Can anxiety lead to heart palpitations?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am 22 years old and have been experiencing heart palpitations with skipped beats for three years. When I exercise (specifically when I run), I feel palpitations and have difficulty breathing freely and naturally, which I consider exercise intolerance. I consulted a cardiologist, who said that nothing is wrong with my health.

After an echocardiogram, I noticed that I have mitral valve prolapse, but the cardiologist stated that it does not require treatment. However, I am unsure if my symptoms are related to the mitral valve prolapse.

Should I take any medication, and how can I address this issue?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Your symptoms could be related to anxiety. I agree with your doctor that mitral valve prolapse is not a serious medical condition. However, it can trigger ectopic heartbeats, especially during strenuous physical activity.

If the problem persists, I recommend undergoing ambulatory ECG monitoring for 24 to 48 hours, along with some blood tests.

Specifically, you should have a complete blood count to check for anemia, thyroid hormone levels, and blood electrolytes to assess for electrolyte imbalances. If all these tests return to normal, you should consider anxiety as the primary cause of your symptoms.

I hope this helps you.

Thank you.