Heart rate

[Clara62]

Hi All, for a few months I have been changing my thyroid therapy and dosage.

I was wondering if there is an ideal heart rate at rest, I am a bit concerned about my HR at rest recently ...

Thank you

[bantam12]

The range is 60-100 so you can see there is no "ideal heart rate" as it depends on age, fitness and what's right for you. Unless you know your baseline when you were fit and healthy there's no way of knowing what to aim for.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to bantam12]

In the past few weeks mine has varied from 44 to over 150. And sometimes changes pretty much one end to the other in seconds.

[bantam12 in reply to helvella]

Have you been checked out for Afib or other arrhythmia? If your rate is changing that quickly it's something to follow up !

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to bantam12]

Yes. Awaiting next step... Whatever that is.

I posted to emphasise how variable we are - sometimes even within an individual!

[bantam12 in reply to helvella]

But what you are experiencing is not normal, sounds like Afib which is what I have. Good luck with the tests !

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to bantam12]

Yes - I got that message from the faces of the people. I was lying back, comfortable as anything, with full ECG showing heart rate going that mad. They were worried. Some people notice - I can sometimes have an inkling what is happening but much of the time totally oblivious.

My cheap little Mi Band 5 and a pulse oximeter show the same sort of pattern.

[bantam12 in reply to helvella]

My brother in law is in permanent AF with a rate of 300 yet he didn't know ! It was found by chance when he was in for a back problem. I feel every beat but vastly improved since pacemaker and beta blockers. Are you on anticoagulants ? If not maybe a good time to ask as stroke is a real risk !

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to bantam12]

No. There has been little effective communication - which I can understand to some extent. But need to discuss.

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

I’m the same. Usually low 50s but was suddenly 194 for no reason and I didn’t even realise it.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

But then I know I have Afib!

[humanbean]

HR varies according to how fit the person is generally. A very fit and healthy person could have a resting HR of well below 60. I remember someone in my university years who ran an awful lot, and took part in marathons. His resting heart rate was at most about 40. He had to have surgery for some reason and a nurse who took his pulse was starting to panic and was going to call for a crash cart before he told her it was normal for him.

Another issue is that resting heart rate tends to rise as people get older - that could just be because many people get less healthy as they age.

I have decided that for me personally, if my heart is beating at a rate that causes me no distress and doesn't tire me out then it's fine for me. To maintain it at a comfortable rate for me I need to have fairly good thyroid numbers and I have to maintain my nutrients as close to optimal as I can. Also, I know from experience that eating lots of sugar and carbs raises my heart rate, so I try (and often fail) to keep them at a lowish level.

I've had episodes in the past where my heart rate has been as high as 150 - I ended up in hospital with a suspected heart attack. And that really does distress me and cause incredible fatigue!

But when its around 65 - 80 I feel quite comfortable.

[Clara62 in reply to humanbean]

Thank you all. After the change in my thyroid meds I have now a heart resting rate between 80 and 92 before it was 70-75 .It's just that sometimes it feels strange and uncomfortable but I guess it's still OK

[bantam12 in reply to Clara62]

If it's unusual for you then get checked especially if its irregular at any time.

[Clara62 in reply to bantam12]

Thank you bantam12. What kind of exam should I look for? 🙏

[humanbean in reply to Clara62]

Sounds like 80 - 92 might be a bit too high for you, even though your doctor would think it was fine. I haven't looked at your posting history but if you haven't got your thyroid levels and/or nutrients optimal for you, or your cortisol is too high, then it could be raising your heart rate a bit.

Don't forget diet too. If you have blood sugar spikes and large dips it could affect heart rate - but eating sufficient protein and fat, and keeping carbs and sugars fairly low should help.

[Clara62 in reply to humanbean]

Thank you Humanbean. 🙏

[Thenightowl]

Chronic low ferritin iron stores has contributed to my crazy heart rate, it might be worth ruling out if you haven't already.

Low is under 30, optimal is around 100. It's rarely tested especially when all other iron tests are great like mine were.

Much more settled now, and I've thankfully not had to take the prescribed Ivabradine from my cardiologist. I've had beta blockers 3 times since a teenager but they cause my blood pressure to nosedive.

I've also got autonomic dysfunction.

[Clara62 in reply to Thenightowl]

Thank you Thenoghtowl. My ferritin is 51 , not great (range is 13-150), just tested last week. It has always been lowish. How did you improve it?

[Thenightowl]

Hi, I take ferrous fumerate 210mg from the pharmacy, every second day away from food with vit c (I like l-ascorbic acid powder in a vegan capsule as no fillers or additives). There is a lot of research showing that taking it this way is good, as the body blocks absorption of iron if taken every day, or something like that.

My cause is malabsorption due to hypochloridria diagnosed privately a long time ago, which has the same symptoms as too much acid and was initially misdiagnosed. This is also the cause of my b12 issues.

Ensure that you have medical supervision whilst taking iron and retesting after a while as too much iron can be dangerous. Best of luck!

[Clara62 in reply to Thenightowl]

Thank you Thenightowl 🙏