Heart rate

[Breathe-73]

Good morning everyone

I'm 48, my resting heart rate always seems to be high, usually over 100 bpm, I went for a walk with my fiancé on Saturday and it raised to 174 bpm, my oxygen sits around 94/95 sometimes lower. Is this all normal? (I know oxygen should be between 95 &100 so obviously I'm at lower end)

My GP has requested a blood test but can't have it done yet due to the tube shortage, have to wait till next week.

I checked it this morning and heart rate is 118 bpm and oxygen 95, keep having palpitations also. My pulmonologist said 2 weeks ago my heart was ok, but when I was walking around with him he said my oxygen stayed ok but heart rate was high.

All just very worrying.

Newly diagnosed with emphysema but also have upper respiratory problems (chronic sinusitis) which I've been referred to ENT for, just waiting on an appointment.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated 🙏

[ck101]

SpO2 is fine, you could be de-conditioned pushing up HR. Could be a touch of Anxiety also, since you’ve got the all clear on your heart keep exercising, moderate intensity over longer periods and you will see HR come down over time. Don't worry about the numbers.

[Damon1864 Volunteer in reply to ck101]

I agree with this weekend have a lovely day and take care 😊 Bernadette and Jack 🐕 xxxxxx

[MMaud]

Breathe-73, sometimes always checking things isn't too helpful.

You seem to be very anxious at the moment, over a range of things, but I would suggest constantly checking your O2 and heart rate, after the medics have assured you there is nothing to be overly concerned about could just be feeding your anxiety, rather than comforting yourself.

I have white coat syndrome, and I mean BIG white coat syndrome. My blood pressure and pulse rate lowers when I have a stress exercise test, the exercise takes my mind off the fact my BP and pulse rate are being monitored.

I don't know if you have every worn a 24 hour blood pressure monitor, which measured your blood pressure every 20 minutes when you are awake, and every 30 when asleep. They tend to give a better idea of what's going on that a one-off, nurse driven test in a clinic room. I wonder if there's something similar that could keep an eye on you whilst you're busy getting on with the rest of your life.

I do hope that you get to the bottom of all of this soon. New diagnosis can be very hard to handle and process, but anxiety can also cause great harm.

(For the avoidance of doubt, I am not doubting for an instant the diagnosis you have received or that on checking your heart beats quickly.)

[Breathe-73]

Thank you so much, what you've all said does make sense. I do suffer with anxiety so I can see where you're coming from.

At least the GP is checking to be sure which is great, and may put my mind at rest. I guess I worry as although I was only diagnosed in June I'd been dealing with it all since Dec 2019 and now the palpitations and fast heart rate I automatically worried as my dear Mum had to have aorta valve replaced a few years ago (I have since lost my Mum to the awful cancer, which went on to cause my severe depression & anxiety)

I will try harder to stop worrying so much 😊

Thank you again for helping me understand. X

[PhilGM]

Pretty sure your heart rate is down to anxiety, I am the same but not to the same extent. Had heart by pass 4 years ago so beta blocker keeps mine to around 72 getting down to high sixties. Try putting an oxymeter your on your finger and leaving it on whist reading or otherwise relaxing, see if you can get it down to 72, above all don’t worry!