Palpations and sudden fast heartbeat

[Valentina98]

Hey everyone

Quick question about the above, I've had palpations all afternoon, and evey so often it beats really fast for no reason. What should I do? Or do I have to just wait it out.

V x

[Captain_Birdseye]

How fast are your palpitations? Do you record them on a fitbit or anything?

it were me, I'd call 111 to get advice.

When I get anxiety palpitations, I try to breathe them out, focusing on the breath can sometimes bring them under control.

[Valentina98 in reply to Captain_Birdseye]

Yeah, I have a Garmin. Only about 65 bpm but that's fast for me lately

111 weren't very helpful 😔

V x

[Captain_Birdseye in reply to Valentina98]

I've gone back through your previous posts, you've had a hell of a time!

I see you've also been diagnosed with AFib as well as your HA... I'm assuming you're on the usual cocktail of medicines? It can take some time for these to take effect, and for your body to react - so this might be a cause.

I also see you live with anxiety, which can cause changes to the heart rate too.

I know 65bpm isn't classed as fast (my resting heart rate is in the 70s) - but its causing you concern so it's worth asking the question.

Best advice I can offer is to keep a symptoms diary, and include any readings you take, any triggers, anything that makes it worse or better. Take this with you to your doctors and ask questions. They want to help you, and will try to reassure you. Do consider some gentle breathing exercises as well - if nothing else, it provides a different focus.

[Valentina98 in reply to Captain_Birdseye]

Thank you,

Yeah for some reason my resting heartrate is in the mid 40's

It's suddenly gone up to 65 which I know its normal but it feels like its racing.

[Zbignieva]

It might be helpful to start or continue with a relaxation/meditation protocol to help to distinguish between an elevated HR due to stress and anxiety, which is very common with newly diagnosed health conditions, and any sort of issue with the heart.

There are all sorts of apps, and my cardiac rehab program included a relaxation session each class which was basically yoga nidra.

If you have a smart watch, you can also set up high and low heart rate notifications to flag tachycardia and bradycardia at rest.

[BlueBearBob]

In 2020 I started getting palpitations. My Garmin couldn't measure the heart rate during an episode. I had to purchase a pulse oximeter to find out that my HR was 205! The episodes increased in duration until this year when they would last up to 4 hours. I was referred to the hospital but in May I was admitted as an emergency and diagnosed with SVT (the palpitations) and also Severe Mitral Regurgitation (possibly the cause of the SVT). I was put on bisoprolol which has virtually eliminated the long duration palpitations. I then looked at my resting HR in the Garmin app and noticed that back in 2020 when my palpitations started, my resting HR increased by 10 (to 62.) As soon as I started on the bisoprolol, it went back to 52.

I suggest that you talk to your doctor ASAP. Whilst it may be nothing serious, it could be an indication that something needs treatment.

Bob