Banging Heartbeat! Is this okay?

[JannaLee]

I had a pretty good day yesterday....A little light housework mixed with a LOT of lying around.  Then in the evening I went to a neighbors to help her pick out formica for a new kitchen counter.  While I was there I had a small glass of wine.  It was so much fun and we laughed hysterically together and, decided we are just the clever-est, witty-est people we know!

When I got home I noticed my face was BRIGHT RED and was annoyed my rosacea was kicking back up a notch.

Then I noticed my heart was thumping in my chest.

When I went to bed an hour or so later, it had become really bad.  I was up till 2am with this annoying BANGING HEARTBEAT.  It was making the bed jolt with each beat.

My pulse rate was 96 (It's usually around 80).

I got to thinking about it and realized this has been happening a lot lately.  Should I be worried about it?

I also had nausea and a tiny bit of dizziness, but I get that a lot so it's probably unrelated.

The only medication I take is Plaquenil and I put an anitbiotic Rosacea gel on my face twice a day.

Thanks for advice, guys!
Janna

[Patze]

Hi Janna,

I've had that reaction too, but not nearly that long though or the severity, wow, that had to be so scary!  I used to never have that kind of reaction problem until the thyroid started slowing down, even a sip provokes it.  I wonder if it's a common reaction among people with immune problems?  Could it be an allergy reaction maybe?  Can you see your doctor about it? 

Maybe one of the members knows what this is, as I'd love to know what would cause that kind of reaction too. 


Patze

[ruby52]

That same thing happens to me too after just a sip of alcohol.Red wine has been the worst for a long time even when I could drink.I'm confused though does it happen at other times other then when you drink alcohol?That would be something to get checked.My reaction lasts hrs. and I feel very uncomfortable.I won't touch a drop of anything it's a scary feeling.
                                                                                             Ruby

[JannaLee]

Thanks Patze and Rubes!

It was red wine with me too.

The other episodes occur without alcohol but only last a couple minutes accompanied with a crazy irregular heart beat.

I've now calmed down about it and googled it up to find a name: "palpitations" which apparently can be triggered by anxiety. 

What a coincidence, "ANXIETY" just happens to be my middle name!~

Unless anyone has another idea or concern, I'm going to chalk this up to 'anxiety induced palpitations aggravated by alcohol'?

Janna

[missyb]

It could be a reaction to added sulfates in the red wine. Especially if it was a mass produced wine. All wine has sulfates, but the mass wineries add a lot extra to ferment the wine faster sot they get it out quicker.  You can buy wines at Trader Joes and Sprouts that do not have the extra added sulfates and you will probably be OK with one glass. However I have noticed the past year that I do not seem to have much of a tolerance for any kind of alcohol, I get that banging heart beat too! I was going to ask my rheum when I go next time if there is some connection to any of this autoimmune business for a low tolerance to etoh. I'm not a big drinker anyways, but it's nice to have a glass of wine here and there and enjoy it without all that clonking in my chest! lol 

[lelole]

Hi Janna,

It may have been anxiety, but it was more likely "holiday heart syndrome".  Apparently it is well documented that alcohol can cause heart arrythmias (includsing tachycardia - fast heartbeat).  Some people never get it, some people only get it when they have a skinful, and others get it after only one or two drinks (like me, and possibly you by the sound of things!). 

I started getting it a few years ago, and it would happen only occasionally, and usually when I had a lot, but it has got more and more frequent - now it is every time I drink, and usually after only one or two.

I haven't been to the docs with this, as I felt they would say - "don't drink then!".  Which I try not to do, but it's a shame not to be able to have a single drink sometimes, like with a posh meal!  I found this explanation on google, but no one seems to know why some people get it...

Hope that helps, or at least sheds some light on it...

Leah xx

[Mjan]

To me it sounds like a reaction to the WINE more than other causes..but.. if it continues without the wine..then get it checked out. Its good to get symptoms followed if they continue. I was once considered to have Sjogren's due to my dry mouth..ears..and eyes..but now its possible that the dryness is caused by either Sjogrens OR an autonomic dysfunction. I DO have tachycardia..with hypertensive crisis ALL related to this Autonomic dysfunction. So many of these disorders are intertwined.

BUT to blamed everything on ANXIETY really bugs me. There is the mental disorder of ANXIETY with autonomic..fight or flight turned out automatically. BUT just because you have the fight of flight symptoms..does not mean you have ANXIETY. Either way its a chemical reaction to SOMETHING else.

Good luck. You did sound like you have a GREAT time with your friend..laughing and all !!

[ohiolady]

Janna,

I've noticed in another post that you mentioned you are in the lovely menopausal time of life.  Menopause and low estrogen can set off the palpitations and maybe the wine triggered that for you.  Just a thought but this is very common in menopause.

Anna

[SassieCat]

I was having strong heart rate of 125 (due to changing hrt to a generic) and the doctor told me it was good to have a doctor check it out.  He said mine was not thready and was a strong pulse so he knew I was getting enough blood.  He also said that it is something a doctor would have to feel for themselves to see if it was a concern or not.  So you may want to have your doctor check it out next time it starts happening if possible.

I also as a hobby make homemade wine.  Store bought wines are high in sulfates and many people have negative reactions to them.  Especially the cheaper wines.  My husband cannot even drink store bought wines because they trigger an acid reflux and he's up all night.  My wines don't seem to bother him.  I also asked my cardiologist if I could drink a glass of wine every now and then and he said there is a lot of controversy about the effects of wine but his belief was that a small glass every now and then is good for the body.  Red wine is better for you than white.  They even have red wine supplements in the vitamine sections of many stores. 

If I drink a glass, it doesn't bother me at all.  It does help me to sleep if I am having a really difficult time.  You can go to a store that specializes in various wines and they have wines that are made naturally without additives.   

[Epson]

Janna,

If you have Rosacea, red wine is the worse thing you could drink, a guaranteed bright red face and in my case burning.  I think it is the tannin in wine that causes this reaction plus the alcohol.

As far as pounding the pounding heart, I'm still working on that problem, well if I don't die before they find an answer.

[Dolly Dimples]

 Janna, I really think that you should run this by your Doctor.
  It may possibly have been the alcohol, but if this a recurring symptom ... you know you gotta go!
              Cheers Dolly.

[eyeamdry]

I agree Janna, you should be seen by a dr.  I had this problem (not with alcohol) on and off my whole life.  Dr always said "it's not serious."  A few times I went to ER when it was really bad, but was always ok bu the time I got there. lol
One night after heart at 300bpm all night long, I wouldn't take no for an answer.  I was put on atenol about 20 years ago and have had little to no problem since.  Lucy

[JannaLee]

I think the red wine-tannins-sulfate thing makes perfect sense, especially because it was about the cheapest brand they make.  AND it makes perfect sense about menopause playing into it.....AND I don't want to regret something down the road because I didn't get it evaluated.

Because I HATE (seriously hate more than anything!) going to the doctor, I have to admit I wanted to let this slide... but now after reading all your thoughts I guess I'll GET A STUPID APPOINTMENT WITH THE STUPID (stubborn, opinionated, narrow minded, often times lazy) DOCTOR!

I HOPE YOU KNOW, I'M ONLY DOING THIS BECAUSE I RESPECT YOUR DARN OPINIONS MORE THAN ANYTHING!

Honest-to-goodness I love you guys so much and appreciate the nudge! 

Thank you for your attention and thoughtful replies,
Janna

[Chickpea]

Janna sweetiepie - that's the best tantrum I've seen in a while! 

Let us know how things go with the doctor.  And in future drink only the very best, most expensive wine.  If you're going to suffer so much for a glass of wine you might as well enjoy it fully!

Thinking of you - Chickpea

[JannaLee]

Chickpea,

Just to reiterate, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

Janna