink to one or two a day, lowered the gears on my bike (didn’t notice for ages that there was a reason that the new cyclocross bought for my 40th seemed absurdly hard up the Wrynose Pass) and seem fine.

Blood tests showed up incredibly low vitamin D and anaemia and I think that supplements to sort this are helping too. For some reason my suggestion of EPO and a training camp in Tenerife have fallen on deaf ears.

I used to have this – every so often my heart would feel like it stopped for a second then had a really loud/heavy beat before returning to normal. Went doctors and he said it was fine.

Yup, I have this too; I went through a spell where I had it every night, in fact, just before falling asleep. Quite worrying, but I seem to be OK, so in traditional male way (either I’m dying or I’m absolutely fine), I’ve decided I’m fine. 🙂

I would add, that after my tests proved it was probably caffiene and stress related, my Doc did say it was important to keep up the biking to keep my heart fit.

I don’t get eptopic beats on the bike only while resting so this may be different to others.

and have been experiencing what I can only describe as something not feeling ‘right’ in my chest or mild heart palpations

it’s what happens when you have one J2O and soda and go home after the Thursday night GBUK ride.

2+ pints of real ale and you’ll be fine 😉

I would add, that after my tests proved it was probably caffiene and stress related, my Doc did say it was important to keep up the biking to keep my heart fit.

Kryton57 +1
I was told to continue doing everything I always did. No exclusions for diving, fell running etc. Did my first trail Ultramarathon a few weeks ago (54 miles) 😀

Been through this a couple of months or so ago. Had a worrying weekend of loads of (what I now know were) Ectopic beats. Spent 5 hours in A&E with ECGs, X-rays and blood tests. Heartbeat back to nromal after about 3 days give or take the odd ‘flutter’ for a week or so afterwards. Finally saw a cardiologist for an ‘echo’. Heart “functionally and structurally fine”.

Haven’t felt anything since, and having given up caffiene and alchohol as potential triggers am feeling better than I have for ages. Cardiologist said large numbers of people suffer Ectopic beats but never notice them and suggested mine were most likely tiggered by triredness and stress (they happened at the tail end of GCSE coursework and exam prep period). As long as I don’t get them regularly and persistently I was told not to worry too much and carry on cycling etc.

Having said all that, get to a doctor and get everything checked out properly.

slainte 🙂 rob

As with most peeps above, suffered similar problems. Only really noticed when not active, watching tv etc.. had the 72hr ECG and it turned out too be and ectopic beat.. Seems its quite a ‘common’ problem..

I get skipped beats when not doing much too. The more relaxed I am the more I get, to the point where it stops me falling asleep occasionally. Bit annoying. I went to see the doc who basically told me I was quite normal and to stop being daft, which was reassuring.

My resting HR has dropped from 52 to 48 since I went over to road riding and now I can’t sleep on my left side because I get such bad palpitations.

My best pal died from a genetic heart condition. Complained about palpitations just months before his death.
Not good at all. He was extremely fit and athletic.
Get to docs ASAP and insist on ECG, checks etc.

Good luck !

Get it checked and put your mind at rest.

I had similar symptoms a year ago and went to the docs, then hospital for an ecg.. All fine. couple of days later, same again, lots of unpleasant activity in the chest, happened mostly when resting or before going to sleep.. Doc sent me for a 3 day ecg, and a treadmill test.. Thankfully.. All fine. I’ve a low 43bpm resting heart rate and often the brain will ‘trigger’ an extra beat or two.. never very pleasant, but quite normal for some people.

I stay off the coffee and exercise day on day off.. The body has to rest.

Good luck…

I get ’em a lot, usually for a couple of days after riding the bike (banging and popping as I write this) and while on the bike – seems to be as my HR is shifting back down. Sometimes enough to really blow my breath out of me and give a dizzy spell. I thought they are pretty normal, though.

I did go to A&E a couple of years back with chest pains after a very hard spinning session, they picked up a weird heartbeat trace but doc said it was probably genetic and I’d just overshot a bit. Tried to calm down a bit since then and in any case I’m getting old and wearing out everywhere!

Low heart rates arent a problem until they reach 30 and you ‘grey’ out (lack of blood to brain) and you loose your vision. At that point you need pace maker ha ha 🙂 Mines set to low of 45 but doc said it could be set lower if I needed.

You could also have an irregular heart rate rhythm which can be caused by virus or illness.

Papa – Go and see your GP.

I had a similar experience to Rob (colournoise). My heart checked out OK, but gets into a misfiring mode sometimes. I now have a pill in my pocket just in case it happens again. We can both go about our business (including cycling) as before – so everything is cool for us.

As others are saying there are many variations on this theme – some irregular, some rapid, some temporary, some permanent, some caused by hereditary stuff, it can be mild and infrequent or it can get so bad that it really affects your life, so you need to get checked out.

Check out these other threads…
here and here

Good Luck and try not to stress out…

I’m a cardiac physiologist specialising in electrophysiology. NOT A DOCTOR! Those of you that have had ECGs, 24hr tapes echos etc have been seen by my colleagues, you might have thought we were nurses.

I would definitely recommend seeing your GP and asking for a referral to a cardiologist. There are many possible explanations some can be ignored, some are easily treatable and there are a few nasty ones but these aren’t common. I am not giving advise in the place of going to your doctor but here are a few things to keep in mind that might speed up your diagnosis.

Keep a diary of your symptoms, include times, situation how you felt.

Here are a few possibilities

Supra Ventricular Tachycardia (SVT) is typically associated with fast regular heart beat. If you have a HR monitor or are good at taking your pulse look for a sudden increase in HR when they start and a sudden decrease when they stop. These can be treated with medication or with an ablation procedure.

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is typically irregular, it can give fast or slow heart rates. Can be brought on by alcohol, dehydration or things like that. It’s very common in older people and has a lot of different treatment options.

Ectopic beats (VEs or SVEs)often described as “missed beats”, the heart contracts before it has had a chance to fill with blood giving a low pressure pulse, often followed a “stronger” beat. These can be completely benign or symptoms of other things. A few here and there is very common especially with caffeine or other stimulants.

GPs can be a bit reluctant to refer on first visits and there will be a wait to see the cardiologist and then another wait for appropriate tests. So the more information you have the quicker they can diagnose you. Do some reading and be well informed before going to your doctor, insist on being taken seriously but don’t come across as a mentalist hypochondriac. And always get straight answers as to whether or not you are still allowed to ride your bike. It is easiest for the doctor to just tell you not to, make sure they understand how important it is and only restrict your riding, exercise etc. if they have thought about it and it’s necessary.

I hope that helps. If anyone read the whole thing without getting bored and giving up.

I’m a Heart Surgeon and I’d recommend…

Sorry, just always wanted to say that.

@sambino – nice summary, thanks!

Speaking as a cardiologist, about 1/4 of our clinics are filled with people with palpitations, so it’s incredibly common. The most important thing from our point of view is the history. Be specific. What time of day do you notice them, what EXACTLY are you doing at the time, are they fast/slow/irregular etc. if you can take your pulse and describe it to us, that helps more than you can ever imagine. As sambino says, do a bit of thinking before you see someone so you get the facts straight.

Weirdly, I had palpitations on a ride today – was most unpleasant. About 30s of a heart rate of about 220bpm after a moderate climb, but didn’t go away when I rested. Totally freaked me out! Probably an SVT but gonna get an ECG at work tomorrow!

My HR rockets every now and again, usually during a ride but it can be after heavy drinking or eating. An example is of a ride where it happened is this: http://app.strava.com/activities/13675277 HR was above 200bpm for about 20k.
Caffeine doesn’t appear to be the problem. I have had 3 sets of ECGs, echocardiogram, and stress exercise test, they didn’t show the episodes but my heart structure is normal. AF is the likely cause and I’ve been told not to worry about it unless I get dizzy.
Problem is sometime it kicks it when I’m miles from home and I have to crawl back at a slow pace and generally feel like carp.

Going to see my cardiologist tomorrow, if I mention this post do you want to guess what his advice will be… Go and see your doctor ❗

Not a doc, but my sister is…she suffered similar symptoms to legolam and cheersdrive (racing heart during exercise that didn’t slow down on resting). Her original cardiologist said not to worry, it was nothing. She didn’t accept his answer and when it next happened she scooted back from the gym to hospital and was put on an ECG. This showed up Wolfe Parkinson White syndrome. I’m told its a problem with the conduction system of the heart and is potentially fatal. I’ve also heard that as many as 1 in 20 of us could have it but never know – Legolam will be able to confirm or deny as I have no proof or real knowledge…

Anyway, she went through a quick procedure to ablate the faulty tissue in her heart and a year later did her first ultra marathon. I guess the moral, if there is one is – don’t be afraid to get a second opinion, it might save your life or at worst put your mind to rest.