Rising resting HR

[LadyZ13]

Not so much an AFib post, but 6 weeks after a successful cardioversion I'm keeping a very close eye on my HR and this week it seems to be rather elevated.

Each morning I wake and check my overnight resting HR according to my Fitbit. Whereas last week and previous I'd be at 60bpm or just below while sleeping, it's now 70-80.

I'm on 1.25 Bisoprolol twice a day - started in March after a heart attack and increased by 1.25 when my Atrial Flutter started in July. Does your body eventually become resistant to the effects (i.e. you'd need more of the drug to get the same effect)? Or is this just an anomaly that will probably correct in the other direction. I really expected it to have gone down again by now...

I have a few tools to check for arrythmia and all of them say I'm in NSR, so I don't think it's that. I also had the dreaded C at the start of the month but my HR came down as I recovered. I don't think I'm fighting any other illnesses.

Telling me I'm being ridiculous to be concerned is also welcome, of course ☺️ thank you!

[BobD Volunteer]

The drugs do not work like opiates in that the more you take the more you need. 60 to 100 is normal heart rate. Are you sure it is not anxiety pushing it up ?

[LadyZ13 in reply to BobD]

That's helpful to know, thanks Bob. At the start of the year after my diagnosis it was more like 70bpm resting as I was very anxious. I don't feel as consciously distressed this time but perhaps it's simmering at a subconcious level. I'll try some of my relaxation exercises and see if that helps.

[RumblingChest]

Hello LadyZ13!

Glad to hear the cardioversion was successful. I haven’t relevant experience, but my waking heart rate has wandered, I assume “with life”. It’s dropped from 70-ish early this year to 60-ish when I started doing a lot of walking, went down to 58-ish after the procedure and then gone back up a bit with less walking (and more running)!

After your journey, it’s not surprising you are watching any measurements you have like a hawk (and I love data and charts too, and if I hadn’t had an Apple Watch I’d probably have found out about my condition in a more ‘acute’ way). The plot you posted shows a rise, but it’s at about 68, so not sure where the 70-80 came from?

Without medical training, it’s hard to put the data in perspective, but it were my measurements, I would put that in the “hmmm, interesting” bucket and keep a relaxed watching brief. And do more walking 😀.

[LadyZ13 in reply to RumblingChest]

Hello RumblingChest - good to hear from you, I always appreciate your measured and empathetic take on things. I've been more active this week, travelling to the office 4 days out of 5 and that always sees HR being higher during the day - I think it's less relaxing than working quietly in my comfy home clothes!

The 70-80 is scrolling through the overnight data, especially midnight to 4am. Later in the sleep cycle it does seem to drop into the high 60s from time to time, which I guess is where 68bpm is coming from.

I did a level 5 rehab workout this morning and tried not to worry too much. Your advice of a relaxed watching brief is good - as is walking, and I'll take both those suggestions, thank you!

[Teresa156 in reply to LadyZ13]

Hi LadyZ13,

I do wonder if the Covid might still be playing a part in your slight HR rise, I too had Covid for the first time, in early Oct and my HR initially rose from 60 when sleeping, to 100-110 for two nights which I found horrible and it has been rather slow in getting back to full normality.

This strain of Covid is particularly nasty ( my husband is still testing positive on Day 19 😳) and even if you are negative now, it can still take a little while for your body to get back to normal after.

Dreaming can also push the HR up slightly when asleep and in your case, I wonder if anxiety could be doing that too?

[LadyZ13 in reply to Teresa156]

That could well be the case, and I'm sure the worry isn't helping. After hearing from folk yesterday it did come down by 1 BPM this morning ☺️

The night before I tested positive I was racing at 100-120 and sweating buckets which was panicking me, but once I tested and saw two lines it all made sense so I didn't worry.

[Teresa156 in reply to LadyZ13]

Ah, yes, it was really horrid the heart increase, especially for us who have Afib anyway. You did well to ignore it.

I’m glad your HR has come down by 1bpm - hopefully a bit more each day and you’ll be back to where you were 🤞

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to Teresa156]

I was still positive on day 14, but I just gave up testing after that. The post Covid fatigue has been the worst part of it.

[LadyZ13 in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

Sorry to hear that. I isolated for 7 days and was feeling OK after 3, I think I got off fairly lightly.

[Teresa156 in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

Yes, he is wondering whether to I give up testing now & we’re getting through a lot of tests 😳 just a little worried it might still be contagious though we know it’s unlikely really…the line is very, very feint.

Ugh, the fatigue 😳 I’m also left with ectopics that I never had before. think I used to get virtually none, but I can certainly feel them now, which have been very unwelcome too, have you had any changes in that area?

[LadyZ13 in reply to Teresa156]

It's difficult isn't it? I picked it up at work and loads of people were off after someone brought it to a big event, so I felt OK returning to work after a week away. I kept away from people and ate lunch outside etc.

I'm sorry you're suffering with fatigue and ectopics. I've been having weird missed beats / jumps since my cardioversion on September. I expect them to persist for a few months. I don't know what's COVID, what's recovery from OHs, what's the cocktail of drugs I'm on... Time is all I can give it!

[Teresa156 in reply to LadyZ13]

Yes, they say time is a good healer don’t they?

We caught it from our friends….who didn’t even know they had Covid 😳 they had it so mild. Once they knew we had it, they tested and were positive.

I hope you get better soon and your heart rate returns to normality 😊

x

[Autumn_Leaves]

If you’re recovering from a Covid infection, it’s the most likely explanation. Many people with watches etc have noticed that their HR is slightly elevated in the following weeks, but I don’t know when it eventually settles back into pre-Covid readings. I have noticed the same myself, both resting HR and during/after activity. If we didn’t have these devices we probably wouldn’t know.

[LadyZ13 in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

That's interesting, I didn't think it would elevate 2-3 weeks after first testing positive. I first had that nasty T line on 30 Sept and my HR dropped afterwards. Perhaps the body has Stuff going on to fully send the virus packing? And I do wonder if ignorance might be bliss with these wearables - indeed, after the cardioversion I found I was obsessing over my HR so turned off heart rate monitoring during the day and that helped. It's the balance of having data and not letting it worry you.

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to LadyZ13]

Apparently it takes several weeks for the body to make antibodies so it probably has a lot of work to do, plus repairing and damaged tissues. I don’t know about you but my entire digestive system was extremely delicate during Covid, with nausea, burning stomach, an extremely unhappy colon etc, and I lost my sense of taste/smell. That’s in addition to the respiratory part and a flare up of arrhythmias too. I saw off the infectious part fairly quickly but the “collateral damage” was quite a lot and I just think it takes time.

[LadyZ13 in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

That sounds really tough, I'm sorry it was a severe bout that hit you so hard. I was a bit fatigued and anxious for a few days and ended up getting blood tests at the GP as I was so recently through OHS, but all clear and I only had one day sick off work before being WFH for the rest of the isolation. I was a bit tired and sounded a bit grotty in my presentations but OK! I guess there is quite a long recovery potentially, so little is really known about it and especially each new strain.

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to LadyZ13]

My husband has made a good recovery but as I already have ME/CFS it was always going to hit me harder. Viral illnesses of any kind will set me back.

[Buffafly]

Get someone to hide your Fitbit! Those gadgets are for use when you feel ‘off’, no point if you feel fine ☺️

[LadyZ13 in reply to Buffafly]

Hehe, you're right! But what about all those steps I want to track?! 😅😅

[Jackiesmith7777 in reply to Buffafly]

Yes I’ve found with my husband it can get us both anxious if we keep looking at it .

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to Jackiesmith7777]

Agree. We shouldn’t stress over every little detail. The watch is just a tool, it’s made to serve us, not the other way round.

[BrotherThomas]

I had my last cardioversion about a year ago but was declared to be back in AF in Feb this year. I'm asymptomatic so the only way to know is with an EKG.Since that last CV, my blood pressure and heart rate have all been a bit higher than they were. Although they are all very normal, my resting HR is consistently 5 - 10 beats higher at 60 bpm, systolic about 10 points higher at 65-70 and diastolic 10 points higher at about 110.

Obviously, I feel fine but it does seem that the figures are nearer normal following the CV despite it not putting me in lasting NSR.

[LadyZ13 in reply to BrotherThomas]

That's interesting data. During my period of Atrial Flutter my resting HR wasn't too high (not as high as this!) but there were some weird peaks at rest during the day. I'm glad you're not suffering symptoms, my main issue was that it was holding me back on the exercise side during my recovery from OHS.

[Thomas45]

I don't own a Fitbit, apple watch, Kardia, or any other apparatus to tell me what my heart rate is, whether fast asleep or wide awake. I know I have permanent, though asymptomatic, AF, but it doesn't trouble me, neither does my heart rate. If I feel ill, then the medics can check me out.In the mean time I just get on with life

[LadyZ13 in reply to Thomas45]

Very sensible Thomas. I think that can be a much happier way to live!

[Jackiesmith7777 in reply to Thomas45]

Yes like today because my husbands been extra tired and I know we re only 14 weeks in From his major stroke from AF causing aphasia and 50% vision loss in both eyes , I couldn’t resist looking at his heart rate which was 114 I know I shouldn’t so am going to try not to look for the rest of the day , he s having his second nap of the day , he gets down days as he’s only just turned 65 and has hd to give up work and driving which has really upset him . We re waiting for an arrhythmia appointment which is just been cancelled due to strikes . He has 33% heart failure in his left ventricle I think that’s what it’s called , just want to get it sorted for him .

[texigal in reply to Jackiesmith7777]

Hi Jackiesmith.. sorry your husband’s appt. was canceled. Your husband’s clinical profile and Brother Thomas’s are not similar. So, don’t feel guilty for checking hubby’s pulse if he is not feeling well, especially since the cardiology appointment is delayed. You’re just being a good nurse! 😊 Assessing his heart rate, BP and weight at least once a day and keeping a record is a reasonable strategy as his convalescent trend vs a major change would be helpful for you to know. You didn’t mention availability of his GP for interim care , but hopefully striking “professionals” have made arrangements for urgent care clinic or ED coverage if care or medication is needed while waiting for arrhythmia clinic. Prayers and best wishes for you and for hubby’s successful recovery.

[Qualipop]

I wish mine was that low. My average is between 80 and 90; higher if I'm anxious. My GP isn't concerned.

[LadyZ13 in reply to Qualipop]

Thank you - that does lend a sense of perspective.

[Thomas45 in reply to Qualipop]

My heart rate, as taken by nurses is around 84, which is in the normal range of 60 to 100. I'm not concerned. There is no standard human body for men or women.