$Unique_ID{BRK01247}
$Pretitle{Circulatory System}
$Title{Irregular Heartbeat Anxiety}
$Subject{heart beat irregular anxiety}
$Volume{G-3}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Irregular Heartbeat Anxiety


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QUESTION:  My doctor has discovered that I have an irregular heart beat.  It
has been causing me a great deal of distress and worry.  I can't even sleep.
Can you please advise me what to do before I go completely nuts?

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ANSWER:  The first thing to do if you think you have an irregular heartbeat,
or arrhythmia, and haven't seen a doctor, is see a doctor.  Now, you're
already under a physician's care, so you have taken that important first step.
     Learning you have an irregular heartbeat, is stressful.  It is normal to
feel anxious if a physician has told you that you have a health problem and
that you can't do too much about it.  Some patients show anxiety by keeping
constant track of their heartbeat or may fear going to sleep in case their
heart stops.  Others try to deny anything is wrong and want to stop all
testing.  Anxiety in some can be so severe that they panic and their heart
condition is made worse.
     Many patients become depressed in this kind of situation, which is to be
expected to a certain extent when a previously healthy person learns they have
a chronic illness.  Symptoms of depression may include irritability, loss of
appetite, lack of energy, and difficulty in getting to sleep.  Usually,
depression diminishes with time as the patient adapts.
     Both anxiety and depression can be helped with therapy and, in some
cases, medication.  In severe cases a psychiatrist or psychologist may be
needed to help you learn to cope with the state of your health.  It is not a
sign of weakness or instability to see a psychiatrist.  One of their functions
is to help the mentally well stay that way, during a time of stress.  A mental
health professional can also help you learn relaxation techniques and other
behavior modifications such as self-hypnosis that may reduce your levels of
anxiety.
     Medications help many people cope with anxiety and depression, but these
must be chosen carefully to ensure they do not interfere with the drugs being
used to treat the heart.
     Diagnosing your arrhythmia condition and treating it will usually mean a
series of tests that may or may not show anything and perhaps trials with
various medications, some of which may help and some of which won't.  If
medication fails, a pacemaker may be considered.  There is a lot fine tuning
necessary to achieve just the right balance of medication to reduce the
anxiety provoking beating of the heart to a point you can accept.  You need to
understand as much about your condition as possible and about the potential
frustrations of your treatment regimen.  No one said you had to like it, but
knowing what is happening will help you cope with it.  Keeping a positive
attitude can be almost as helpful as any medication I might suggest.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
