They have KFC in New Zealand? Damn, who'd of thunk?

Keep eating that shit and you will have a heart attack!

What you describe is exactly how I was for years. I could have wrote this thread myself, minus the KFC thing. I am not a fan of their fried breaded poultry.

You probably understand this based on your words but I will say it anyway for those in the class that may not have been paying attention.

Almost ALL times people get palpitations is becasue of shallow breathing. Anxious people generally mouth breath in shallow breaths. Enough air doesn't make its way to those lungs of yours and then a palpitation happens. Said palpitation is scary so you begin to focus on it and that makes you even more anxious which causes more shallow breaths which causes more palpitations until you hyperventilate your way right into a glorious panic attack.

Wash. Rinse . Repeat

I still get palpitations. But when i get one I understand it is just my body saying "hey dumb ass, throw some air to us lungs down here." Then I do just that. And since I know why palpitations occur and understand they are completely normal for me and other folks who tend to be anxious, it does not scare me. No panic can come and the palps quickly stop.

When you feel one or one coming, don't deep breathe but just bring air in normally filling your lungs causing your stomach to rise and exhale normally out of your nose. That should do the trick!

There are a few here that could give you even better types of breathing advice techniques but unfortunately I am not one of them.

I am sure they will chime in.