@A myPHteam Member you make a great point. When you feel like your heart is beating rapidly and you're short of breath it makes you feel anxious, but it isn't anxiety. I explained this to my cardiologist after he suggested what I was feeling might be anxiety. In no uncertain words I told him I know what anxiety feels like and what I was experiencing certainly wasn't anxiety. After additional testing I felt validated when the cardiologist arrived at a diagnosis of dysautonomia. It took a lot of persistence on my part and a couple of years, but I finally was diagnosed with a condition I knew I had for over 2 years.

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A myPHtea...

Hi Steve, I agree with the above but I found sustained pounding palpitations, including what felt like long pauses between beats the most disconcerting. I had it for months on end following my second Covid infection.
I had several investigations but was offered no explanation. I don't think the medics realized at that time that they could be caused by Covid.
I think it's probably worth consulting a medic and possibly having an ECG done as there are a number of types of arrhythmia ranging from inconsequential to best to treat it.

Boy, SOB and Rapid heart rate are both horrible. Its mainly the anxiety along with the rapid heart rate that is the worst. I volunteered at Stanford for a study on Breadths effect on anxiety and they trained me on how to control my breadth to treat anxiety. It has been very useful in my life.

I think SOB and heart paps go hand in hand . I feel like I can't breathe until my heart settles down. So slow deep breathes help me.

Steven, all of the above. It seems the rapid heart rate, heart palpitations, and sob go together. It's more worrisome at night. It feels like an anxiety attack, but it isn't. Sometimes, it causes nightmares. Because of the shortness of breath, my mind thinks I'm in danger. Even with my cpap (which I wear faithfully), I wake up scared for no reason. I know it's the heart palpitations and sob. I take deep breaths, and it settles down. Not resting at night causes more sob and heart palpitations through the day. What a circle of events! But I'm learning what to do when this happens. I'm not sure the Dr's understand the difference between heart and breathing issues and anxiety. There are probably a lot of people walking around on antidepressants who just need a good cardiologist or pulmonogist! (Been there and done that!) Thanks for the question! I know others feel this too. ❤️