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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
heart rate...atenolol
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heart rate...atenolol
by roothi, Jun 02, 2002 12:00AM
I'm a 38yr old woman, thin to average weight, who has a consistent resting heart rate of somewhere between 90 and 102. Thyroid is normal. I don't exercise regularly but I have 3 boys so I'm not completely inactive either. I smoke about 5 cigarettes a day, am trying to quit. My dr put me on 25mg atenolol once a day because of skipped beats. Sometimes I can feel it skip when I take my pulse, however I don't feel it in my chest, but other times, it feels like someone reaches in my chest and squeezes my heart and it takes my breath away and everything just stops for a couple seconds. It scares me. I have never been to a cardiologist (my father has had heart attacks and bypass surgery, and my uncle has an arrythmia and my mother has really high cholesteral-I've never had mine checked).
Should I be worried that I don't why my heart rate is so fast? Is it ok for me to be taking the atenolol when it's not known for sure what is wrong...can atenolol have any negative effects on my heart? From what I've read here, skipping is often not life-threatening, and I've cut out caffeine and alchohol completely, and the scary "skipping" that I can feel has been alot better. But I still worry about the "next time", I can't stand how it feels. When I do completely quit smoking, will that make a big difference in my resting heart rate?
Thank you in advance. This website, more than any other that I have looked at, has already answered alot of questions about atenolol and arrythmias, and I've told at least 3 people who have heart problems/concerns about it. You guys are great.
Should I be worried that I don't why my heart rate is so fast? Is it ok for me to be taking the atenolol when it's not known for sure what is wrong...can atenolol have any negative effects on my heart? From what I've read here, skipping is often not life-threatening, and I've cut out caffeine and alchohol completely, and the scary "skipping" that I can feel has been alot better. But I still worry about the "next time", I can't stand how it feels. When I do completely quit smoking, will that make a big difference in my resting heart rate?
Thank you in advance. This website, more than any other that I have looked at, has already answered alot of questions about atenolol and arrythmias, and I've told at least 3 people who have heart problems/concerns about it. You guys are great.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-KE, Jun 02, 2002 12:00AM
Palpitations
What you describe are commonly known as palpitations which is defined as an unpleasant awareness of the heartbeat. This may be the result of an early heart beat which in and of itself is not worrisome or it may represent a problem with the heart rhythm which may require further investigation. Substances such as amphetamines, cocaine, alcohol, tobacco and caffeine may worsen palpitations. It may be a good idea to contact a cardiologist for a heart evaluation. This evaluation may include holter moniter study which is involves wearing a device for 24 to 48hrs to record all heart activity. This may provide a clue as to the cause of your symptoms.
The drug atenolol is very safe medication, the side effects include fatigue, depression, wheezing and decreased exercise capacity. Though you should not stop taking atenolol abruptly which may cause a rebound increase in heart rate and blood pressure, there are really no long term effects on the heart.
Thanks for your question.
K.E.
What you describe are commonly known as palpitations which is defined as an unpleasant awareness of the heartbeat. This may be the result of an early heart beat which in and of itself is not worrisome or it may represent a problem with the heart rhythm which may require further investigation. Substances such as amphetamines, cocaine, alcohol, tobacco and caffeine may worsen palpitations. It may be a good idea to contact a cardiologist for a heart evaluation. This evaluation may include holter moniter study which is involves wearing a device for 24 to 48hrs to record all heart activity. This may provide a clue as to the cause of your symptoms.
The drug atenolol is very safe medication, the side effects include fatigue, depression, wheezing and decreased exercise capacity. Though you should not stop taking atenolol abruptly which may cause a rebound increase in heart rate and blood pressure, there are really no long term effects on the heart.
Thanks for your question.
K.E.
