Treatment for sinus tachycardia?

[briskate]

Hello,

I had an ecg and echo done and they said I have a fast resting heart beat of 115 beats per minute. However they can't find anything wrong with my actual heart and say it is healthy. It's been this fast for over 2 years (it took this long to be allowed a referral to a cardiologist!).

I was given some beta blockers and had a terrible reaction (I am hypersensitive to medication, but risked trying it). So I only managed to take one before stopping.

So now I have no idea what I can do as I can't take medication? If I can't take medication then is it dangerous leaving the heart really fast?

Many thanks for any help. Much appreciated ☺

[Emily_BHF]

Hi briskate

A normal resting heart rate for adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats a minute, so yours is just above this. As you have had an echo scan done to check the structure and function of your heart and an ECG to check the rhythm and your doctors are not concerned, please try to be reassured by this.

If you were unable to tolerate this medication I would go back and ask about what other medication options there are for you. If you haven’t already had one, I would also ask about having a 24-72 hour ECG monitor to see what your heart rhythm is over a longer period. This is another test that would help to better inform them of your treatment options or whether you are ok to have no treatment. Treatment options range from medication, to cardioversions and pacemakers, or none depending on the type of sinus tachycardia you have. There is more information about these on our website.

Take care,

Emily

[briskate in reply to Emily_BHF]

Thank you Emily. That's really helpful.

[briskate in reply to Emily_BHF]

Sorry I meant to ask something else! My whole body seems to shake I think at the same time my heart beats. Like a really forceful heartbeat. For example at times it feels like my head is nodding or my foot moving with every beat. Or I can feel the beat strongly even in my fingers. I can't relax as it feels my body is constantly shaking.

I just wanted to see if you had heard of this before? Is it connected with my sinus tachycardia?

Thanks very much ☺

[Emily_BHF in reply to briskate]

Hi Briskate,

I am not familiar with symptoms exactly as you describe them, but it may be heart palpitations which I would associate with sinus tachycardia. Heart palpitations are heartbeats that suddenly become more noticeable. Your heart may feel like it's pounding, fluttering or beating irregularly, often for just a few seconds or minutes. You may also feel these sensations in your throat or neck.

Take care,

Emily

[Zena166]

Hi Briskate

I just wanted to mention your tablets. I too am hypersensitive to medication and when I first took beta blockers following a heart attack last year they floored me. They started me off on 2.5 mgms but this was way too much even though it’s a relatively low dose. I managed one dose and couldn’t get out of bed! I then asked to be prescribed 1.25. But I then cut it into a quarter. Tried that for 2 days. Then a half for 3 days then 3/4 for 4 days then the full tablet. I am stable on 1.25 which one cardiologist thinks is a homeopathic dose!!! However it works my resting rate is about 55 and at night goes down to about 45. So maybe try introducing a very small dose and build up. My GP knew I was doing this and she is happy that I sort stuff out to meet my needs.

Also I wonder if supervised exercise may help to strengthen and improve your heart rate But discuss with your GP.

Hope you get something sorted

Take care

Zena

[briskate in reply to Zena166]

Thank you for taking your time to reply. That's useful and much appreciated.

[Zena166]

Ps you can get a tablet cutter at a pharmacy!

[cgcookie]

I had a high resting heart rate for 4-5 years before the go sent me to a cardiologist. As I'd already had a myocardial perfusion scan after chest pain the cardiologist suggested Inappropriate sinus tachycardia. I'd previously tried beta blockers which made me feel even worse, so I was prescribed Ivabradine to lower my heart rate.