Can physical activity, stress be actually detrimental to your heart?

Heart attack, panic attack, or what?

• I'm having "episodes" which involve a loss of breath, dizziness, and heart palpitations all in one fell swoop. Couldn't tell you which symptom comes first--possibly the loss of breath. I usually have to sit or lay down for 1 to 1 minutes, get my breath back, my heart slows down from some pretty hard pounding, then dizziness goes away. I have a rush of warmth most times at this point, and can actually function pretty well after. Finish whatever activity to include exercise, etc. Any ideas on what this is? I've had an ekg and stress tests and so far everything is normal. I'm stumped.

• Answer:

  Well you are right, they could be panic attacks, but do see if your doc can test you for Neurocardiogenic Syncope. Ask if they can perform a tilt table test. They are not to bad {I have had 2} They normally make you pass out or have those symtoms they can help diagnose the problem. This test helps detect: An abnormal nervous system reaction. Fainting can occur when your nervous system incorrectly signals the blood vessels in your legs to open (dilate) and your heart rate to slow down (vasovagal or neurocardiogenic syncope). If you're standing when this happens, it causes blood to pool in your legs and reduces the amount of blood flowing to your brain, which results in fainting. Vasovagal syncope is the most common cause of recurrent fainting. A drop in blood pressure when you stand up. Normally when you stand up, special cells (baroreceptors) next to your heart and neck arteries trigger your heart to beat faster and pump more blood, which counteracts gravity's downward pull on your blood. These cells also cause blood vessels to narrow, which increases resistance to blood flow and increases blood pressure. A drop in your blood pressure when you stand up (orthostatic or postural hypotension) occurs when that process is interrupted, and low blood pressure is the result. Symptoms of orthostatic hypotension can include dizziness, lightheadedness and, in some cases, fainting. Heart problems. Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) occur when the electrical impulses that coordinate your heart rhythm don't function properly, causing your heart to beat too fast, too slow or irregularly In some cases arrhythmias may reduce blood flow to your brain and cause fainting. Narrowed heart valves and thickening of the heart muscle (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) also can make it difficult for enough blood to flow from your heart to your brain and lead to fainting. Results: If you faint during the tilt table test and you don't have other symptoms of a heart problem, it may indicate either vasovagal syncope or orthostatic hypotension. But you may need additional tests to determine the specific diagnosis. If you faint during the tilt table test and you have other symptoms of a heart problem, or if your doctor suspects that a heart problem is causing the fainting, you may require additional cardiac testing and evaluation to determine a diagnosis.If you don't faint during the tilt table test, you may need additional tests and evaluations to find the cause of your fainting. BTW: vasovagal and neurocardiogenic snycope, are the same thing~ Hope this helps. I have foud this test helpful for such symtpoms. This can also check out any other heart problems :D