Are These Heart Palputations?

[amber-rose]

Hi. I'm 14 yrs. old, and I've been doing great on the glute-free diet for about 4 months after being diagnosed with celiac disease. I was laying in bed today, watching tv, and browsing around on my computer. All of a sudden, my heart felt weird, and it would have like a big thump, then a tiny thump. But then it'd be normal...then a couple mins. later the same thing. The last couple days, I've been getting dizzy too...and sometimes I think that I'm going to pass out. I do take a multivitamin and B complex every morning, so I dont think I'm anemic. Thanks for all the help!

[Ursa Major]

How do you know you're not anemic, have you had your iron levels checked? Yes, those sound like heart palpitations. They could be caused by quite a few things. Some of them could be anemia, a lack of magnesium or potassium, or a combination of those (and I'm probably forgetting some things).

You need to have your levels of those essential nutrients checked. Don't dismiss your heart palpitations as something that will just 'go away'. See your doctor, and ask him/her to do some bloodwork to check your ferretin, magnesium, calcium and potassium levels, as well as vitamin B12, K and D. Those are often very low in people with celiac disease.

[amber-rose]

K, thank you! I cant die from them can I? Because everyone is sleeping, and they feel really weird. I've never gotten them before.

[LKelly8]

I get heart thumps occasionally too, I have PVCs. I've had them at night and it's a weird feeling to wake up to that thud/flup . You should see your family doctor to find out why you're so fatigued though and to rule out anything more serious.

From the American Heart Assoc. website:

Premature ventricular contraction (PVC)

Premature beats or extra beats most often cause irregular heart rhythms. Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) start in the ventricles. If you've ever felt your heart "skip a beat," it was probably from this type of arrhythmia. The heart doesn't really skip a beat. Instead an extra beat comes sooner than normal. Then there's a pause that causes the next beat to be more forceful. You felt this more-forceful beat.

Premature beats are very common in normal children and teenagers — most people have them at some time. Usually no cause can be found and no special treatment is needed. The premature beats may disappear later. Occasionally premature beats may be caused by disease or injury to the heart. Your doctor may recommend more tests to make sure your heart is OK.

[Nancym]

Yeah, sounds like palpitations. They're usually harmless but can be a symptom of Graves disease, which means your thyroid is over active. Also, some people who are sensitive to caffeine get them when drinking coffee or soda's that have caffeine. And perhaps some other conditions as well. Be sure to get your parents to take you to a doctor if they don't go away and stay away.

[Ursa Major]

Really, low levels of some nutrients, specifically iron, magnesium or potassium will cause arrhythmias. They were just awful and constant last year when my potassium was low (and a doctor told me that was the cause of my palpitations).

You seriously need your levels of those things I listed checked. Everybody who has just been diagnosed with celiac disease should have those checked, to know what they need to supplement with. That's how I found out I was low on vitamin D. If you're low on vitamin D, your body can't take up calcium and magnesium, which will eventually lead to osteoporosis.

You won't die from heart palpitations. But they could signal a deficiency.

[covsooze]

In the run up to being diagnosed, I got palpitations more and more. Now that I've been gluten-free for 8 months, I'm getting them a lot less. I am anemic and I think that was part of it, but I also think I got them when I'd had gluten. I think it can also be an allergic reaction. Try not to worry overly about it cos that'll just make you more aware of it. But do get checked for deficiencies as Ursula said. It's really common for coeliacs to be anaemic and it can take a while of taking iron and of being gluten-free to get it right. If you are aneamic, chances are there won't be enough iron in a multi-vit to improve things sufficiently.

((hugs))