I recently started having really bad anxiety attacks and I noticed even if I have a little bit of alcohol,my heart will start to beat fast and i'll experience some light headedness and I wont be able to focus.I've never had this problem before(im not much of a drinker)so im just curious to know if its due to this anxiety and if so,is there anyway to prevent it?
212392
Alcohol or Drug Abuse: you may be tempted to turn to alcohol or drugs to self-medicate, although this will likely make treatment more difficult. The National Mental Health Association reports that “about 30% of people with panic disorder use alcohol and 17% use drugs, such as cocaine and marijuana, in unsuccessful attempts to alleviate the anguish and distress caused by their condition.”\n\nGood starting points for reducing the frequency of future panic attacks include:\n\neducating yourself about anxiety symptoms, causes, and treatments\nmaintaining a healthy lifestyle\nlearning how to reduce your anxiety\nworking with a counselor or therapist to address your fears and anxieties\nassessing and modifying your general attitudes towards life\nlimiting triggers like caffeine, alcohol, and smoking\ntalking with your doctor if your symptoms have recurred or worsened
193134
Is that the only symptom? After my father died, it was a stressful time, I started having panic attacks. I was told that AFTER a bad time is usually when they might appear. And out of nowhere. I worked with someone once and she had them too.  I said "man, you feel like you're going to die" and she said "no, you KNOW you are going to die" -- her husband took her to ER everytime. Mine were about 3 times a day - got hooked on Xanax but it worked. Had to get help to get off of it.  If the panic came back, I would chance that addiction again. I went to counseling which lessened the fear but not the feelings. Mine would happen in the car a lot. Like at a stop sign. My foot would shake badly on the brake and I would almost just go through. I felt like I was "melting" into the seat (oh, not afraid to drive either so that wasn't it), my heart would race. It's too many bad feelings at once. This is one of those things I swear - no one would understand unless they went through it. Mine lasted about 5 years.  My heart goes out to you if this is happening. But see your doctor. They aren't so prone to giving out Xanax anymore though. I guess I understand but it helped me big time. I was able to cope and go to work.
659124
It could possibly a panic attack.  Does it usually happen during a stressful time at work or something?  Many of those sypmtoms are consistant with people who have panic disorders. I suggest going to an anxiety disorders website, and maybe even looking into medication.  Another symptom is worrying about it for at least a week after one happens.  Also, the thing about night is it allows your mind to relax, meaning stressful thoughts get through more easily.  I hope this helps you.\n\nJust so you know, it happens to often for it to be a heart attack.  He would probably be dead right now if it were.  However, that doesn't rule out a heart problem.  You should probably go see a doctor.  I just thought I would reinforce what the other responders were saying.  I really think there is a good chance of it being a panic attack.  I have a lot of experience with them.  Also ask him if he feels he is in danger of dying during the episodes, and if he has every struggled with anxiety  \n\nwww.adaa.org is a good webite to check his sypmtoms against those of panic disorder.\n\nI really hopes this helps you.
481575
Yup. Bad anxiety can give you lot of similar symptoms. \n\nThe best thing is to be active physically. Walking, jogging, working out and eating a healthy diet and of course making sure you have yearly physicals that include EKG and cardiac stree test.\n\nThat will ease your mind about your heart AND it wil help relieve anxiety and stress.
670611
Your blood pressure is probably high from the anxiety.  You might have an ulcer or gall bladder issue.
602793
I have severe anxiety disorder and suffer from panic attacks, I occasionaly have days that I feel like I'm a totally different person.\nI've been suffering with this for six years, I finally went to a doctor and they gave me a medication called xanax and it works great, I feel normal again, don't be afraid of addiction, because if it really is anxiety that you are suffering from it wont make you feel high like it would a person who doesn't need it. You could also give your meds to one of your parents and they can give it to you when you need it. Good luck, I hope you get better and please talk to someone about what you are going through or it may not go away.
154144
You are deffinatley showing signs of having and or developing a serious problem. I think you should go and talk to someone (a councellor, not a friend or anything cos they can be quick to condem). I went through something similar and found talking through my problems really good. You shouldnt drink to get drunk - thats simply binge drinking. Have you thought about why you want to be drunk? Is it to feel good, to block out pain, etc? Also, its troubling to think that you hide your behavour. I know that its hard to talk about it, but it is deffinatley worth it. Its amazing how good i felt after the first session, just to spill everything out to someone who was totally unbiased, knowing that its totally confidential and whoever your talking to isnt going to think your a nutcase is fantastic!!! I hope everything works out for you, and again, please go and talk to someone. Something that really woke me up was when i was told that you can actually die just from drinking too much - because its a depressant, it can actually relax your system so much that you stop breathing and just die in your sleep. Imagine your parents/siblings/friends/etc walking in to wake you up and not being able to - that thought freaked me out. So yeah, again, hope it all goes well, i would give you my email address if you wanted to talk but i dont really want to post it here! Take care
220677
NO! You tend to feel much better when you do anything after a few drinks. I was told by a personal trainer that if he drinks too much he runs home afterwards cause it avoids a hangover.
457766
Beta Blockers lower the levels of adrenaline in your body - the hormone released when you have panic attacks, that's probably why you were prescribed them.\n\nOne of the other effects of Beta Blockers is to lower blood pressure. Sometimes when people on them exercise vigorously it can make them feel very light-headed, dizzy and they may even pass out. This is because the drug prevents the heart pumping with too much pressure.\n\nYou will be able to do exercise, but the safest thing to do would be to have a chat with your doctor and discuss how much would be sensible while you're on them. Your doctor will also be able to cover possible side effects in more detail.\n\nOnce you've done that you should be OK to go back to exercising. Just remember to take it easy to start with so that you can find out how far you can push yourself before running into problems.\n\nHope that helps!
203510
I have the same problem.  \n\nUsually the alcohol isn't the problem.  It may be what additives are in.  Things such as yeast, corn, eggs, molds and sulfites can affect you.  Try drinking something different and see if it still happens.  Then compare the ingredients.\n\nIt also depends on the temperature and what you've been doing previously.  You may not be allergic to alcohol, but your surroundings might trigger something.
59233
I went through something similar a while ago, I recommend you to check with a cardiologist. It may not be important but that way you'll be sure. If you smoke (like I did) stop for a while and see what happens.Finally, here's a link about anxiety and panic attacks.
172999
You probably have PVCs/PACs, I've had them for a few years and I hate those @@#$@ so much. They feel like an extra beat, flip flop, or fast double beat right? I think its recommended that you be evaluated by a cardiologist to make sure you dont have any heart defects. The vast majority of cases though either just happen for no apparent reason, anxiety/stress related, potassium/calcium/magnesium imbalance in your blood, or a thyroid problem like they were saying. My doc theyre probably anxiety related too and I didn't think I'm anxious either. A lot of people say beta blockers work for them as well and my doc put me on one but it didn't do anything for me. Never tried an antidepressant/anxiety drug but some people say those have helped them, so go for it if you want. Mine seem to be triggered when I'm under stress, drink, dont get enough sleep, or drink too much caffeine. Exercise seems to reduce them for me, but everyone's triggers are different. You can check out the heart forum at medhelp.org a lot of people have them and have all kinds of weird tips and tricks you can try. I think the best thing to do if they really bother you is keep track of what triggers them and then avoid those triggers if practical.
630283
Yes this could be from anxiety. The light headedness, and excess swallowing from nervousness, and the shortness of breath from possibly hyperventilating from too much worry about the situation. Id say mild panic attack but the chest pressure with light headedness could mean worse. Id get an ekg and " get it off your chest".
313579
Well I have panic attacks too, and I just went to the doctor for the first time last week, he prescribed PaxilCR and xanax, I to like to call someone just to talk when I have the attacks.  My employer offers a free 1800 # for that sorta thing called LifeWorks.  Don't be scared to take your meds though, I have been on the Paxil for a week now, and it seems ok so far, eventhough it's gonna take a while to start working before I notice anything.  I only take the xanax if im HAVING a panick attack.  You can click on my photo and contact me if you need any more advise about anything if you'd like, I know what you're going through.
390356
I'll tell you one thing. It does more harm than benefit. Here's something I found that may help:\n\nHow does heavy drinking harm the heart?\n\nFor starters, large amounts of alcohol (more than two drinks a day) can raise your blood pressure to unhealthy levels. If, for example, you drink the equivalent of a six-pack of beer, a pint of whiskey, or a bottle and a half of wine every day for 10 years, that drinking will almost certainly damage parts of your heart. The result is often cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart muscle becomes weakened. In fact, after blocked arteries, alcohol is the second most common cause of cardiomyopathy in the United States.\n\n\n\nDamaged hearts can't pump efficiently. They're also susceptible to blood clots and strange rhythms (arrhythmia), especially during alcohol binges. (Some doctors call these arrhythmia episodes "holiday heart.") If you keep drinking, the consequences are severe. About half of all alcoholics who keep drinking after developing cardiomyopathy die within four years.\n\n\n\nThe good news is that much of the damage is reversible. When alcoholics with cardiomyopathy abstain from drinking, blood pressure drops and the heart can quickly grow stronger. Best of all, more than 90 percent of them will still be alive four years later.\n\n\n\nHeavy drinking -- usually described as three or more drinks a day -- over long periods of time has also been linked to hypertension (high blood pressure), stroke, cardiac arrhythmia, and sudden death.
289343
this is a simptom which happens to people due to anxiety and to some with a neurological condition which causes the same effect. \ntry simply avoiding caffine for a while then if that isn't enough try various relaxation tecniques. if none of this works consult your physican.   \np.s. it may pass as you get older.
551224
Hi, I am sorry to hear this.  You didn't state if this has always happened to you or not?!  If it is something new you are experiencing then I would really speak to a Doc.  Sometimes a load of stress in other areas of your life can make you heart race and do funny things.  It isn't uncommon to have panic attacks when stressed or nervous.  There are probably a lot of options out there to help you with out taking meds. I would really talk to your family doctor as soon as you can, just to make sure there isn't something majorly wrong.  Take Care of yourself and remember you are the best judge of yourself and what you need.  Sending you lots of smiles :) :) :)