Since being on my new supplements - I have been keeping good track of my heart rate to make sure the new nutrients are not hurting me in anyway in regards to my tachycardia.

This afternoon I got up from the couch to do some squats and felt my heart race more than normal. I checked it and it was about 120 after only about 10 squats. I walk about 2 miles a day on my treadmill, so I am not completely out of shape.

I sat down and took it again and within a minute it was back to its normal 75-80. I got up and walked to the other room and it went to 110. Just walking slowly. I sat down and it was immediatly back to 80.

My question is...is it okay, normal, bad or good for it to so quickly go from slow to fast to slow??

I am still taking my metoprolol. But I am down to 12.5mg twice a day. I did notice a bit of an increase when I went down to this dose - but it was still normal range. Before this - I was in the 50s and 60s resting.

I cannot seem to get used to my heart beating any faster than 70s. Even when it is 80s I feel weird. How do I get over this?? It is such a fear of mine that the tachy will come back.

Thanks for listening and any advice or suggestions would be so appreciated!!!

Heather

I'm 99% sure that sounds normal to me.

In feb i was went to the ER feeling like i was going to faint and my heart rate was 170-212 while laying in the bed. I know what it feels like. Mine was caused by fluid around my heart and in and around my lungs.

I'm thinking your worrying to much, but next time you see a doc ask about this.

Cheers,
How long have you been taking metoprolol? I am on the same meds exactly one year.
I really think it is anxiety. Since I hade 2 episodes, boy!! really scary, yes.
after that, all I did was WORRY and that can cause my heartrate to go up to 130 or 140. That is anxiety. tell yourself to relax and breathe, take long slow breaths....
Stop thinking about your heart.
An episodes can happen again, never know..... even on meds. I pray it doesn't especially if I am driving alone. That is my worst fear.
Exercise and get interested in other things.... will help.
Things will be better in time.

Hi Cheers,

You present a very interesting and physiological phenomonon:

I sat down and took it again and within a minute it was back to its normal 75-80. I got up and walked to the other room and it went to 110. Just walking slowly. I sat down and it was immediatly back to 80.

My question is...is it okay, normal, bad or good for it to so quickly go from slow to fast to slow??

I don't know if there is an answer, but it is unusual and may or may not be of any medical significance.

For some perspective, myocardial oxygen consumption is linearly related to heart rate and changes myocardial/oxygen level leads to alteration in coronary vascular resistance with great rapidity generally less than a minute.

With some vessel occlusion, there may be a change at the threshold of partial blockage by an increase in gradient pressure that rapidly changes the metobolic balance quickly causing vascular resistence thereby decreasing blood flow and increasing heart rate. Medication can offset.

The mechanism that links heart metabolic activity with coronary resistance and the response is called coronary reative hypermia. Adenosine is the chemical agent that links metabolically induced vasodilation to diminished coronary infusion. Production is increased during an imbalace of the supply/demand ratio for oxygen. An imbalance can occur with mental stress. Medication can have an influence.

Exercise causes dilatation of vessels with normal endothelium cells (lines vessel walls) and constriction has been confirmed with endothelium dysfunction.

The rapid decrease of your heart rate after exercising usually indicates fitness. But the rapid change of heart rate from rest and very mild exertion should not radically change myocardial demand for oxygen. Possibilities are a chemical imbalance, stress, structual damage to endothelium cells, medication, etc.

Have you had an EKG?

Hi Cheers,

You present a very interesting and physiological phenomonon:

Have you had an EKG?

Wow. I need a medical dictionary for a portion of that response lol!! I do appreciate it however!!

I have had several EKGs since being dx tachycardic 4 years ago. All normal. I have also had a 30 day event monitor, 24 holter monitor, echocardiogram, a stress echocardiogram, and A LOT of blood work. All normal. EF and all structure was great. My lipids are excellent. And when I inquired about the echo - they just told me that my heart looked beautiful and I had nothing to worry about. Yet...I still do.

I'm not sure of your prior history and why exactly you are on metoprolol, I assume that it is some sort of tachycardia. For years I have what they term "inappropriate sinus tachycardia" where my heart rate would just start racing up into the 150 & 160's for no reason. The past couple of years my heart rate would rise significantly from sitting to standing position. It would increase anywhere from 30 to 40 bpm and then would gradually slow back down, but never back to baseline until I were to sit or lie down. While exercising it would also increase, after eating and doing exercises such as squats (almost passed out once doing them). I have since been diagnosed with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome). I'm not sure if this is what might be bothering you, but you could always look it up the symptoms to see if it sounds similar to your symptoms.

I'm not sure of your prior history and why exactly you are on metoprolol, I assume that it is some sort of tachycardia. For years I have what they term "inappropriate sinus tachycardia" where my heart rate would just start racing up into the 150 & 160's for no reason. The past couple of years my heart rate would rise significantly from sitting to standing position. It would increase anywhere from 30 to 40 bpm and then would gradually slow back down, but never back to baseline until I were to sit or lie down. While exercising it would also increase, after eating and doing exercises such as squats (almost passed out once doing them). I have since been diagnosed with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome). I'm not sure if this is what might be bothering you, but you could always look it up the symptoms to see if it sounds similar to your symptoms.

Thanks for the response!!

I was first dx with SVT by a cardiologist when I went to the ER with a HR of 150+ sustained for over 5 hours. It did not go down until they finally gave me a beta blocker. Even though my 2 ekgs in the ER that day did NOT show SVT (but a very fast sinus rhythm) I was dx with SVT the next day anyway. I had had sx of tachycardia for many years. Gone to the ER and Dr many times prior to this with concerns about my heart. I was always sent home with a xanax and advise to see a psychologist. Which I did for over a decade. Then finally this occurance happened and I saw the cardiologist. Very frustrating to say the least.

Then I saw an EP Cardiologist just to be sure on the dx and treatment (she had me taking beta blockers daily - propranolol at the time). He said he saw nothing on my tests that showed anything that could or needed to be ablated and that I could quite possible have IST instead of SVT. He said it really didnt matter as they are both benign and treated the same. I have been on BBs ever since - tho I have gotten myself to a MUCH lower dose. I was even on them throughout my pregnancy.

I have looked into POTS and I do have MANY of the sx. I never had a tilt table test. Once I read about the treatments, I figured it really didnt matter if I was officially dx with it or not. Nothing would really be different. I did get an Ab Lounger for xmas 2 years ago and it made me SO dizzy. I called that my tilt table test. LOL. My mom thinks I am nuts...but it really did make me dizzy and icky feeling. So I sold it :)

So..that it that. May I ask - how do you treat your POTS?

You know POTS does suck because there really is no straight forward treatment. I have had 2 ablations to my SA node and now my heart rate doesn't ever get much higher than 140 bpm during my "episodes". Which is a blessing because during my pregnancy my heart rate never went below 100 (and that was while I was sleeping). I would also have periods of 150 bpm for hours on end. I have treated it with midodrine and florinef both of which had more side effects than benefits in my book, so I no longer take either of them. Right now I am maintained on 50 mg of metoprolol a day. I've learned to control my symptoms by watching what I am doing. My heart does not like the heat and so I try not to spend too much time in it. If I don't drink fluids consistently through the day I can feel my heart rate getting faster. Other things that affect me are: eating large meals quickly, sinus infections, colds and my menstrual period. Good luck with everything.

P.S. - Don't have the tilt table test it is not much fun when it is positive;)

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