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Recently, I've been consistently getting these sudden fast heart beats that last a couple seconds. It's been going on for a few weeks. I've never felt anything like this before. I'm 43 and still training Jiu Jitsu about 5-6 times a week (provided my lower back is not TOO bad). I'm a little worried. Anybody had these palpitations before?
My Dad started getting them in his 40's. He was a heavy coffee drinker and was simply told to lay off any and all caffeine and he hasn't had a problem since. Are you a coffee drinker or use pre-workout drinks or any other types of stimulants?
I'm not a coffee drinker. Haven't used a preworkout stimulant in a while. But recently, I've been using a concoction of creatine, beta-alanine, and Xtend Scivation (which is a BCAA based intra-workout drink).
Doesn't Canada have free healthcare? This seems like something u would get checked out.
there are alot of google results on beta-alanine and heart palpitations.
Louis I have had that and worse. My heart went into Ventricular fibrillation on the mats at our 10P moon last year in May on two occurances.
It's about as scary as it can get, but in my case I knew instantly it was from years of chain smoking and abusing my body like a college student. (Hard drinking and heavy smoking non-stop)
I quit smoking on the spot and decided to reclaim my health. I had a few tests and stuff, but the doctor said that I had nothing showing up on the tests that would act as an indicator of anything. So I decided that I would jog until I couldn't jog anymore, and that's what I did for over 6 months. It helped me in a big way. My heart has gone into fibrillation again since then, once when I was jogging and once during HIIT at out JJ warmup.
Slow metered breathing will help it drop back into synch, and also (believe it or not) my doctor said that if it goes into fibrilliation and doesn't want to drop back into it's normal pattern, go to the washroom and sit on the toilet and try to take a violent crap. I kid you not. That bearing down and flexing and squeezing can help the heart drop back into it's normal pattern.
If you're going through what is most common, what is happening is the bottom half of your heart is still beating and pumping blood, but the top half is freaking out at it's own pace. The good news is that your heart is still pumping oxygenated blood because it's basically like a gravity fed pump, but you need to sit still and stay calm and try to force it back into rhythm.
I know you're not a smoker, but you don't need to be a smoker to experience this. I was told it was quite common and effects a lot of non-smokers. It is still super scary none-the-less, and I really push myself with cardio to try to raise my aerobic threshold and recover my heart health. I also started taking a Melaleuca fiber supplement called "Fiberwise" for heart health. Between that and the exercise and the jits and the good food and not smoking I haven't experienced fibrillation in a few months, knock on wood.
When I do experience it, it is usually when my heart is pounding from JJ, and then someone puts a bloodchoke on me, and my brain sends a signal to my heart screaming "WE NEED MORE BLOOD, WORK HARDER" and then my heart just spazzes out. So I try to keep calm whem I roll, so really the whole situation is going to help my jitz in the long run.
Get it looked at by a doctor and make sure that what you're going through is the common thing I described. It could be something else. If it's the common fibrillation issue, go hard cardio but stay in tune with your heart while you push yourself.
Thanks for the input. I'm pretty sure something is wrong. Checked my blood pressure, and it's high...for the 1st time in my life. And now I am feeling some discomfort around my chest area. I'll try to get it checked out tomorrow. Don't have time today.
Hey brotha you should really get that check ASAP. Not trying to be a dick in any way but with heart issues there may not be a tomorrow:(Quote:
Originally Posted by Louis Ho
My uncle is early 40's and had something similar last year which turned into a panic attack although at the time we thought he had a heart attack.
Everyone is different though dude so like the guys said, go to the drs as soon as poss. Let us know how you get on man, hope you are o.k.
I'd def check it out with the doctor too, or at the very least a professional. Hope things work out!
Not being smart, but with you hitting all those aminos with the creatine pre workout, I'm surprised your heart hasn't exploded. I'm real rusty on all my amino chain stuff, but the stuff your doing is for atp purposes right, with help to not break down muscle during workout? I'm sure you get the rush as soon as you drink it, or shortly thereafter you get the tingle. With weightlifters, especially bodybuilders, that concoction might be great. I am old, and the last time i messed with a pre workout "energy" supplement, I thought my heart was going to explode. I leave a lot of that stuff for the younger guys whose hearts haven't worked nearly as long. I think supplements are ok in general, I personally pound protein supplements, just to keep me walking upright.
I'd suggest talking to your doctor about that supplement concoction for two reasons, one you could have an allergic or other reaction to the aminos or the level/dose your taking and two, some supplements will shine a light on medical issues you are having. I would think that getting a check up is not a bad idea in general. Maybe you need to half the dose. You could be working your heart too hard with the supplements.
Good luck to ya, hope everything works out. By the way, thanks for posting those vids of when you rolled in brasil. It really helped me in several ways.
I was taking a pre-workout drink for a while called Super_Freak from the Pharma-Freak line, but I stopped because it sent my heart right to the edge of palpitations when I lifted weights. Now I take protein recovery drinks only and use Oatmeal (and sometimes creatine) as a pre-workout load.
I find it provides me with all the pepper I need to get through the workouts.
You get it checked out yet bro?
palpitations can be a number of things....sounds like you were having pvc's which are harmless but scary (though obviously it could be a number of things)
beta alanine can trigger them. As can anxiety. Anxiety can also raise BP in a real hurry and trigger a cascade of feelings.
I take a magnesium supplement before bed and it gets rid of the palpitations
Of course get it checked by the doc to be sure, but try not to panic and send yourself into orbit
In now way shape or form am i supporting the FDA here but a lot of these supplements are not approved by the FDA meaning there really isn't a lot regulating what they are putting into a supplement (im fine with that btw). What that does mean is that we as consumers need to really research and understand what we are putting into our bodies before we do as it might be unhealthy and borderline dangerous. Too many people just assume what they pick up off the shelf is safe.
Thank you for stating this. I was gonna add it into my already getting too long post and thought F- it and deleted it. Some of these companies ought to be criminally tried. Some of this stuff is just modern day snake oil.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cody Kietzman
And some is straight up crack.Quote:
Originally Posted by ern
agreed that some companies are snakes...but FDA approval doesn't mean much most of the time either
Agreed I don't have much faith in an organization that approves shots that cause autism.Quote:
Originally Posted by miketubbs
Last September I was flown from one hospital to another as they said I was having a severe heart attack. At the time I was lifting weights 5-6 times a week and taking NIOX (plus some other junk). After about $80k in medical fees, I was now having heart palpitations for the first time in my life. I had them every day from September 15th until early February. (Could be a side effect from the heart cath.) Sucks.
Recently I have been starting to feel noticeably better, but I can tell that I am not 100% in the chest/heart area. I have seen several cardiologists, but they can't agree on ANYTHING, (whether I had a heart attack or not, or whether it was Pericarditis, what caused it, or how to avoid it happening again)...though one of them blamed it on cannabis. (-_-)
It's frustrating.
(BTW, I am 32.)
I have been so good lately and then I posted in this thread and went and worked out and had palpitations today for the first time in a while. I did an intense leg workout, then at the end I decided to finish off with some wide grip pull ups.
Got throught one set, then I finished my second set and my heart was doing it.
I started to walk to the front desk in case I hit the dirt, so they would know to call an ambulance, but by the time I walked there (50 yards) my heart returned to its normal pattern. Kind of depressing after all the work I've been doing to get in shape, but I abused my body for a lot of years, so....
Went to a clinic and was given an EKG. The doc told me that there was a "block" from the right side of the heart. But she says that it is probably "benign". But to be on the safe side, she told me to go to the Emergency at a major hospital. So I go there and get another EKG, an ultrasound, an xray, and blood tests. According to that doc, he didn't see anything in the tests that could attribute to the palpitations and discomfort in my chest. So, on the bright side, nothing bad was shown on the tests. But I still had some palpitations today and still am not sure of the reason why. However, the beta alanine seems to be the prime suspect. I even mentioned it to the doc, but he didn't know what beta alanine was. Thanks for all the feedback guys. And Kurzy, take it easy bro.
Keep us posted Ho.
Take care brother
Louis,
these things just come out of the blue for no known reason, and they go away due to the same thing. The number one most important thing when you feel them, is do not freak out. Even if it feels like you are on the verge of an abyss.Especially if you got it checked out by two doctors, and none of the symptoms have shown anything. The reason why not freaking out is so important is, that basically it triggers an adrenaline dump, which makes the whole thing even worse. If there is no structural damage to the heart, and your cardio system, it is most probably your para sympathethic system sending "misfiring" signals, when trying to send messages to the heart. I am no doctor by all means, just repeating what my doctor said to me.
I feel them from time to time, maybe 5 times a month, just extra beats. When they first occured though (I was around 25), during a night I couldnt go to sleep, I thought I was gonna die, and it made it all worse. Alot worse. Lately I cant even remember when I felt the last one. When I had a holter monitor for 1 week, at the height of my "craze", my sister put it on after my diagnosis, just for fun, and it counted 48 extra beats in one day, even though she doesnt feel a single one ! And there I was, worrying about death, when I got episodes of 5-10 of those peskies in a day.
I cannot say for your specific condition though, since mine were occuring only during rest, and when lying on the back.
all the best to you
vele.
my wife has irregular heart beat and it's caused by high blood pressure, I would advise seeing a doctor about it. A lot of the time it's hereditary but certain things can be done to help it. I wish you the best Louis, it's a blessing in disguise you realized this now and not further down the line. I hope you are feeling better soon!Quote:
Originally Posted by Louis Ho
Coming from a guy that doesn’t think getting choked to sleep is a big deal: be careful Louis, it sounds scary, even though your tests were normal... Best of luck :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Louis Ho
I wouldn't start to worry to early mate..I had the same problem and developed an irregular heart beat and started to experience chest pain and discomfort etc....turned out to be stress/anxiety (I didn't think I was anxious but looking back I was) It took my years to accept there was nothing physically wrong but finally got there and have been all good and as fit as ever! Palpitations are very common..just get it checked for reassurance :)
I agree with Jeff V. I'm 41 and started getting the same feeling occasionally. I stopped drinking coffee and the pre-workout drink NO-explode and it went away. I still take NO-explode but only three times a week instead of every day like before. It hasn't come back.
Ok, so since the tests didn't reveal anything, and I am still getting the palpitations...where does it leave me with respect to training? Am I able to train like I normally do? Btw, I appreciate all the input guys. Thanks so much.
Louis...I would train as normal mate...I have been there.. palpations aren't usually serious unless you have several other symptoms and are in a high risk category! Your test were Ok bro...trust them and don't do what I did and scan the internet..it set me back years! You will be fine!Quote:
Originally Posted by Louis Ho
I just need to listen to my body more, that's all. I think it's healthy to push body and mind to the limits and operate at that threshold for as long as "healthily possible". In this case last week I was not fully recovered (cardio) from my last set of chins before embarking on the next set. I don't know why I rushed it, and at the time I knew I was rushing it, but now I know for next time to listen to my body and not just watch the Second Hand in between sets.Quote:
Originally Posted by Louis Ho
I'm no doctor but my attitude it just fucken giver, so my answer is keep training, but stop when you need to catch your breath/calm your heart rate, and protect yourself from blood chokes all the time. (With more vigilance than usual I mean, lol. We all try to protect ourselves from bloodchokes!)
Louis, outside of Jits, do you do anything to raise your VO2 Max threshold?
The ultimate question is...Can I compete? I was planning on doing the Gracie Worlds this summer. I already booked my flight before the palpitations got bad. 15 minutes sub only...can my ticker take this level of exercise? If I can't push my cardio during training, then I would gas out too soon.
You'll need to push your ticker now, before the tourney, in order to know if you can/should go for it. Only you can tell if your heart can take it. Get Scott and your other guys to run a 20 minute shark bait on you a few times and see how you fare.
I hope the best for you man.
The doctors seem to be on your side, so that's good!
Thanks Bro. I'm gonna give it a shot. :)
Holy shit! Get a second opinion ASAP, better safe than sorry