Heart rate fluctuates

[Xxcc]

Got into a state as heart rate was fluctuating between 58 and 78 last night while at rest. I am very sensitive to any changes in my heartbeat and am an anxious person about my heart. I was diagnosed back in March with paroxysmal A/F and started Bisoprolol and Apixaban. I have had echocardiogram which is fine. I've not had any bouts of A/F for months. Has anyone else had episodes of heart speeding up and slowing to normal whilst at rest? I'm ashamed to say I know the rates as I have a pulse oximeter, which I bought because my grandson had problems with respiratory issues when he was younger and we looked after him. He is OK now.

[Rainfern]

My heart rate skips right up the moment I have a worry! This was the same before I had AF and is the same now in persistent AF. It just beats at a higher rate than yours - which I have to say sounds wonderfully low to me!

HR can a shoot up when blood sugar gets a bit low and adrenalin kicks in as part of insulin cycle. That’s why I eat an oatcake before bed - slow release energy. I’m super aware of heartbeat changes that can feel like knocking on heaven’s door to me so can empathise with your anxiety. I do find box breathing very useful.

[Thomas45]

I have no idea what my heart rate is, except when medics take a manual BP and Heart rate reading. I can feel my pulse but as I have permanent though asymptomatic AF, it's all over the place and difficult to count. Your readings are both within the normal range for heart rate, as mine have been when a medic has needed to check.

I thought the purpose of an oximeter was to read your oxygen level. I know if you have nail varnish on it doesn't work correctly. If I were you I'd put it in a drawer and forget about it. That is not meant to be medical advice as I'm not medically qualified.

Do you feel any different at 58 rather than 78? Is the oximeter wrong? When did you last have it checked against a medic's reading?

Try not to worry as I expect it will bring on more worrying.

[nuked1066 in reply to Thomas45]

I wholly agree with this, there's a tendency to chase numbers which can exasperate a condition unnecessarily.

[jeanjeannie50]

I'm afraid a pulsometer is not considered very accurate for measuring our heart rate. It usually changes depending on which finger you have it on. Your anxiety alone will also raise it.

In answer to your question, yes I get a heart rate like that all the time and the more attention I give it the worse it can become.

I've had AF for 18 years and it took me a long time to stop worrying and get on with living Some people's heart rates shoot up to and over 200bpm, now that's when you you need to seek advice.

I'm not trying to put you down, just help.

Jean

[nuked1066 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I agree with that Jean, while not advice, I would probably be concerned if there were dizzy spells or palpitations, other than that, if the OP is concerned, see their GP.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to nuked1066]

Yes, any dizzy spells then I'd see my GP. What heart beats are you calling palpitations?

[nuked1066 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

thumping in the chest.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to nuked1066]

I really don't like the word palpitations (just a quirk of mine). I wonder how many people on this forum had their AF classed as palpitations to begin with. It makes me wild when members come here and say that's what their GP called their heart arrhythmia at first. To me palpitations are something that only happens when you are nervous, stressed etc. Not your heart taking off in a fast or abnormal rhythm.

I was lucky 18 years ago when my AF started, as I worked with nurses and they told me that I needed to see my GP. I remember that day well, my goodness I felt ill.

Can you remember when you were first diagnosed?

[nuked1066 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Yes, GP and cardio called them palpitations; I remember when first diagnosed in 2003, used to be fit as a fiddle but mine was complicated by Graves (hyperactive thyroid). When I had radio iodine, I went back to normal sinus rhythm for many years until around 2020 where I had high heartrate and thumping chest, and found I was back in AF. Despite good medication compliance, my thyroid has NEVER been adequately treated and nobody seems to want to listen, they keep referring back to the TSH levels being 'normal'.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to nuked1066]

The Thyroid UK forum on Health Unlocked used to give a list of thyroid friendly consultants who thought outside the box. X

[Buffafly]

I have a watch which checks my heart rate every five minutes. My heart rate goes up and down like a yo-yo between 50 and 115 even in NSR. Luckily I don’t usually notice it and am surprised when I look later and wonder what I did to provoke a spike of 110! I find it interesting but if it worried me I’d try not to look. Oximeters are rubbish at reading heart rate and useless in AF. Bin it ❤️‍🩹

[KMRobbo in reply to Buffafly]

👍🏻👍🏻

[Qualipop]

My normal heart rate for the past 30+ years has been between 70 and 85 at rest; both your figures are perfectly normal. Anxiety can cause a big and often sudden change in heart rate.

[Yodap]

Had it too and occasionally still get it. Seems to occur mostly if I have not had a good sleep at night. I take Bisoprolol and Apixaban but have had no AF for 18 months. Sleep and a dose of magnesium daily seems the answer for me.

[Duglas1947]

Hi I have been on Apixaban for 7 years and had no serious problems with it. I occasionally get bruising on my hand or forearm and maybe once a year a burst blood vessel in my eye which is nowhere near as bad as it sounds. However I have regular rather than irregular AF all the time whereas you AF seems intermittent so I wonder whether you need Apixaban at all.

[theonethatgotaway1]

Wow thats a really good heart rate. 60-80 is perfect for most people. Congratulations.

[Dozer5]

I have Permanent Afib and I'm on both Apixaban and Bisoprolol. I only ever get concerned if my heart rate goes over 100bpm which occasionally happens but generally I'm between 70 - 90 bpm. My heartbeat is all over the place. I would only seek advice if I get to a point whereby exercising causes me to be out of breath - this is not currently the case. I feel healthy and fit so do not not worry. However, it is best to keep an eye on these things and any sign of exhaustion, lack of breath, palpitations and I'd be straight on the phone!

I'm not a medical professional but my advice would be try not to be anxious and carry on with life!

[DawnTX]

LOL we probably all own one of those. I was told to stop doing it because of the way we fluctuate constantly it will just make me even more stressed which will make it even more able to fluctuate