▲ 1 r/AFIB
Has anyone had atrial tachycardia that behaved almost exactly like sinus tachycardia? Gradual onset and gradual offset?
About 10 years ago, when I was 23, I was diagnosed with nonsustained VT after a Holter monitor caught an episode of 23 beats of NSVT. Before that, I had already had extensive testing, including multiple EKGs, echocardiograms, and stress tests, which were all normal.
At the time, I was also having a lot of panic attacks and anxiety about my heart. The Holter actually recorded around 200 episodes of what appeared to be panic-related sinus tachycardia, but only one episode of NSVT. I subsequently had an EP study and cardiac MRI, and the NSVT could not be induced. I was put on metoprolol and had a loop recorder implanted.
Over the next 10 years, I very rarely had NSVT — maybe one episode every 2–3 years — and eventually I stopped taking metoprolol because I felt like I didn’t really need it.
I’ve always had occasional panic attacks, but last year I started exercising again for the first time in about 10 years. After that, I started having panic attacks much more frequently, including some at the gym. But then I started experiencing something that felt different: episodes where my heart would suddenly start speeding up even though I wasn’t actually feeling panicked beforehand.
The strange thing was that these episodes **didn’t have a sudden onset**. My heart rate would gradually accelerate over maybe 30 seconds to a minute, sometimes going from around 80–100 bpm up to 150–180+, and then gradually come back down. It felt almost exactly like sinus tachycardia from a panic attack, except sometimes there was no panic or anxiety triggering it.
Because I became worried about these episodes, I started having even more actual panic attacks as well. My implanted monitor would show sinus rhythm/sinus tachycardia during some of the episodes, but there were also some episodes that felt different and had the same gradual “warm-up” and “cool-down” pattern.
Over the past year, these episodes became increasingly frequent — initially maybe once a month, then every couple of weeks, and eventually about once a week.
A few days ago, I had a particularly bad episode while I was just standing at work. I suddenly got a warm sensation in the center of my chest and my heart started accelerating for no obvious reason. My heart rate went from around 80 bpm to **187 bpm in roughly 10–15 seconds**, and I was terrified enough that I called 911 because I thought something was seriously wrong.
I was hospitalized and saw an electrophysiologist. He reviewed the rhythm recording from my implanted monitor and thought there was a possibility that these episodes were **atrial tachycardia**, because some atrial tachycardias can have a gradual warm-up that resembles sinus tachycardia.
I had an EP study yesterday, and they actually **induced the atrial tachycardia and confirmed that I had it**. It was located very close to the SA node, which apparently made it particularly difficult to distinguish from sinus tachycardia just by looking at the rhythm strips.
I ended up having an ablation.
My EP explained that some atrial tachycardias can have a gradual onset and gradual termination, making them look very similar to sinus tachycardia from things like exercise, anxiety, or panic attacks.
So it seems like I was dealing with **two different things**: actual panic attacks with sinus tachycardia, and these separate episodes of atrial tachycardia that could happen without feeling panicked beforehand.
**My question is: has anyone else here had atrial tachycardia that behaved almost exactly like sinus tachycardia?**
Specifically, I’m interested in people whose AT had **gradual onset/“warm-up” and gradual termination/“cool-down,” rather than the sudden on/off pattern** that is often associated with SVT.
If you’ve had something similar, did your AT also feel like a panic attack or sinus tachycardia, and was it difficult to distinguish from sinus tachycardia on a monitor?
u/mati_assss — 4 days ago
▲ 3 r/SVTHeart
Has anyone had atrial tachycardia that behaved almost exactly like sinus tachycardia? Gradual onset and gradual offset?
About 10 years ago, when I was 23, I was diagnosed with nonsustained VT after a Holter monitor caught an episode of 23 beats of NSVT. Before that, I had already had extensive testing, including multiple EKGs, echocardiograms, and stress tests, which were all normal.
At the time, I was also having a lot of panic attacks and anxiety about my heart. The Holter actually recorded around 200 episodes of what appeared to be panic-related sinus tachycardia, but only one episode of NSVT. I subsequently had an EP study and cardiac MRI, and the NSVT could not be induced. I was put on metoprolol and had a loop recorder implanted.
Over the next 10 years, I very rarely had NSVT — maybe one episode every 2–3 years — and eventually I stopped taking metoprolol because I felt like I didn’t really need it.
I’ve always had occasional panic attacks, but last year I started exercising again for the first time in about 10 years. After that, I started having panic attacks much more frequently, including some at the gym. But then I started experiencing something that felt different: episodes where my heart would suddenly start speeding up even though I wasn’t actually feeling panicked beforehand.
The strange thing was that these episodes didn’t have a sudden onset. My heart rate would gradually accelerate over maybe 30 seconds to a minute, sometimes going from around 80–100 bpm up to 150–180+, and then gradually come back down. It felt almost exactly like sinus tachycardia from a panic attack, except sometimes there was no panic or anxiety triggering it.
Because I became worried about these episodes, I started having even more actual panic attacks as well. My implanted monitor would show sinus rhythm/sinus tachycardia during some of the episodes, but there were also some episodes that felt different and had the same gradual “warm-up” and “cool-down” pattern.
Over the past year, these episodes became increasingly frequent — initially maybe once a month, then every couple of weeks, and eventually about once a week.
A few days ago, I had a particularly bad episode while I was just standing at work. I suddenly got a warm sensation in the center of my chest and my heart started accelerating for no obvious reason. My heart rate went from around 80 bpm to 187 bpm in roughly 10–15 seconds, and I was terrified enough that I called 911 because I thought something was seriously wrong.
I was hospitalized and saw an electrophysiologist. He reviewed the rhythm recording from my implanted monitor and thought there was a possibility that these episodes were atrial tachycardia, because some atrial tachycardias can have a gradual warm-up that resembles sinus tachycardia.
I had an EP study yesterday, and they actually induced the atrial tachycardia and confirmed that I had it. It was located very close to the SA node, which apparently made it particularly difficult to distinguish from sinus tachycardia just by looking at the rhythm strips.
I ended up having an ablation.
My EP explained that some atrial tachycardias can have a gradual onset and gradual termination, making them look very similar to sinus tachycardia from things like exercise, anxiety, or panic attacks.
So it seems like I was dealing with two different things: actual panic attacks with sinus tachycardia, and these separate episodes of atrial tachycardia that could happen without feeling panicked beforehand.
My question is: has anyone else here had atrial tachycardia that behaved almost exactly like sinus tachycardia?
Specifically, I’m interested in people whose AT had gradual onset/“warm-up” and gradual termination/“cool-down,” rather than the sudden on/off pattern that is often associated with SVT.
If you’ve had something similar, did your AT also feel like a panic attack or sinus tachycardia, and was it difficult to distinguish from sinus tachycardia on a monitor?
u/mati_assss — 4 days ago
▲ 5 r/Cardiophobias
Whats the fastest youve seen your heart rate go during a panic attack?
Mine usually goes up to 140-160, last month it reached 190 for the first time. Horrible feeling!
u/mati_assss — 13 days ago
▲ 3 r/Cardiophobias
Panic attack episode reached 190ish beats per minute.
Usually they reach anywhere from 120-150ish. But this one at the beach a few weeks back reached 190. First time ever. Thought i was a goner. Terrible experience. Paramedics werent happy i didnt go to the hospital with them.
Ive had cardio phobia ever since i was a kid, i grew up playing soccer and one day i saw a soccer player die on tv. Ever since that day i became terrified of heart issues and sudden death. But i still pushed through. In my early 20’s it got worse to the point were i stopped doing all exercise, no more gym, no more soccer, and kept pushing and pushing for more heart exams cause i could swear i had a heart issues.
Back in 2017, when i was 23, I was given a holter and it caught like 200 episodes of panic attacks, and a random one of NSVT. So they diagnosed me with that arrhythmia and my life came crashing down. Now the cardio phobia i had turned into a reality, had way more extensive exams, genetic testing, EP study, echos, MRIs, etc.
They never found a cause as to why i had that episode. So they installed a loop recorder to always monitor me.
First few years i was bed bound with fear, didnt leave my house for like 2-3 years. Then slowly went back to a more normal life. Panic attacks slowly faded away cause i learned to live a life where i avoided triggers (exercise, always being near a hospital, etc) and i took a beta blocker, so i felt safe.
My cardiologists always told me im good to live a healthy life and not to worry and exercise, but i never did cause the huge fear and panic attacks.
This year back in march i started going to the gym for the first time in 10 years. Im now 32. First few months were okay, i slowly gained strength and confidence, lost a lot of weight and gained a lot of muscle.
Then i got a huge panic attack while lifting. Then it happened again, a few weeks later. Then again a few days. Then everyday. Then even without the gym, then while sleeping, now i get many a day.
So yeah, ive quit the gym… anxiety and panic attacks suck. Wish i wouldve never pushed so hard to have those exams done, i wouldve never known i had NSVT and wouldve lived a normal life. Panic has ruined the last 10-11 years of my life. Ive literally worried it away. I didnt go to school, barely held down jobs, cant even go for a walk without worrying and pre planning what id do if my heart starts taking off, or when i make a trip, i always have to be near a hospital. It sucks.
u/mati_assss — 17 days ago
▲ 2 r/ReadMyECG
Interesting recording
I know its nothing. But during this episode i was sleeping, and was spooked by my brother when he came in my room, causing me to wake up and choke on spit. So i thought i was dying. My heart went from like 60 to 150+ within a few seconds due to the adrenaline and dropped back down fairly quick too, went straight back to sleep.
Interesting seeing how the t waves changed from peaked to way lower within a few beats, and after i relaxed and went back to sleep seeing the sinus arrhythmia take over with intermittent faster and slower beats.
Very cool
u/mati_assss — 19 days ago
▲ 3 r/ReadMyECG
SA block? Pause? PAC?
Noticed this on my 12 lead holter i wore last night.
Each picture is the same rhythm just different leads
Any ideas?
u/mati_assss — 22 days ago
▲ 3 r/askCardiology
Thoughts on this loop recorder tracing?
Looking for opinions on this loop recorder strip. I’m a 32-year-old male and would appreciate hearing what you think this rhythm looks like.
Background: I was diagnosed with non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) with no known cause when I was 23 years old. Before that diagnosis, I was very active. I played competitive soccer for years and also enjoyed bodybuilding and weightlifting.
That diagnosis had a major psychological impact on me. Over the past 9 years, I’ve developed significant heart and health anxiety and avoided exercise because I was afraid of triggering another arrhythmia. Only a few months ago did I finally decide to start lifting weights again.
Ever since returning to the gym, I often become anxious before I even start my workout, worrying that my heart rate will get too high or that I’ll have another arrhythmia.
Once I begin exercising, my heart rate is usually around 100–120 bpm, depending on the exercise. As I notice my heart rate increasing, I become more anxious, which sometimes develops into a panic attack. During these episodes, my heart rate will often climb another 30–40 bpm, reaching around 150
+ bpm. I start sweating, shaking, and feel an overwhelming sense of dread. The episodes usually last a few minutes before my heart rate gradually comes back down. Afterward, I either stop my workout and go home or continue exercising once I’ve calmed down.
My panic attacks also tend to have a gradual onset and gradual resolution. I usually notice a warm sensation in my chest first, followed by my heart rate slowly increasing and then slowly coming back down rather than stopping abruptly.
Context of this episode: I was at the beach on a very hot day. I had just eaten and was already feeling somewhat anxious about my heart. I then had to walk through hot sand and climb two flights of stairs.
After reaching the top, I noticed my heart rate continued climbing and eventually reached around 190 bpm. I continued walking for about another minute until I reached my car. I felt terrible and genuinely thought something was seriously wrong. I got into my car, activated my loop recorder, and called 911.
The ambulance arrived about 5 minutes later. By then, my heart rate had gradually come down to around 130 bpm. The paramedics performed a 12-lead ECG, which they told me was normal, and since I was feeling significantly better by that point, I chose not to go to the hospital.
I record any episode where my heart rate exceeds about 130 bpm, regardless of whether I think it’s exercise, anxiety, or an arrhythmia, because of my history with NSVT.
One thing that stands out to me about this tracing is that the rhythm appears to gradually speed up (“warm up”) and gradually slow back down (“cool down”), rather than starting and stopping suddenly.
I’m not looking for a diagnosis, and I understand that a single-lead loop recorder recording can’t definitively identify an arrhythmia over the internet. I’m simply interested in hearing how others interpret the tracing, what features they notice, and what rhythm they think is most likely.
u/mati_assss — 28 days ago
▲ 2 r/ReadMyECG
Thoughts on this loop recorder tracing?
Looking for opinions on this loop recorder strip. I’m a 32-year-old male and would appreciate hearing what you think this rhythm looks like.
Background: I was diagnosed with non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) when I was 23 years old. Before that diagnosis, I was very active. I played competitive soccer for years and also enjoyed bodybuilding and weightlifting.
That diagnosis had a major psychological impact on me. Over the past 9 years, I’ve developed significant heart and health anxiety and avoided exercise because I was afraid of triggering another arrhythmia. Only a few months ago did I finally decide to start lifting weights again.
Ever since returning to the gym, I often become anxious before I even start my workout, worrying that my heart rate will get too high or that I’ll have another arrhythmia.
Once I begin exercising, my heart rate is usually around 100–120 bpm, depending on the exercise. As I notice my heart rate increasing, I become more anxious, which sometimes develops into a panic attack. During these episodes, my heart rate will often climb another 30–40 bpm, reaching around 150 bpm. I start sweating, shaking, and feel an overwhelming sense of dread. The episodes usually last a few minutes before my heart rate gradually comes back down. Afterward, I either stop my workout and go home or continue exercising once I’ve calmed down.
My panic attacks also tend to have a gradual onset and gradual resolution. I usually notice a warm sensation in my chest first, followed by my heart rate slowly increasing and then slowly coming back down rather than stopping abruptly.
Context of this episode: I was at the beach on a very hot day. I had just eaten and was already feeling somewhat anxious about my heart. I then had to walk through hot sand and climb two flights of stairs.
After reaching the top, I noticed my heart rate continued climbing and eventually reached around 190 bpm. I continued walking for about another minute until I reached my car. I felt terrible and genuinely thought something was seriously wrong. I got into my car, activated my loop recorder, and called 911.
The ambulance arrived about 5 minutes later. By then, my heart rate had gradually come down to around 130 bpm. The paramedics performed a 12-lead ECG, which they told me was normal, and since I was feeling significantly better by that point, I chose not to go to the hospital.
I record any episode where my heart rate exceeds about 130 bpm, regardless of whether I think it’s exercise, anxiety, or an arrhythmia, because of my history with NSVT.
One thing that stands out to me about this tracing is that the rhythm appears to gradually speed up (“warm up”) and gradually slow back down (“cool down”), rather than starting and stopping suddenly.
I’m not looking for a diagnosis, and I understand that a single-lead loop recorder recording can’t definitively identify an arrhythmia over the internet. I’m simply interested in hearing how others interpret the tracing, what features they notice, and what rhythm they think is most likely.
u/mati_assss — 28 days ago
Is this mole suspicious of it being cancer? Ive always had a mole there, just never looked at it closely until this morning
Its on my armpit.
u/mati_assss — 2 months ago