High heart rate when walking.

[ETHEL103]

Before A fib my heart rate on walking didn't go above a hundred, I have notice the pat few weeks it will climb to 180 on a flat walk of about 3 miles. Is this pushing too far. I'm not breathless and can still talk and no chest discomfort. Thanks

[BobD Volunteer]

I am suspicious of how you are taking that rate. 180 if real with no breathlessness and still able to talk seems very unlikely.

[ETHEL103 in reply to BobD]

I have a new amazfit watch. It says my HR is 180. Not all the time but its constantly over 120.

[Kaz747 in reply to ETHEL103]

I’m not sure about that watch but I know with my Fitbit, the heart measurement isn’t always accurate, especially when in AF so I’d try taking your pulse manually or use a phone app or a Kardia if you have one. As Bob said, it would be unusual not to feel breathless or uncomfortable at 180bpm.

[ETHEL103 in reply to Kaz747]

Hi I have a Kardia at home but of course my heart rate has dropped by the end of my walk.

[Kaz747 in reply to ETHEL103]

That's always the way 😉

[CakeMaker70]

Do you have access to a cardiac nurse? I’m in the West Midlands and any time I have a heart query, I have a phone number or email of the cardiac nurses at the hospital. The reason I am asking is, like you, before my ablation, when walking my heart rate could go sky high but I would feel fine. I actually had atrial flutter and was having an episode of AFlutter when this happened. If you do have access to cardiac nurses my advice would be to contact them just to have it on record that this is happening. I think it’s just part and parcel of the conditions that we have. I know when I spoke to the nurses they were very reassuring but obviously if you are concerned then a medical person is best placed to advise. Take care

[Billiam54]

Good Morning Ethel103. Are you in Afib at the minute? I row for cardio vascular fitness and when I'm in Afib my heart rate rises to 180 sometimes higher after a couple of minutes, yet when I am in SR my HR rarely goes above 160 even after twenty minutes of rowing at a brisk pace. Some wrist heart monitors can be inaccurate particularly when the wearer is in AF, have you thought about wearing a chest strap heart monitor? These measure heart rate in a different way and are much more accurate. Hope this helps

[ETHEL103 in reply to Billiam54]

Thankyou for your reply. Yes I am in persistent a fib now. Waiting for CV.

[Billiam54 in reply to ETHEL103]

Hi Ethel, It was the same for me, I was in persistent AF when I encountered the high heart rates during exercise. I was also not breathless and could train much the same as I do when in SR. I wear a Coros wrist watch/heart rate monitor, during my last ECG I carried out a comparison check and it was pretty much bang on. Unfortunately when I row it is not so accurate which is why I wear a Polar H10 chest strap. We're all different and as with RoyMacdonald the chest monitor performs admirably. Good luck with the CV.

[Snookersteve]

Hi Ethel, I use a Wahoo Tickr Fit armband (cost about £65) and it seems to give fairly accurate heart rate readings whether in AF or not. It is only for heart rate monitoring but is a well known make and quite reliable. I use it for walking, jogging, rowing machine and exercise bike. I also have a polar OH1 armband which is another well known make. I think it may be worth obtaining a well known trusted brand. I have never heard of amazfit and it sounds as though it is giving you unreliable heart rate readings perhaps due to AF. Don't get a heart rate strap because AF really confuses these (where you place the strap around your chest) an armband is much better in my experience when you have AF.

[Ducky2003]

As mentioned previously, I would be very surprised if you didn't feel any effects from a pulse of 180. I have a Fitbit Versa 2 and sometimes it shows a slower pulse than I can feel as AF can confuse the watch.

[tunybgur]

Hi Ethel,I had a heart attack several years ago and about 2 months after I started getting a very similar problem.

In my case I used to go out walking for cardio rehab exercise and suddenly for no apparent reason my HR would go up to 150-180.

My ticker was genuinely at this rate because apart from my HR monitor I used to check the pulse at my wrist to confirm it. Like you I felt fine and there were no other symptoms. On resting it returned to normal very quickly.

Have you done this to make sure it isn't your HR monitor giving you incorrect readings?

My problem was possibly because scar tissue had formed on the damaged part of my heart and disrupted the electrical pathways, I've no idea what could have caused your issue, you need it checked out professionally, but it may be difficult to track down as it's occasional.

Anyway, mine was quickly fixed by a tiny dose of bisoprolol, 1.25mg.

I wasn't originally put on a beta blocker after my HA because my resting HR was naturally low at 50. The bisoprolol dropped it to 45 where it has remained ever since, and the tachycardia attacks are now history.

Good luck

[RoyMacDonald]

I have SVT and my heart rate can go to 240 during exercise without me feeling any effects as long as it is not at that rate for too long. I can tolerate 180 for about an hour without feeling any effects or breathlessness. But of course it's only a part of the heart that is generating that pulse rate reading. I use a Garmin chest strap monitor and that was how the hospital detected the SVT originally. I was prescribed 5mg Apixaban twice a day to avoid my heart producing blood clots. I'm 77.

[ETHEL103 in reply to RoyMacDonald]

Thankyou for your reply.

[Singwell]

I think generally speaking at our age sitting at 180 BPM isn't a good thing but it does sound like the HR monitor might be an issue and - as others have said - if you're in permanent AF then you'll tend to get higher readings when exercising. I'd say it's wise to get this checked out.

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi. It depends how fast the heart beat returns to normal.

How is your BP?

My A.F comes with exertion or rest after exertion.

I am now on Diliazem 120mg a.m and Bisoprolol at night.

It seems to stat balanced and I am 2 weeks after. No breathlessness on 156 but had to stop for my heart pump to catch up.

I guess you are using the WATCH. I dont I use a Microlife BP machine which has beem checked.

Wish me the best with another 24hr monitoring tomorrow with ECG first. ON NEW Calcium Channel Blocker.

cheers JOY