For the past year or so I've been experiencing extreme rapid heartbeat after consuming alcohol. I'm an occasional drinker (well, used to be) like on special occasions only. This rapid heartbeat will occur even after having one small drink. It scared me so bad that I will not touch alcohol with a ten foot pole - no matter what!
Does this sound like a symptom of heart failure or heart disease? I'm 30 years old and I'm a smoker. I also experience swelling of the calves and ankles after sitting at my desk all day at work.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
2006-09-12 16:31:35 · 18 answers · asked by bekkiboo31 4 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Heart Diseases
I don't think what you are experiencing was heart attack. But you might want to check with your doctor just to be safe.
2006-09-12 16:35:04 · answer #1 · answered by Bet 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Heart Failure (i.e., Congestive Heart Failure) is rarely seen in young people. It's a result of years of Hypertension damage (the heart becomes enlarged due to the pressure to keep pumping blood, and literally constricts itself to death). So that much you won't have to worry too much about at your age. If Hypertension isn't treated, MI ("heart attack"), CHF and Stroke will be the result.
Now Hypertension, yes, what you're describing with the swollen ankles and calves (edema) is a sign (I know, as that's what I suffer from).
BUT, like always medical diagnosis can't be done online. It's not only unethical even for MDs to do so, you'll be wide open for quackery. Play safe, and get checked by at least an Internal Medicine doctor (who's trained to spot a wide range of diseases); or a Cardiologist who specializes in diagnosing and treating any heart condition. The diagnosis tests aren't painful, so don't worry about that part. Mostly MRI, Nuclear imagining, some blood work, urine analysis, etc..
2006-09-14 03:17:55 · answer #2 · answered by SandyKIT 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your problem sounds more like the muscle-relaxing effect of alcohol to your vascular muscles is more severe. Rarely, alcohol consumption to some people causes symptomatic vaso-relaxation, obviously leading to vasodilation. When this happens your Blood Pressure will drop. In response to the drop in Blood Pressure the Heart Rate should rise, as a compensatory mechanism. That's when you will feel the fast heart rate.
In your legs you've got veins which return the blood back to the heart and lungs. In those veins there are valves which prevent blood back flow and fascilitate the venous blood return. I will assume due to the vasodilation caused by alcohol those valves will be less effective, and will obviously cause the swelling of your ankles , calves, and even your knees.
You might as well consider changing the type of drink.
2006-09-12 22:51:58 · answer #3 · answered by Diezel 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I do not know about the rapid heartbeat after drinking but I do know that you should see a doctor about the swelling in your calves and ankles. I had a heart attack at 36...a stent put in each leg about three months ago at age 47. It's nothing to mess around with. Go to your doctor and tell him/her your symptons and worries, even about the rapid heartbeat. Sometimes just putting worries into words helps. After my father was diagnosed with cancer I was taking a nitro pill every time I turned around, once I told my doctor about it it didn't happen again...relieved the stress just to be telling someone. Good luck!
2006-09-12 16:37:24 · answer #4 · answered by B. 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, the swelling of the legs is a cause for concern. It may be due to a variety of causes but usually it is a signal for poor circulation. However, CHECK THIS OUT WITH A DOCTOR.
Your smoking is a grave concern though. Smoking especially from an early age can cause hardening of the arteries and various other heart diseases.
2006-09-12 23:55:11 · answer #5 · answered by JPH 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Have you had your blood preasure and cholesterol checked?
This could just be an allergic reaction to the alcohol but as I just told someone else, don't ask an important question like this on here. This is your life we are talking about here, ask a professional, ask your doctor and if he isn't sure, he'll have tests done that will clarify what your problem is.
The swelling is not a good sign so you really should see your physician.
2006-09-12 16:36:27 · answer #6 · answered by nellie 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
There are so many different symptoms of heart failure.Even with some other health problems we think we have heart problem.They say that whenever there there is pain in your chest you should rush to hospital.We get pain in our chest all the times with heart burn,gas,tiredness and so many other reasons.Do not smoke.If you choose to drink,one glass wine is OK.You are 30 only.You should not put unnecessary burden on your mind by just thinking of heart problem.
2006-09-16 14:07:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Initially I'd say no but then you added the swelling. I wouldn't say its heart failure but I would say go see a doctor because these symptoms aren't good. They could be a sign of a dangerous problem
2006-09-12 16:35:14 · answer #8 · answered by Maimee 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Alcohol is an irritant to the heart and cause arrhthmias along with tobacco. Swelling of feet and legs could be due to your liver.
2006-09-13 03:00:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please go to see your GP and get a referral to a Cardiologist. Stop smoking as well as drinking. The symptoms you list occur in heart failure but they also appear in many other situations as well. At 30 you are so young. Hustle on down to the doctor(s) -- no reason to wait and thousands of reasons to hurry. Good luck to you.
2006-09-12 16:46:47 · answer #10 · answered by firstyearbabyboomer 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your symptoms sound like you may be experiencing an episode of atrial fibrillation. Alcohol is known to be a factor in a. fib. See below.
"Excessive alcohol consumption ("binge drinking" or "holiday heart") "
2006-09-12 18:28:37 · answer #11 · answered by Jim 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋