Spiking Heart Rate with Minimal Exertion

[Julia678]

Greetings, everyone,

I am new to the forum and I am trying to figure out the cause of my heart rate spiking with minimal exertion. This is always accompanied by shortness of breath. I will provide some info and am hoping others will chime in with ideas.

History:

I realized back in July that my heart rate was spiking with minimal exertion. This could have been happening long before this time, but this was the first time I though to check it. It spikes every time I walk up one flight of stairs, when I water my garden, when I vacuum, or when I pick up my dog's toys. Once I discontinue the activity, my heart rate returns to normal. It typical spikes to the 130s but has gone up to the 170s. When I walk outside, it remains in the 120s or low 130s and I can walk 3 miles briskly without any problems arising.

Back in January of this year, I met with a personal trainer for an exercise session (first appointment). She had me doing cardio and weight bearing activity simultaneously (swinging and lifting kettle bells, etc). After 10-15 minutes, I nearly fainted and slumped to the floor with rapid heart rate and I felt like I was going to have a heart attack. I am just tossing this into the mix in case it could be relevant in terms of diagnosing my condition.

Medical Evaluation

I have wore a heart monitor for a week and nothing significant showed up in the results, although my heart rate did consistently spike every time I walked up the stairs or did the activities named above. My MD stated that the results were not concerning and considered normal. I did a stress test and performed well. I am in my 50s and was told I performed at the level of a 20-year old. I also had an echocardiogram and it showed mild tricuspid regurgitation, mild mitral valve regurgitation, and aortic valve sclerosis. My MD said that these were all normal expected age-related changes and nothing to be concerned about. My MD believes nothing is wrong with me and isn't recommending further testing. However, I am concerned, as I continue to experience elevated heart rate with minimal exertion and have no explanation as to why this is happening. I only know that some causes have been ruled out.

Please let me know if you have any ideas as to what may be causing my symptoms or know of any other tests or evaluations I could undergo for support with figuring this out.

Many thanks to everyone in advance

Julia

[honeybubs]

It took me 13 years to get answers to my symptoms so keep going to the doctors as you know your own body and if you feel something isn’t right keep insisting on having tests. Good luck

[Hidden]

Can’t say what might be causing your symptoms - not a doctor. But you could / should seek a second opinion? Although the age related mild issues found maybe reasonable opinion but it’s not answering your question. So yes further tests might put your mind at rest or see if there is an underlying issue.

The reference MD makes me think you’re not in the UK? Hopefully you have a process for asking for a second opinion where you are. Keep pushing!

Good luck

[Happyrosie]

personally I would have thought that a higher rate of BP on exertion would be normal. The blood pressure goes up so that your muscles have enough oxygen to perform what you are asking of it.

have a look at the website of Blood Pressure UK.

[Judithdalston]

Post the virus that cannot be named I have had 3 years of high BP and HR, 5 pills have helped with the former. My HR raises over 100 plus with minor exercise eg hair brushing, while on bending down to get something of the floor it was 130; but I have gradually discovered it’s the standing that rises the HR. Go to the POTS Uk website to see if you match their criteria. It’s taken a year of giving the Gp BP/HR results to get a referral to a specialist….where I live there are very few about ( 2 perfect matches managed to retire while I was being referred), but now have a tilt table appointment ( under Falls clinic) expected early 2024. I have done numerous of the methods POTS Uk suggest to help over the last 7 months, including swimming regularly and HR doesn’t seem to be reaching more than 115 just on standing ( from 69 or so sitting/lying). But I get more pain lower back and vertigo now! You will see the BP and HR are rather confusing as a POTS treatment is eat more salt…thus my desire to see a specialist.