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" Question I keep getting frequent heart palpitations. It normally happens when I am totally relaxed (often in bed).  My heart inexplicably switches from about 60 beats per minute to 170 beats per minute.  The sensation is almost like a shot of adrenaline. It can actually wake me up from a sleep.  Even if my heart doesn&amp;amp;#8217;t speed up I still very often feel the same sensation that causes it to do so without the effect.  It is like there is a sudden counterattack, disallowing it from speeding up.  I can help the situation by taking a deep breath and holding it while effectively blowing on my thumb. This often slows my heart back down straight away.  However, it is really starting to worry me know as the symptoms are persisting and although I can do something to control it, I know it&amp;amp;#8217;s not right.  I have been to the doctor &amp;amp;#8211; he listened to my heart and told me it sounded ok, but advised me to lay off alcohol. I now have only been drinking maximum two beers a night.  The symptoms have lasted 10 days now. What is your advice?   Answer You have given a good description of your symptoms and it sounds as if you are having paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.  This is a fancy way of saying that some minor electrical disturbance of the conduction mechanism that regulates your heartbeat and sets it off beating very rapidly.  You have discovered that a form of the Valsalva manoeuvre &amp;amp;#8211; closing your mouth and nose and blowing hard &amp;amp;#8211; makes it stop, which is a well-recognised technique.  It works because this action stimulates the vagus nerve that helps control heart rate and slows it down.  In young and fit people this form of tachycardia (that&amp;#039;s the medical term for fast heart rate) does not usually do any harm, but it can be distressing, especially if it occurs frequently, disturbs sleep, or goes on for a long time.  You have had this for a couple of weeks, and it may well go away on its own very soon and not come back.  Your doctor suggested stopping alcohol and I think it would be a good idea to also stop taking coffee and tea in any more than minimal quantities, because they contain caffeine and this can be an irritant to the heart.  Don&amp;#039;t forget that some soft drinks like cola also have caffeine in them.  If it does not settle down, then go back to your doctor. I expect he or she will do an ECG, (electrocardiogram) which is rarely abnormal, and may give you more advice or a tablet like a beta-blocker for a short time that may abolish the attacks.  In the unlikely event that they continue, it is possible to be fitted with a special type of portable ECG device that will record the electrical activity of your heart while you are having an attack, and this can help pinpoint the diagnosis.  This usually means referral to hospital.  Don&amp;#039;t worry about this. It is not life threatening, nor does it mean you have a weak heart. It is more a nuisance, but I am sure one you would rather do without.  In my experience, most young patients who present with this problem find that it settles down after a few weeks and rarely bothers them again.  I hope you find that this is the case. Yours sincerely The NetDoctor Medical Team   Other Qs &amp;amp; As How are heart palpitations investigated? I am experiencing palpitations &amp;amp;#8211; should I be worried I have suffered from palpitations for more than 20 years I seem to get palpitations in the evenings Palpitations Palpitations Palpitations in my chest Should I consult my doctor again about my heart palpitations? Strong palpitations   Last updated 23.11.2014 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ask-the-expert/heart-and-blood/a883/heart-palpitations/>