Chest Pains Linked to Caffeine Sensitivity
Chest pain is serious in any form. Adjust your coffee intake and avoid a trip to the doctor. I rushed to the Emergency thinking I had a heart attack the night before. The cause was not what I had expected.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and this article should not be used to treat or diagnose an illness. If you are having chest pains you should see a doctor immediately. The information included within this article is based on my particular case and should be used for informational purposes only.
Symptoms:
Your heart “aches”.
Pulling across your chest
You can feel your heartbeat irregularly for a few seconds . Called “palpatations”
Your heartbeat suddenly startles you
Laying on your left side is uncomfortable
What My Doctor Says:
Too much caffeine and/or energy drinks (Commonly coupled with stress or lack of sleep)
Potential Damage:
A constant, abnormally fast heartbeat can cause muscle damage within the heart, over time.
Other Harmful Drinks:
Energy drinks
Iced Tea
Mountain Dew and Jolt Cola
Coffee
Anything with caffeine, guarana, ginseng and especially taurine
Weight loss (metabolism) pills
Additionally, you may find that some energy drinks do not cause you any symptoms of caffiene sensitivity. For example, I can drink RedBull without feeling symptoms of caffiene sensitivity, but the other fore-named drinks cause symptoms for me.
The Fix:
Drink ”half caffeine” coffee. Your local coffee spot will be glad to make you a “1/2 caff” version of your favorite,
Drink only Decaf. (This was my doctor’s orders)
Avoid the above mentioned drinks and stick with water and non-caffienated soda.
My Trip To The ER
I checked in to the Emergency room complaining of severe “electrical” chest pains I had the night before. They only lasted a second but were terrifying. They took me in right away for an EKG.
My heart rhythm was abnormally fast even after an hour into the EKG.
The doctor asked, “Did you have coffee this morning?” I answered “Yes?” I wondered why this mattered to my case.
She asked, “Do you drink a lot of coffee?” I answered her nosy question…”Yes, about a pot or 2 per day.”
“Ahhhh”, the doctor said, and then asked me to “bear down” like giving childbirth. I did. She had me hold it for what seemed like forever (only 10 seconds or so). When she finally told me to relax I felt my heart jump out of my chest.
After that, my heart rate was normal. I had “tricked” my heart back into a normal rhythm after charging it with mega caffeine for years. The doctor said, “If you ever feel like your heart is pounding out of control, “bear down”. By doing this, you can reset your heart’s rhythm”.
Of course I felt very silly for running to the Emergency Room due a “caffiene overdose”. The doctor said that if my heart rate had stayed that way for much longer, I would have done long-term damage to it.
Please seek medical attention for chest pains. This article is meant for information regarding sensitivity to caffiene.
You may also be interested in: AFP Screen for Later-In-Life Expectant Mothers
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Jo Oliver | Mar 10, 2009 | Reply
a pot or two….Now, you know better! I want you around to write….I hope you have curbed that
Andromeda | Mar 10, 2009 | Reply
Thanks Jo, Yeah with studies I would just keep getting up to fill my cup. Scary stuff.
FOREVER POETRY | Aug 12, 2009 | Reply
I HAVE TO ASK YOU TO DESCRIBE THIS BEARING DOWN POSITION. I THINK I WANT TO TRY IT, AS I HAVE BEEN DRINKING LARGE QUANTITIES OF CAFFEINE MY WHOLE LIFE
Andromeda | Aug 23, 2009 | Reply
So sorry for the late response Forever Poetry.
“Bearing down” would be the same as when you’re on the potty and you know you need to go # 2, but can’t, so you push. Sorry for the description, but it’s the same thing. You should be holding your breath if you’re pushing correctly.
mike | Nov 13, 2009 | Reply
Hi
I think there are people who are susceptible to the effects of these extreme energy drinks and dont realise the effects until they finally go to the hospital etc.Especially mixing alcohol with caffeine. Just look at what the kids can now buy from local stores – tiny 60ml shots with 200mg caffeine!
I dont drink coffee but have drunk 1 355ml bottle of V energy drink a day for a few years.
Recently I had bad heart palpitations which would go on and on for hours,starting and stopping so I couldnt sleep. It was horrible-the hospital said to quit drinking the energy drinks and reduce my stress.
I quit V, and now drink a can of coke instead in the morning and one at dinnertime-I still get the odd one or two irregular beats but no where near as bad.
Im guessing Im so addicted Il have to keep drinkn coke as a substitute for quite some time. Atleast thats about 5 x less than a V has.
Ive noticed that If I now drink any more caffeine than that I get racing – as if I now have a caffeine sensitivity – I guess il have to start drinking green tea or similar!
Mike
NZ