Going over 130bpm makes me ill

[Spedyrecovry50]

Hi everyone. I was wondering if I could ask for some advise.I have had an echo and 2 24 hour ecgs. I have had 3 normal ecgs. My cardiologist and gp have told me that from the results of these tests my heart is doing good at 50 years of age and is health other than a bit of bradycardia. My reality how ever isn't so good.

When I do any form of cardio for any length of time and get my heart rate over 130 bpm it wipes me out for 2 days. My heart stays in the hundreds for the rest of the day and I feel really tired and breathless. When I don't exercise my heart rate goes down to 37 when I sleep and in the day it is about 45-50.

I have missing heart beats and fluttering. I am light headed all the time and nothing I have tried helps. If I eat to much or to heavy it makes things worse.

I am dealing with really bad panic attacks and anxiety. Which is triggered by loud noises.

My gp and cardiologist say that the problem is the panic attacks and to much cortisol but I don't know.

I used to run, walk or cycle. But I cant now with out it causing problems. I used going out to help with my mental health. But I cant at the moment. I don't know what to do.

I understand that any advise is just advise but if any one has any ideas that would be great.

Thank you.

[Happyrosie]

I’d say that gentle exercise like walking, especially if you can do so in a park or some woods, could be beneficial for you. Just being in nature and enjoying birdsong and spring flowers is calming, and if you’re walking you get your heart and lungs (and muscles) moving healthily.

Panic attacks would certainly put your heart rate up, so you might consider breathing exercises. A simple one would be to sit quietly and count your breathing in for four, out for four, using your tummy muscles rather than your upper chest. You can easily find breathing exercises by googling. Though dont put your trust in DrGoogle!

[BaronFrankenstein]

Does your heart rate go over 130bpm naturally or are you pushing it over 130 deliberately when exercising? When i exercise i try not to go above 115bpm. Even before my heart attack i used to keep it in that xone as pushing harder just left me feeling too exhausted.

[Spedyrecovry50 in reply to BaronFrankenstein]

When I first started running 5 years ago I had a watch that took my heart rate but didn't worry to much about how high it went. Back then it would go up into the 160s. It even went upto 202 but after a rest it would return to 60. Now I have been trying to do my cardio while breathing through my nose to try and stop it from going to high. It does go up naturally to 130 but I try and keep it to around 111. That is the Maffetone method way. The weird thing is if I weight train and my heart rate goes past that it doesn't effect me.

[BaronFrankenstein in reply to Spedyrecovry50]

Wow. I cant believe how high you used to take it. I used to find it difficult not to push my rate too high but im a lot better at judging how hard i can push myself. I still get a decent workout but keep within my limits so i dont end up feeling exhausted the rest of the day.

[Spedyrecovry50 in reply to BaronFrankenstein]

I couldn't believe it at the time. I thought the watch was broken. I am trying the lower heart rate. Hopefully it will work.

[Scotsman53]

Sounds like anxiety is an issue. Best thing I know for that is meditation but you have to be patient, not expect immediate results. There are many sites, videos and apps, just google mindfulness meditation. Keep it up and eventually you'll master your mind, with very wide ranging benefits.

[Spedyrecovry50 in reply to Scotsman53]

Thanks. I will have a look.

[Hidden]

When I do indoor Cycling my average heart rate is 140. I take it up to 170 with no problem. Within an hour I am back at 60bpm. Medication affects it, my BP meds caused me not to go over 130. I am now off it with no issues.I had a cabg x2 in July.

My average BP is 125/83.

Keep an eye on the BP and try not and worry.

[andreasuperstar]

there is such a thing as cardiac PTSD and health anxiety. My hr can vary from 39 -160 . I’m on a low dose bisoprolol 1.25 because I had a really bad SVT episode and I’ve also had two fainting episodes . I now have a loop recorder because such things are often difficult to capture on ecg and even holter monitors . I would keep a diary of your hr , what you were doing etc and any symptoms . It you can buy a Kardia or a smart watch to record your own ecg as evidence . I would also ask your drs to refer you to complex therapy ( not just talking therapy) as CBT will help your panic disorder if it’s becoming debilitating and stopping you from living your life … as mine did . It’s awful . You’re not alone though .

[andreasuperstar in reply to andreasuperstar]

I also have anti anxiety medication because my SVT episode was terrifying and it happened when the ambulances were on strike . I was left completely traumatised. Meditation works for some but it made me worse because I was trying too hard not to be anxious . I’m no longer anywhere near as anxious as I’d reached the point I was afraid to be alone . I still get anxious when my heart plays up with tachy , PVC’s etc. It’s not an overnight fix but whilst you’re worrying you’re not living …. Drink at least 2 litres of water a day , cut out caffeine, nicotine and limit alcohol. Eat small portions, avoid MSG in takeaways and try and get comfortable knowing ectopics are awful but in a healthy heart are benign and thank your lucky stars you haven’t got a really scary heart condition . I also have autonomic dysfunction so I’m allowed to have extra salt . Build a little support network around you , after the ambulance strikes I had neighbours on standby should I need to call them day or night . Good luck x

[Simba37 in reply to andreasuperstar]

What anti anxiety meds are you on? Heard that citalipram raised Bp so not sure which others are non addictive

[Spedyrecovry50 in reply to Simba37]

I am not on any meds yet. my gp wants to try cbt first as I don't get on very well with meds.

[andreasuperstar in reply to Simba37]

sertraline 50mg and diazepam as and when

[Simba37 in reply to andreasuperstar]

Thanks.

[Simba37 in reply to andreasuperstar]

might try cbt first.

[Spedyrecovry50 in reply to andreasuperstar]

Very interesting. Thank you. They did say about having a loop recorder. I also might look at the kardia. I was also told to eat little and often.

[andreasuperstar in reply to Spedyrecovry50]

Loop recorder offers long term monitoring and you have a fob to press with any severe symptoms.

[Choccie55]

Have the doctors considered supra ventricular tachycardia? Have a look at the NHS symptoms page for SVT to see if it’s similar to your symptoms. Arrhythmias are notoriously difficult to catch on an ECG and often put down to stress or anxiety.

[Spedyrecovry50 in reply to Choccie55]

I will have a look thankyou.

[Spedyrecovry50]

update. on Monday when I was tring to do a light weight training session half way through i got chest pain on the left side. when I touched where the pain was it was numb. the pain lasted 45 minutes then went. but fir the rest of the day it kept coming back. also my pulse was 90 to 110 all day. I just spoke to my gp. she thinks its the anxiety and panic attacks that caused it. even though I didn't have an attack when I was exercising. she says I can carry on with exercise and not to worry about my heart.I had an echo last year which was clear. but does that mean everything is OK now?

not sure what to do?