tachycardia/running

[agavegrove]

I have a question regarding running and rapid heart rate.

I'm 29 and 165#. Before running my heart rt =100. After a brisk 5 minute walk it goes up to the 130s. After running a steady 9:30 per mile pace I often have a heart rate of 204. If I do sprint intervals in my 2 mile run I've clocked my pulse at near 250. Usually it gets back down to the 90s in a few hours. This is a normal occurence when I run and has occured for the last several years.

My systolic BP is usually mid-90s to <110. My last cholesterol check wasn't good (232). I don't know if those are factors or not.

Today it's holding at 100-120 and not going back down which is what prompted me to consult with everyone. No CP and mild SOB on exertion, otherwise just feeling it beat fast.

So.... What do you think? Should I be worried? Is it healthy in the longterm?

[ogomez]

get checked

I highly suggest getting a full cardio work up ASAP. We had a FF have the same problem and it was a signal conduction issue in her heart requirinf a simple procedure and now she is fine

[mitllesmertz1]

Stop, do not pass go, go directly to an MD for a workup prior to continuing any excercise programs.
Could be your out of shape.
Or could be worse.
I would need to look at a chart, but getting up into the 250's is rarely good.
And if your hr is 100 beofre ya start, thats not good either.

[agavegrove]

I just thought it was fast because my BP is low and the heart was beating fast to compensate for the low pressure (similar to when someone goes into shock). I know I'm taking my pulse right and counting my heart rate correctly. I'm a paramedic so I do it often
I heard if it decreases 10 beats within a minute of stopping activity (mine does) then the heart is healthy and everything's ok. Is that not accurate?

Sitting around yesterday and today it was ranging between 78 - 90. I hooked myself up to a 3-lead ECG and had a normal sinus rhythm. When I was lifting weights it got up to 134 but was normal shortly after stopping.

Nevertheless, I'll be calling the clinic in the morning. Thanks for your input. I'll keep ya'll updated.

[ALSfirefighter]

You can also try breathing techniques to help lower your heart rate. It is a tactical breathing technique I learned as a police officer and I use it and teach other firefighters to use it when under severe stressful situations.

breath in on a count of 4

hold it for a count of 4

exhale for a 4 count

hold for 4 count

and repeat the inhalation for a 4 count.

You should be able to literally feel your heart rate come down and you should feel more relaxed as you do it.

[agavegrove]

That breathing trick worked well. I used it at the station last night. Problem is I woke up when the tone went off and thought I slept through it

Here's what the PA at the clinic said: it may be a thyroid problem even though I have no family history or personal history of thyroid problems. Thursday I go back for a fasting thyroid test and blood work, followed some time later by a EKG and one of those 24hr portable monitors. I'll post back here when I get the results.

[agavegrove]

test results

Went to the clinic. Here's the rundown:

thyroid - normal
blood test normal - K, Na, blood gases, etc.
urine normal - no blood, no sugar
HDL normal, triglycerides low, LDL too high
EKG - one inverted P-wave, possible atrial ectopy

Next week: get a Holter monitor, wear it, and wait for the results. Possibly a stress echo later. Problem: my insurance won't pay for those so I have to :/

I was really hoping it was a thyroid problem because we would've started treating that and avoided the more expensive tests coming up.

Meanwhile I still have a physical agility test to prepare for...

[jkuhn22]

I know exactly what you are referring to. I was diagnosed with SVT Supraventricular tachycardia about 4 years ago when I was 18. While exercising my heart rate would rise to normal levels but then suddenly takeoff and hit over 250bpm. I would often start to blackout and everything would feel very distant. I never passed out and I could continue to workout and my heart rate would eventually drop back to normal. I visited my MD and he could not find anything, so I went for the ultrasound on my heart and still nothing. I was then set to the cardiologist and had a stress test done and everything went fine until I was resting and my heart rate took off. I was then sent to a specialist to have an EP study and ablation done to burn the extra electrical pathways in my heart. It took 3 different procedures to finally fix it, but it was well worth the trouble. The procedure was not bad at all, but it is still something you don't want to have done. Don't hesitate seeing your cardiologist!!! Here is a tip that should bring stop the rapid heart beat.....tense up your whole body kinda like you are trying force one out on the crapper. It works like a charm to stop that rapid heart beat. If you have any questions feel free to email me [email protected]

[Hazmat91180]

I have the same

I concur with jkuhn22. When I was in school, I would be sitting there and all of a sudden it would take off well into the 200's. I had my ablation done in 99, and all went well, until this past summer where I was experiencing it in softball.

I just got done with orientation with the department and my cardiologist would not sign off for me going into the service unless I A) got another ablation, or B) went on drugs. Although the surgery wasn't TOO painful, it still isn't fun, so I elected to go on drugs this time. The drug is a beta blocker, and also a calcium blocker which helps regulate the heart. You may want to discuss this with you cardiologist as well.

By the way, this second time around, my heart rate goes fast when exercise is involved, precisouly like yours now. Before it was not exercise induced and now it is, I give up.

Good news though, you still have a strong heart, weak hearts don't like beating at 250, it is just your electrical system.

[agavegrove]

Got my Holter monitor result this morning. Here's the rundown:
no ectopy, no S-T changes, no atrial problems, no ventricular problems. Slowest rate was 54, fastest rate was just over 200. For 2 hours out of 24 my heart rate was over 100. This was probably was around periods of exercise and other exertion. I ran hard per Dr's orders to get a read on what happens then and it didn't get too much above 200. So basically other than tachycardia on exertion, it was unremarkable. The cardiologist had no recommendations. The PA's going to talk to her medical director and see what he says. Next up is probably a stress echo. That's all for now. I'll keep ya'll posted.

[jkuhn22]

Don't get too discouraged about that lack of progress with the diagnosis. I took my doctors well over 2 years to finally figure out what was wrong and then to fix it. I know how frustrating all of this can be, but just hang in there.

[agavegrove]

cardiologist results

I was referred to a cardiologist. He had me do an ultrasound which came back completely normal. His opinion: the rate is fast, but there are no other indicators that say something is wrong. I may just be a person that has a fast rate and that's how I normally run.

For me lately: I get up to 188-196 just after running fast (sprint intervals, stairs/towers). So maybe up to 200 when I'm really running. I still hit the 130-140s when walking a brisk walk or lifting weights. Nothing over 210 since that one time. If nothing else I now know to watch my rate better.

I'm trying out for a FD and if I get to the medical physical, I hope a hr=200 on a treadmill test doesn't get me tossed. I'll be invoking the name of my cardiologist should they get suspicious