Concerns About Heart Palpitations and Shortness of Breath - #29039
I am 22 years old, male, 185cm 95kg (I workout, so its mostly muscle). I've been active my whole lifeand I've never had a problem with health. In september 2025, I had a span of time where I wasnt sleeping a lot, but I was working a lot on my pc,and I was awake for a long time.A bit prior to that I started using oral minoxidil pills,since I have problems with male pattern baldness, it wasnt prescribed by a doctor, I started using it by myself. I felt that my heart skipped a bit,like it glitched, and I had high blood pressure, but I "thuged" it out. That night, I didnt sleep again since I was working on something and tomorrow morning it happened again, but this time I had naussea, and I went to the ER, for high blood preassure, 160/100, they did EKG, I went to multiple doctors, they said I was fine but the problem was the fact that I didn't sleep. I told them about the pills but they said its not that. I stopped using it, and for this new year, 2025, I went to Poland with my friend, and I wasnt sleeping a lot, but I was drinking alot since we were going out, and we were active during the day, visiting places and stuff.On the last day, 7th, I didnt drink cuz I felt weak, and I felt my heart skip a beat again, not as hard as the last time, but I went back home, just to be cautious. My heart started pounding faster and I assume it was placebo, I go to the ER in Poland and they did EKG, they said I have arrythmia. I was in shock since I said that this happened before and doctos didnt find anything. I went back home, since then I felt like I was short breathed sometimes, maybe placebo again but I dont know. From january I started taking oral minoxidil again, it did wonders to my hair, its been 2 months and I see insane results, and I think this is not happening cuz of those pills, since It happend to me for New Years when I wanst using it. Besides being short breathed, I feel fine, heart MAYBE sometimes beats a bit faster but its not that significant, I assume its normal. Whats your take on this?
How often do you experience heart palpitations?:
- RarelyHave you noticed any specific triggers for your shortness of breath?:
- Physical activityHow would you rate your overall sleep quality since your last episode?:
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Doctors' responses
Hello
Your symptoms are most likely related to lack of sleep, stress, alcohol, and possibly oral minoxidil, but since an ER once documented arrhythmia, you should get a proper heart evaluation rather than ignore it. It does not sound immediately dangerous, but it should be checked.
Oral Minoxidil can sometimes cause palpitations, fluid retention, and changes in heart rate or blood pressure, especially when taken without medical supervision. The pattern you described—episodes during sleep deprivation, heavy work, alcohol use, and restarting the medication—fits common triggers for benign arrhythmias, but we cannot assume that without testing.
At age 22 and physically active, serious heart disease is unlikely, but recurrent palpitations plus shortness of breath with exertion is a reason to do a few standard checks: a repeat ECG, an echocardiogram, and ideally a 24-hour Holter monitor. These tests look for intermittent rhythm problems that a single ER ECG can miss.
For now, the practical take: if symptoms are mild and rare, this is usually not an emergency, but continuing oral minoxidil without a doctor while having heart-related symptoms is not advisable. Consider pausing it until you are evaluated.
Seek urgent care immediately if you develop chest pain, fainting, severe shortness of breath at rest, heart rate persistently above about 120 at rest, or blood pressure repeatedly around 160/100 again.
If you want, tell me the dose of oral minoxidil you are taking (for example 2.5 mg, 5 mg, etc.), and whether you have measured your resting heart rate recently.
Take care Regards
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