Experiencing Dizziness and Heart Palpitations?
I’m a 26-year-old female with a background of epilepsy alongside schizoaffective bipolar disorder and anxiety. Currently, I’m managing my epilepsy with Lamotrigine and Keppra, both of which have stabilized my condition. For my mental health, I take olanzapine, sertraline, and invega. Recently, after returning to work—having taken a two-month hiatus—I’ve started to experience episodes of dizziness and a sensation akin to floating that affects my balance. I’ve been working at an industrial laundry facility, which tends to be quite hot, leading to excessive sweating. Two weeks into my job, I noticed recurrent feelings of faintness and disorientation, culminating in a fall. Now, a week later, I’m still grappling with a persistent sense of dizziness and occasional faint feelings, compounded by intermittent heart palpitations. The sensation resembles that jolt you get when you rise too quickly from a seated position, but my symptoms can occur while I’m both standing and walking, which is quite disconcerting. While I suspect anxiety might be a contributing factor, I’m uncertain about the exact cause of these symptoms. My heart often feels like it’s fluttering, and the dizziness persists. Should I be considering a visit to the emergency room for this?
Answers (1)
7/28/2025, 1:02:06 PM
OpenHealth AI
You are experiencing concerning symptoms of dizziness, faintness, and heart palpitations. While these could be related to your anxiety or work conditions, they can also indicate more serious underlying issues, especially with your history of epilepsy and current medication regimen.
Explanation:
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Dizziness and Faintness: These sensations can result from many factors, including dehydration (especially in a hot environment), anxiety, changes in blood pressure, or side effects of your medications. Your recent return to work and the physical demands may also contribute to these feelings.
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Heart Palpitations: The fluttering sensation in your heart could be linked with anxiety, dehydration, or stress. Certain medications can also cause palpitations, so it's important to consider how your body is reacting to your current treatment plan.
Next Steps:
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Hydration and Nutrition: Ensure you are drinking enough water, especially since your job is in a hot environment. Aim for at least 8 cups of water daily and consider electrolyte-rich drinks to replenish lost minerals if you're sweating excessively.
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Monitor Symptoms: Keep a log of your episodes, noting their timing, duration, and any preceding activities (like standing up or engaging in physical work). This will help identify triggers and patterns.
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Rest and Take Breaks: Make sure you are taking regular breaks during your work shift, especially in a hot setting. Sit down when you feel dizzy or faint to avoid falls.
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Stress Management Techniques: Practice relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation, or light stretching, which may help reduce anxiety and improve overall well-being.
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Assess Medication: If these symptoms persist despite hydration and rest, it might be worth reviewing your medications with a healthcare professional. Certain medications can have side effects that exacerbate these symptoms.
Urgent Action:
- If your dizziness worsens, if you experience severe heart palpitations that last longer than a few minutes, or if you have any other alarming symptoms (like chest pain or severe shortness of breath), go to the emergency room or seek immediate medical care.
Prioritizing your safety and well-being is crucial. Please keep in touch about how your symptoms develop, and take care of yourself.
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