elevated heart rate due to allergies?

SunnyDaize

My heart rate seems to be running high the last several days, to the point I've had to really slow down my work out routine. I had to set my dumbells down between sets and lower my incline on the treadmill this morning. It's been taking the joy and the steam out of my sessions. I thought maybe the elevated heart rate was due to medication I was taking for my allergies, but I seem to have the same problem when I don't take it. I'm guessing it's all the congestion?

Anyway, this morning I decided not to let it get me down and discovered that dancing on my treadmill works great to get and keep my heart rate in the right range. Good thing I have a treadmill at home. I would have looked awfully silly at the gym! LOL!

TrainingWithTonya

Yes, the elevated heart rate can be from both. The medications for allergies can have stimulants in them to open the airways and reduce the congestion. If you don't take the medications, then the lungs are having to work harder to get air in and out and the restriction in the lungs from the congestion can increase the pressure on the arteries around the heart. That increased pressure can restrict blood flow so the heart works harder trying to get the blood out where it needs to go. My best suggestion is to not focus on your heart rate while dealing with these issues. Take the medication as directed by your doctor and rate your exercise on the Rate of Perceived Exertion scale. The standard version of this is a 6-20 scale where you should be working out at a 13-15. However, a lot of people have a hard time judging how hard they are working on that scale so i tell my clients to use the modified scale of 1-10. One is laying down doing nothing and 10 is working so hard you feel like you are about to have a heart attack. You should work out at a 5-7 level.

MightyMae1

I was told to watch out for some allergy meds because they can elevate heart rate. I'm not sure which ingredients cause that though. Maybe they take a day or so to get out of your system too, so even if you didn't take it today it might still be in your system from the day before. Also, I have found that when I have heavy chest congestion my heart rate goes up, but I usually see my doc at that point. You should ask your doctor about this. With heart problems being such a big deal for women these days, it's nothing to blow off, especially when there may be a simple solution like changing meds.

SunnyDaize

Thanks, TrainingWithTony. I've been trying hard not to over do it, butfind it a challenge!

MightyMae1 - I've been thinking about making an appointment for a physical. I'm a little past due anyway.

MightyMae1

Good luck to you. I hope you feel better!

scubedw1

I've been dealing with this for years. My waking pulse will get down into the mid forties. Resting pulse is usually under 60 but during the winter it may easily be 80 without having to do very much at work to go over 100. 15 years ago or so was as bad as it got. I couldn't, run, lift, sleep or eat. My heart was beating so hard it was moving my shirt at 85 bpm while reading. I lost over 50 lbs strangers were asking me if I had cancer. Doctors said my pulse was normal, couldn't explain the rest then showed me the door. For 1K per month for insurance I expected a bit more than "get lost". Before I went to hunt down Hugh Laurie, my wife suggested I try some allergy medication. It slows the heart a bit and I don't feel suicidal, but winter is a pretty miserable time for me.