Rapid Heartbeat Due to a Panic Attack

A rapid heartbeat due to a panic attack can perhaps be the most frightening of all of the symptoms associated with the panic attack itself. It certainly was for me.

The reason that I found a rapid heartbeat was so frightening is because it was not something that I was used to on a day-to-day basis.

You should talk to your doctor directly about the experience of having a rapid heartbeat and when you should seek medical attention.

The good news for me was that I learned to cope with the symptoms of a panic attack as they occurred.

Again, you should talk to your doctor about his/her thoughts on when you should seek medical attention.

My doctor told me that if the faster heartbeat is caused by a panic attack, that it is perfectly safe. However, the fear that I had experienced when having a faster heart rate was unbelievable. I thought for sure I wasn't going to survive.

Over time I learned to recognize when I was having a panic attack, and understood that the symptom of having a faster heartbeat than usual would eventually subside for me. It still wasn't a pleasant experience, but once the fear itself was removed, it was a lot easier. In addition, the symptoms did not last nearly as long.

There were a couple of other tips that the doctor gave me in terms of having a faster heartbeat.

The first tip my doctor gave me was to think rationally and do my best to remain calm.

The rational thinking included me taking a look at my symptoms and being able to determine whether or not I needed to seek medical attention. He provided various scenarios in response to my question of "When should I seek medical attention?".

The second tip the doctor gave me to help with reducing my heart rate was to "bear down" as if you would when you have to go to the bathroom and have a bowel movement. This he said, can be effective at reducing the heart rate. Deep controlled breathing was also recommended, and medication was prescribed to help with the symptoms of the panic attack.

Over time I was able to deal with the associated symptoms and no longer needed to take any prescription medications. Eventually I was able to overcome panic attacks completely, and enjoy being panic-free very much.

What I found to be the best case scenario in my own life was to recognize the the symptoms of a panic attack as it was about to occur.

If I could do this and relax immediately, the symptoms experienced would usually be minimal.

I created my own series of tips for panic attacks which I used to try and keep the symptoms of a panic attack to a minimum.

The regular practice of relaxation techniques also helped immensely. I practiced relaxation techniques at the same time I was following the treatment plan as specified by my doctor.

An important thing to note about the experience of having an increased heart rate from a panic attack:

Talking to your doctor and understanding when you need to seek medical attention is key -- you definitely wouldn't want to mistake the symptoms of a panic attack for something that is more serious and requires immediate care or emergency attention.

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