Heart rate

[KateS10]

Just wondering what everyone’s heart rate gets when experiencing panic attack . I wear a fit bit and I am constantly checking it for heart rate . During a panic attack when I see it get to like 143 I take it off and won’t put back on till I know the panic attack is over . I am always looking at the heart rate and am always so nervous as to why heart rate and resting is so high . Just curious what others heart rates are

[hypercat54]

It's very common for your BP to rise during an anxiety attack and 143 is nowhere near the danger level so relax. My advice, unless you have known heart issues, is to stop keep checking it as it is only making you more anxious. x

[KateS10 in reply to hypercat54]

Thank you for responding to me!! It can at points get up higher than that. I have been in ER with it over 170’s ... i was on a holter monitor for one month and did two stress tests and echo . Results came back I have a very slow leak in valve . He said I have SVT . Heart palpitations. Never put me on meds until I kept complaining of the heart palpitations.. he finally put me on a beta blocker 10mg very low dose , BUT I have not taken it yet due to being scared over it , it’s just the vicious cycle of anxiety telling me not to take it .... But I have heard people taking beta blockers for anxiety as well !!!

[Hidden]

Hello

I agree with hypercat54 , unless a Doctor has told you to keep checking your heart rate then leave it alone , throw that thing in the bin , it is causing you more harm than good as your heart rate especially after a panic attack , before a panic attack and so many other things we do will differ and all this is doing is feeding your health anxiety over the fear there is something wrong with your heart

I know as I have Health anxiety and was told I had Asthma , I was given a peak flow and I did nothing but blow in it all day and of course I was getting different readings depending on what I had just been doing , how anxious I was etc , I nearly drove myself mad with worry as well as my Doctor !!!

Finally I stopped , I only ever use it if I really feel the need to and I leave the rest for my Doctor to tell me if they think I am ok , you need to do the same

I do understand totally where you are coming from , but best advise I can give as I don't test mine is to throw that in the bin , ask your Doctor if your heart is ok and work on your anxiety with everyone supporting you the best they can

Take Care x

[Minnie87 in reply to Hidden]

You are totally spot on with all you have written here!

[KateS10]

Thank you for your response ! Yes I agree wearing this thing is just making me worse I feel... thank goodness I didn’t get the Apple Watch that has the built in EKG, although I feel like I would like it to make sure my heart is ok 🙈🙄.... I am trying to get in with a psychiatrist for meds ... I am just taking Xanax now , everyday during the day but I have been on it a very long time .. and think it’s just not working the way it used to .

[Hidden]

My heart rate is always high even if I am not having a panic attack. My resting heart rate is usually in the 90s and whenever I go to the doctor it’s in the 130s-140s. They always say my heart rate is high but never seem concerned about it since it happens when people are anxious. I do not check my heart rate anymore or I would get more anxious. I wouldn’t check it unless you have to. I take Xanax every day as well. .25 mg twice a day.... I only take it to avoid withdrawals and to have a tiny bit less anxiety...it doesn’t really relax me since it is a low dose and I’ve been taking it for a few years. What dose are you taking? Maybe when it wears off, your anxiety gets worse and heart rate goes up? Even though it doesn’t relax you anymore, your body is used to taking it.

[KateS10 in reply to Hidden]

Yes my resting heart rate usually falls in the high 70’s to 80’s.... and I know what you mean about docs .. mine is always high and blood pressure as well. So anxious 😟. I take .5 mg Xanax 4 times a day . I do feel it doesn’t help much anymore .. it takes a while like over an hour to make me feel less anxious . It’s the oddest thing as well , I have noticed over the past few weeks I have been literally waking up with immediate racing heart . As soon as I wake , it just starts... I never was that was right in the morning . , so now this is something new I am dealing with

[Hidden in reply to KateS10]

Waking up with your heart racing is very common when you’re anxious and under stress. That happens to me too. I usually have to take a Xanax when I first wake up.

[KateS10 in reply to Hidden]

So it is common for a racing heart right when you awake ?? I get so nervous and scared thinking it’s AFib or I have sleep apnea . I also wake up and take my Xanax as well 😖

[Hidden in reply to KateS10]

Your cortisol levels are highest in the morning when you wake up and your body pumps out excess cortisol when you’re anxious. I’ve also wondered if I have sleep apnea since I wake up so much during the night. I would check with your doctor just to be sure.

[KateS10 in reply to Hidden]

Yes I am going to make an apt with my primary and see what she says about it all and also I want a full blood count done too if she will do it ! Check levels and see if all is ok