When exercising or when Im stressed mainly but sometimes also just getting up from lying down my heart feels heavy and I find myself having to take deep breaths. Lately I have also been feeling very light headed and dizzy with a slight headache. Any ideas what it might be?
Hello! Thank you for asking on Chat Doctor! I read your question carefully and would like to explain that your symptoms seem to be related to low blood pressure or orthostatic hypotension. A chronic anemia could also mimic this clinical scenario. Have you measured your blood pressure during these episodes? I recommend to closely monitor your blood pressure during sitting and standing up position. A decrease more than 20 mm HG in your systolic blood pressure during standing up position, compared with sitting position would indicate an orthostatic hypotension. I would advise consulting with your GP for a careful physical examination, a resting ECG and some blood lab tests: - complete blood count-fasting glucose-blood electrolytes- kidney and liver function tests-thyroid hormone levels to exclude other possible metabolic causes. A head up tilt tests would be necessary to rule in/out a possible orthostatic hypotension. Meanwhile, I recommend taking plenty of fluids (water, juices) and avoid deny Chat Doctor.  Hope to have been helpful! Greetings!