Heart palpitations whilst exercising?

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2

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  • RickBriggs
    RickBriggs Posts: 44
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    Good advice from Dom and some of the rest! See a doc. Maybe get an EKG. I worked in ERs also for 38 years. Your heart is a muscle driven by electrical currents. This type of muscle depends on a balance of sodium (too easy to get enough of), calcium (you know the sources, I hope) and potassium (think fruit, etc.) If you don't get enough of one of these it can throw your electrolytes out of balance and cause this symptom. Also, once you get an EKG to rule out anything more serious than PVCs, start taking fish oil caps. It has been proven in many studies to regulate heart rhythms. And don't use stupid energy drinks! A new study just showed that a banana before competitive exercise will make you have more energy and better performance than those lame energy drinks.
  • makemewannadie
    makemewannadie Posts: 401 Member
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    Wow thank you all for the brilliant replies. I didn't even think it was serious enough to warrant a visit to the doctor but then again i'll do anything to avoid going to the doctors haha, I think I need to man up and get it checked out just in case. I think for this week i'll take it easier and see if there are any changes, I just push myself whilst exercising to the extreme but think it's a case of trying too hard.
  • hughtwalker
    hughtwalker Posts: 2,213 Member
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    No! Make an appointment THIS week.
    I don't what part of England you are in but round here you need 3 days' notice to get an appointment.

    I had the same symptoms over Christmas but put off going until after New Year - and in my case it was seriously serious - but all okay now after 6 months medication.

    GO GET IT CHECKED!
  • hughtwalker
    hughtwalker Posts: 2,213 Member
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    will it help if I growl? grrrrrrrrrrr! (there you are - now GO!)
  • troisieme
    troisieme Posts: 6
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    This could be a sign of a serious problem with heart arrythymia. You should see your doctor without delay and by no means engage in strenuous physical activity until the matter is resolved.

    I know; I have been there.
  • ahamm002
    ahamm002 Posts: 1,690 Member
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    I have that. It's called tachycardia. Runs in my family. It may be due to something called mitral valve prolapse, which is a structural abnormality in a valve in your heart, so it's a good idea to get it checked out. They did an ECG on me to rule out MVP. Regardless of the cause, a doctor can prescribe a beta blocker. You just take it about 30 minutes before working out.

    I'm no cardiologist, but tachycardia just means you have a fast heart rate. If there are no other issues and you're in otherwise normal sinus rhythm, is it really necessary to treat it with a beta-blocker when you work out? A beta blocker will decrease the intensity at which you can exercise.
  • makemewannadie
    makemewannadie Posts: 401 Member
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    Thank you all! I have booked an appointment with my doctor for thursday so fingers crossed. I never really thought it could be something serious before, now i'm a bit nervous :s
  • hughtwalker
    hughtwalker Posts: 2,213 Member
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    I hope it won't be a problem for you if I pray for you. What time is your appointment?

    It probably isn't anything serious - but if it is it will be treatable and if so, the sooner the better.

    I am so glad to hear that you have not put it off.

    If your doctor says, "Why are you bothering me with this?" tell him or her that a dentist told you to,okay?
  • goldfinger88
    goldfinger88 Posts: 686 Member
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    It's probably not a serious issue but you should see a cardiologist and have a few simple tests done. You could have some common problems like mitral valve prolapse or even not enough sodium. But, it should be checked out. I get sort of a flutter sometimes and when that happens, I stop. But I have some leaky valves. Don't exercise through those episodes. At least not until you have them checked out. Naturally, no one here can or should give medical advice.
  • AprilRN10
    AprilRN10 Posts: 548 Member
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    I am a registered nurse. I see lot of misinformation here. It may be serious and it may be nothing. Go to your general doctor as soon as you can. Explain in detail and do what he or she says.
  • TonkaDanteFriend
    TonkaDanteFriend Posts: 70 Member
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    I had this problem too for a while and I went to see a heart doctor and wore a heart monitor for a month. The end result was I was drinking 5hr energy drinks before I work out. I stopped that and I haven't had a problem since. Do you drink any kind of energy drink? If so, I would say stop for a while and see if that fixes the problem. If not you should see a doctor.

    This is definitely worth a try. I used to have palpitations throughout the day but as soon as I cut out artificial sweeteners (aspartame especially) and caffeine, they stopped in their tracks. I would still get checked out though, my EKG came out fine before my doctor suggested those 2 things to me, probably worth the peace of mind to run a few tests.
  • StephannieL
    StephannieL Posts: 198 Member
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    I have that. It's called tachycardia. Runs in my family. It may be due to something called mitral valve prolapse, which is a structural abnormality in a valve in your heart, so it's a good idea to get it checked out. They did an ECG on me to rule out MVP. Regardless of the cause, a doctor can prescribe a beta blocker. You just take it about 30 minutes before working out.

    I'm no cardiologist, but tachycardia just means you have a fast heart rate. If there are no other issues and you're in otherwise normal sinus rhythm, is it really necessary to treat it with a beta-blocker when you work out? A beta blocker will decrease the intensity at which you can exercise.

    Certain types of tachycardia do require medication to slow down. SVT (supraventricular tachycardia) can be dangerous. There are some people who's heart rates do run higher than most people. I think mine runs high (mid 80s) most days and there are some who live in the 90s and low 100s. But anything higher than that usually requires another look to make sure it's nothing more serious. Starting with your PCP is always a good place to start as most Cardioloigists need a referral and who wants to spend that kind money for a specialist until you have to? LOL
  • Deisel1974
    Deisel1974 Posts: 19 Member
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    So there's something i've noticed when exercising (playing sports, running, group gym classes etc.) and that is I get heart palpitations/my heart seems to go too fast... sometimes i'm not even particularly out of breath. I make sure I stay hydrated and have alternated eating/not eating before working out. I'm not overweight but i'm slightly unfit (i'm very active and just trying to get super fit) but it's very distracting and makes me stop a lot of the time.
    Is this something to be concerned about, or is this normal?

    When you say "palpitations" can you guess your rate ? I have a similar issue, and we are talking HUGE. I want to say 190+ (i could be miss remembering) but I know it's big.

    They diagnosed me with SVT's, although I personally think it's a guess. I was told it's not life threatening. Is there anything that "sets it off"? For me it is stimulation of the Vegal (sp?) nerve. I can exercise all day with no issues, but if I bend over a certain way, BAM, it's like a light switch.

    Anyway, long story short, get a stress test.

    EDIT: spelling and whanot.
  • TrailRunner61
    TrailRunner61 Posts: 2,505 Member
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    See a Dr! Some of the info given in this forum is incorrect. <gasp>

    I was having palpitations, then migraines while working out, saw my Dr. and found out that I was having 'spells' of super high blood pressure, sometimes 195/109! It had always been normal while in for other Dr visits so I was kind of shocked. I ended up on the highest dose of one med and they added another, to finally get it under control. I have since lost 40lbs (13 to go but I'm in a 'healthy' weigh range now) and was able to lose one of the meds but still have to take the highest dose of the other. My Dr. said that since it didn't go down after weight loss, it probably is a type that is hereditary.

    Again, see your Dr as everyone's 'reasons' for palpitations are different. It could be something serious but it may not be!
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
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    dont mess with this problem , see a cardiologist , you will wear a 24 hr monitor and they will determine if its anything serious or something that will eventualy pass

    ^^^^ THIS

    It could be nothing or it could be serious. Better safe than sorry.
  • amsohs85
    amsohs85 Posts: 166
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    Glad you made the appointment!!! This may be nothing or it could be a serious problem....either way you will find out and be able to address the issue.

    As for the energy drinks mentioned here. I personally know 4 people under the age of 25 who have had very scary incidents related to frequent use of energy drinks. Two of those people were consuming large quantities of caffeine in other forms and the other two had taken cold medications after consuming more then one energy drink in a 24 hour time period. My nephew is an RN in the emergency room and he says that there has been a big increase among teens and twenty somethings coming in with heart arrythmias and heart attack like symptoms. Almost all of the patients he has dealt with have consumed energy drinks recently either alone or combined with other substances which can increase your heart rate. I've always questioned the need to use these drinks and i dont allow my teens to buy them just to be safe.
  • makemewannadie
    makemewannadie Posts: 401 Member
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    Thank you all for the info!

    Well I just out something today that i want to kick myself for- i'm on the contraceptive pill (have been for a year) and I smoke, apparently that shouldn't be allowed as it can cause major heart trouble (blood clots etc). Eek! Fingers crossed that's not connected somehow and I haven't done any harm. This pack of cigarettes is my last anyhow (I've had this pack of 20 for a long time, I used to smoke 5-6 a day and now I usually have one a day and sometimes skip a day without having one, i'm finding it easier to fade them out instead of quit straight away... excuses excuses haha, my boyfriend smokes too so it's not easy, but i'm trying!)
    To the people who have commented about energy drinks- I used to drink energy drinks (Monster especially) but haven't had them for about half a year. I do drink a lot of coffee though, so perhaps it's down to something as simple as that?
    Will let you guys know how it goes tomorrow if anyone is interested. (:
  • kakklespakkle
    kakklespakkle Posts: 118 Member
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    You gave me palpitations seeing that you posted it on here instead of going straight to the doctor!

    Go see a doctor. Anything heart or chest related should be checked out asap, if only for reassurance x

    Edit - just seen you have booked an appointment. Good work :)
  • hughtwalker
    hughtwalker Posts: 2,213 Member
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    if anyone is interested. (:

    Of course we are.

    By the way, my "serious" outcome in January was lots of little clots in my pulmonary veins - after 6 months Warfarin and no more problem, - all sorted - so even your (apparent) worst case scenario could be no big deal IF TREATED!

    Furthermore, I had gone to the gym the day before I was admitted (as an emergency with a resting pulse of 180 and BP of 180/110) and worked out for an hour before feeling "a little tired" - with an HRM showing 160 after 2 minutes on the cross-trainer and treadmill,respectively - and I just thought, "Gosh! I'm working well today". I had gone to the doctor because my pulse felt a little high and I was breathless.

    I am not very bright.
  • fittocycle
    fittocycle Posts: 827 Member
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    Check back in later and let us know how your appointment went today!:flowerforyou:

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