Freethought & Rationalism Archive

MzNeko · 03-31-2003, 09:28 AM

I have a question that the more medically-minded folk might be able to answer.

This is something that comes to mind about once a week or so while I drive on southern California freeways to and from work.

When something suddenly scares the crap out of you, like a close call in traffic for instance - that feeling like your heart just did a backflip inside your chest cavity� what is actually going on, physically?

Is it an extra-hard beat as the adrenaline hits your heart? Is it your chest muscles tightening up suddenly? I assume it�s NOT my heart actually doing gymnastics in there.

Just curious.

Oooops! I meant to post this to Science/Skepticism! DOH!
Mods, if you would...

trunks2k · 03-31-2003, 09:49 AM

I'm not a medical expert so don't listen to me, but I would expect that feeling is your heart beating really fast, really hard.

MzNeko · 03-31-2003, 10:20 AM

Could be, but I notice that my heart is beating very fast and very hard after that lurching feeling. Then again, maybe that sensation is the heart "shifting gears" to suddenly speed up.

Darned unpleasant, anyway...

ps418 · 03-31-2003, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MzNeko
I have a question that the more medically-minded folk might be able to answer.

This is something that comes to mind about once a week or so while I drive on southern California freeways to and from work.

When something suddenly scares the crap out of you, like a close call in traffic for instance - that feeling like your heart just did a backflip inside your chest cavity� what is actually going on, physically?

Is it an extra-hard beat as the adrenaline hits your heart? Is it your chest muscles tightening up suddenly? I assume it�s NOT my heart actually doing gymnastics in there.

Yes, its your heart responding to a big release of adrenaline. Take it from someone whose heart performs plenty of gymnastics. I have such very hard heart palpitations frequently (I have a leaky mitral valve).

Patrick

Doubting Didymus · 03-31-2003, 02:13 PM

What's that vaguely painful stinging feeling you get in your feet and lower shin when you almost, but not quite, slip over on a waxed floor?

Oolon Colluphid · 04-01-2003, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Doubting Didymus
What's that vaguely painful stinging feeling you get in your feet and lower shin when you almost, but not quite, slip over on a waxed floor?

Dunno. I'd guess it'd be the muscles in those bits tightening up very hard very fast...?

DT

scigirl · 04-02-2003, 08:25 AM

Epinephrine (aka adrenaline).

It does a bunch of stuff - mainly makes your heart beat faster, and stronger, so that cardiac output is increased. It speeds up the heart rate by telling the pacemaker cells to fire faster (which it does by inhibiting the parasympathetic nerves). It tells the heart to beat stronger by acting on the muscle cells themselves. That's the short answer - if you want the long answer, come to school with me and you'll learn more than you ever wanted to know about epi and norepi!!

scigirl

Godot · 04-03-2003, 04:03 AM

It's called the "fight or flight response". Or if you prefer, stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system.
Apart from scigirl's response, what happens is a physiological reaction that occurs when an unexpected stimulus is directed towards an individual. Because the stimulus is unexpected and of unknown origin, the body is unsure how to deal with it. As a result, sympathetic nerves start firing and the adrenal glands go into overdrive.
The purpose is protective for the life of the organism; all this go juice flowing through the body is there just in case you have to make a runner or defend yourself.
Hope that's sufficient and not too patronising.

MzNeko · 04-03-2003, 11:19 AM

Wow, all this from me thinking "Gee, I wonder what that nasty feeling really is?"

It's a sensation that I experience about once every couple of weeks or so - the daily drive to work can be... interesting...

Even though it was largely an idle question, I appreciate getting non-idle answers. I really was curious, after all.

03-31-2003, 09:28 AM	#1
MzNeko Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Long Beach, California Posts: 1,127	Fear! I have a question that the more medically-minded folk might be able to answer. This is something that comes to mind about once a week or so while I drive on southern California freeways to and from work. When something suddenly scares the crap out of you, like a close call in traffic for instance - that feeling like your heart just did a backflip inside your chest cavity� what is actually going on, physically? Is it an extra-hard beat as the adrenaline hits your heart? Is it your chest muscles tightening up suddenly? I assume it�s NOT my heart actually doing gymnastics in there. Just curious. Oooops! I meant to post this to Science/Skepticism! DOH! Mods, if you would...

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

03-31-2003, 09:49 AM	#2
trunks2k Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 6,997	I'm not a medical expert so don't listen to me, but I would expect that feeling is your heart beating really fast, really hard.

03-31-2003, 10:20 AM	#3
MzNeko Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Long Beach, California Posts: 1,127	Could be, but I notice that my heart is beating very fast and very hard after that lurching feeling. Then again, maybe that sensation is the heart "shifting gears" to suddenly speed up. Darned unpleasant, anyway...

03-31-2003, 02:13 PM	#5
Doubting Didymus Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: East Coast. Australia. Posts: 5,455	What's that vaguely painful stinging feeling you get in your feet and lower shin when you almost, but not quite, slip over on a waxed floor?

04-02-2003, 08:25 AM	#7
scigirl Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Seattle Posts: 4,261	Epinephrine (aka adrenaline). It does a bunch of stuff - mainly makes your heart beat faster, and stronger, so that cardiac output is increased. It speeds up the heart rate by telling the pacemaker cells to fire faster (which it does by inhibiting the parasympathetic nerves). It tells the heart to beat stronger by acting on the muscle cells themselves. That's the short answer - if you want the long answer, come to school with me and you'll learn more than you ever wanted to know about epi and norepi!! scigirl

04-03-2003, 04:03 AM	#8
Godot Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,335	It's called the "fight or flight response". Or if you prefer, stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. Apart from scigirl's response, what happens is a physiological reaction that occurs when an unexpected stimulus is directed towards an individual. Because the stimulus is unexpected and of unknown origin, the body is unsure how to deal with it. As a result, sympathetic nerves start firing and the adrenal glands go into overdrive. The purpose is protective for the life of the organism; all this go juice flowing through the body is there just in case you have to make a runner or defend yourself. Hope that's sufficient and not too patronising.

04-03-2003, 11:19 AM	#9
MzNeko Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Long Beach, California Posts: 1,127	Wow, all this from me thinking "Gee, I wonder what that nasty feeling really is?" It's a sensation that I experience about once every couple of weeks or so - the daily drive to work can be... interesting... Even though it was largely an idle question, I appreciate getting non-idle answers. I really was curious, after all.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.