Warning stage of the Heart Rate when you have asthma in all ages

[livsnjutare]

I just wanted to ask, regardless the age of a person, what is the warning heart rate of an asthmatic person? Like we can warn them, to prevent asthma attacks.

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

Erm not sure what you mean...HR elevates during asthma flare ups yes, but it also changes for lots of other reasons, such as the ventolin and other drugs, exercise, stress/anxiety, strong emotions and general illness (among other things). Plus some people just naturally have faster HRs than others.

For example as a 27yo female I tend to run between 98-108ish on a normal day (instead of the 70bpm it’s meant to be!), but if I’m mildly asthma-ry/had some ventolin I’ll go to 115-125ish, but if I’m ill it’s 135+. When I exercise I can easily hit 150-170 (that include doing the stairs when ill as well as working out when well).

I use my HR as a sign my body is under stress (maybe because of my asthma but maybe not) however I never use it to predict what my asthma is doing or going to do as it’s too variable... for that I use my symptoms and peak flow/FEV.

Hope that helps answer what you’re looking for anyway 😅

[livsnjutare in reply to EmmaF91]

Ahhmm let's say for example. I have my smartwatch that monitors my pulse rate. So what is the warning pulse rate that will let me determine that I am now warned for an asthma attack.

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to livsnjutare]

Erm... the only time HR is used is to determine the severity of an attack... it’s not used as a predictor - here’s the BTS guidelines; brit-thoracic.org.uk/docume... (check page 18). Here it states that 110bpm< (resting) is an indicator for an acute severe attack.

Hope that helps

[strongmouse in reply to EmmaF91]

Useful document.

I found mixed information about heart rate as an indictator of an asthma attack. Asthma Net said over 120, but that was part of an overview of all warning signs together. On its own an increase in heart rate can occur because of a range os issues. The Asthma website noted that it is worth making a note of your own individual symptoms which occur just before an attack and suggests one of the signs could be heart rate over 120 bpm (adults) but combined with other warning signs -

"What are the early signs of an attack?" - asthma.net/basics/attacks/

[Thomas45]

That's an interesting question and answers. As well as asthma I have Atrial Fibrillation, (and Lymphoedema in my lower legs as well as urticaria). My Atrial Fibrillation started as Paroxysmal (came in episodes), but is now asymptomatic and permanent. In short my heart beats out of sequence all the time due to a short circuit in the electronics of the heart. When I had paroxysmal AF my my heart rate would normally be in the range of 120 to 160 bpm, but could go over 180 but it did not cause shortness of breath. Now in permanent AF it's around 85bpm.

The last time I had a fast heart beat was while I was under anaesthetic having my appendix out. I was told that the operation would take about an hour but they would keep me under if there were problems. When they woke me up after 4 hours my heart rate was around 150bpm but I had no breathing problems. Two days later my heart rate was down to 60bpm and I was discharged.

A well meaning hospital doctor prescribed a beta blocker for me and all was well until Christmas Eve 2017 when intermittent painful rashes occurred on my body. It was believed to be triggered by the beta blocker, being a very rare side effect (why did I have to be the 1 in 10,000 who take beta blockers who develop urticaria?)

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador]

I wouldn't rely on it, but I do notice mine goes up pretty high when my asthma is starting to flare, even without lots of relieve, and in a full on attack it's definitely a key feature for me (sats ok but HR high - 140 to 150 but once or twice 180, which alarmed the hospital a little.)

However, it's not always a predictor that things will develop into a worse attack- it can calm down but I do try and take on board when it happens even if I don't feel too bad lungwise. I'd use the more standard signs (for me, response to reliever in symptoms and peak flow, how long reliever lasts, am I struggling to do things) alongside this and not just go on heart rate.