Fast heart rate

Is it normal to get a racing heart in a hot shower?  This happens to me almost every morning...goes up to about 120.  It doesn't calm down for about an hour or so.  I also get vision loss when I stand up too fast.  I have myxomatous mitral valve (no regurg) and mild aortic regurg.  Should I investigate this?

[CCF-M.D.-MJM]

Hi Emka,

I have to admit this is a bit unusual and I haven 't heard this question before.  Most holter or event monitors cannot get wet, so that complicates things a bit.

The truth is that I think this is unusual and should be look into, but I do not think it will be something serious.  Do you shower at the same time of day (ie morning before work) and do you like your job?  I have seen one person that had panic attacks in the shower mainly because they hated their job and had panic attacks when they had to go to work.  I will admit that it was a bit of an odd situation though.

Becareful to stand up slowly -- I know this sound simple, but you may pass out if you stand up too quickly.

I would go to your primary care doctor and let them know your concerns.  They should be able to help arrange a holter monitor if indicated.  Good luck.

[jan]

I don't know if a hot shower will do it, but we just had to sell our Jacuzzi, because even at 99* I would get tachycardia and dizzy and oft times weak.  Oh, and I am on meds for tachy.

Also, the vision loss occurs with me (not so much anymore with treatment) with NCS and with the tachy, both upon rising.  (I found out that is wasn't always the NCS, but sometimes tachy, just recently thanks to a Reveal Monitor.)

[lak]

So my question to anyone willing to offer their opion is .......Does heat cause blood pressure to rise.  Being in the outside heat or the heat of a hot tub?

[heartygirl]

Go to Yahoo! and look up the symptoms of POTS.  I think you will be surprised at how many of the symptoms fit.
POTS causes tachycarda upon standing and people with POTS cannot tolerate heat - it causes tachycardia.  This may be what you are experiencing.  Look into it & good luck.

[Meghann]

Thank you, it IS usually in the morning and I DO hate my job but...it may have to do with the coffee I drink right before the shower.  It just struck me this morning that I feel that way in the shower.  It also happens at odd times for seemingly no reason.  I'll talk to my cardio about it at my next check up.  Thanks.

[PikaPika88]

I also experienced quite frequent (NOT 100%) palpitation in the hot shower.  I thought the bathroom is full of steam instead of oxygen so make me hard to breath then the palpitation start. I never tell anyone because my palpitation can start anywhere and anytime when it likes.  

One stage, my palpitation had reversed at the ER.  When I get dress prepare to go home, the palp started again.  Asked to go back to bed, it stopped.  Get down the bed it started again and so on........ One of the Dr said out loud that he's 4 years at ER, this is the first case that he has seen.  After that, 2 Drs, 3 Drs ..... keep coming in .  I was asked to up and down .... and showed them.  End up palp not stopped any more.  Have to send up to the ward and stayed over night.  Just this over night and ER cost the health insurance about $3,800.00  One week later the insurance called and asked how many Dr have seen you and what are their names?  Gooosh!  Never asked have to count and record their names before!!!  No hot shower, only get up and down at the bed will cause palpitation too.

I also get very dizzy and nausea when I stand up after a squat.  The longer squat cause the stir vision and nausea last longer.  I didn't have any valve problems.  I have iron deficiency.  May be it is the reason.

[Duchess47]

Sometimes these symtoms (symptoms) can be caused by an overactive thyroid.  Have your thyroid checked it is an easy blood test.

[pandora9049]

This happens to me too.  I think it's the hot water.  Try using a cooler temp water and see what happens.

[Renee777]

I don't mean to alarm you, but any time you are dealing with vision problems, this could be a sign of an impending stroke.  Something like that should not be ignored.  I'd contact a doctor ASAP.

[spencer123]

um i thought it was completely normal for your heart rate to increase when taking a hot shower cuz its the bodys response to the heat, plus your working and moving. I've even read in places that it shows that your nervous system and HRV is in tact when it rises with hot showers and in hot weather.

[angeandbella]

My understanding is that hot water (or other forms of heat) cause vasodilation, so the blood goes to your feet.   To make up for this, your heart compensates by increasing it's rate.   I often get dizzy and tachycardic after hot baths, in hot weather, or waiting in line in overheated shops.

[Angie O'Plasty]

That's my understanding as well.  Peripheral vasodilation --> drop in BP --> increased heart rate to keep the BP at a normal level.  I've been known to get a bit tachycardic in hot weather etc. (or sitting in the sauna for too long trying to warm up after teaching swim lessons!) on occasion as well--I don't think it's that unusual.

[compassion]

Unfortunately, maybe your fast heart rate isn't anything to be concerned about, but it has been for me. I'm 24years old and I have PSVT and palpitations. I have to cut my showers short because I become symptomatic (have palpitations and fast heart rate). I'm on verapamil for my arrhythmia. The same thing happens in humidity, cold weather, and while at rest. I don't know if you're experiencing what I am, but if it interfers with your life, I would look into it.

[suze UK]

hello all,im a first timer at this,but have been reading for a while now,I went to the docs last week with fast heart beat and ectopics,she is going to refer me to cardio although she thinks its anxiety related.My heart also goes fast in the shower and the ectopics seem to increase in relation to my heart rate.During rest i maybe only get an ectopic every 5 mins or so but in shower or other exertion ectopics can kick in every 5-10 beats!Food shopping and waiting in queues is another trigger.Rate goes up to 120-150 bpm,does this sound like svt?
Anyway I seem to have the same fears as a lot of you,sudden death!cardiomyopathy etc,have 2 young kids and just want to see them grow up!I am usually quite level headed but now find myself getting anxious about have ? anxiety!!!
Does this sound similar to anyone or am I going mad?Live near Paisley Scotland and would like to hear from anyone but in particular fellow scots.

[upbeat63]

Welcome to the forum, wish it were on better circumstances.

I have both anxiety and PVCs but I think they are separate issues. I don't know which came first, it seems I've had them both for so long. But I do know that being in open crowed places like shopping, or waiting in line, or at a traffic light can sometimes begin an anxiety attack, or what one doctor called free floating panic attacks. I could even get anxiety at dinner with friends or relaxing watching TV at home. The triggers can be different. But the results are always the same, especially the increased heart rate. Funny, all the doctors told me the symptoms would subside in about 20 minutes, but mine seem to go on much longer. The PVCs might increase because of your increased heart rate. I could never tell since I always have PVCs but don't always have the anxiety. Hope you get answers and relief of both.

[BumTicker]

Hi people. I'm 19 years old and I've been in the army for a good year and a half. When I joined I signed a waiver for tachycardia. They told me it just meant a fast heart rate and not to worry. It's starting to bother me now, however. As my pulse never goes below 100 bpm in any part of the waking day. It shoots up way higher if I do something as little as yawning or stretching. I know it isn't because I'm out of shape, because the army makes me run, and I go to the gym on my own time. My mother has it, plus some other conditions, and has been on meds since she was 13. I am on no medication of any kind for anything. I eat healthy, balanced meals. But my heart is always racing 100% of the time. Last night I checked and it was almost 140. Please, tell me what you can. Thanks.

[tickertock]

Hi,

If I were you I would consult with an electrophysiologist, a cardiologist that mainly specializes in arrhythmias and the electrical system of the heart. There are a few cardiac conditions that would cause the heart to beat over 100 bpm all or most of the time , some that come to mind are IST (inappropriate sinus tachycardia) and PJRT( permanent junctional reciprocating tachycardia). Bear in mind I am not suggesting that you have any of these conditions, your case might be completely different and i am not a medical doctor, I am merely suggesting that if I were you, I would seek a consultation with an EP cardiologist.

[suze UK]

Thanks for your comment,I dont think of myself as particularly anxious but perhaps I worry about things too much,will work on relaxing and will let you know the cardiology opinion.Cheers!

[tom2410]

I am now 20 yrs old, and have experienced tachycardia since mid teens. I am fit and exercise regularly, but my job as musician & composer (though intensely enjoyable) also includes quite a lot of every-day stress, or should I say 'strenous' activity (daily performing, making the heart often beat fast and occasionally panic attacks); I have had this from quite an early age (coming from a performance background), and am often aware of the heart beating fast. I have had all of the check ups (3 ECGs, a heart scan and 24 hour holter) and my heart is healthy and normal for a person of my age, apparently.

However, do you know whether there is any link between having had these symptoms for several years, and premature death? I really hope not, but at the moment I'm worrying every time my heart goes fast, and particularly about the future and having had so much performance stress in the past. I just wondered whether you might be able to offer any reassurance. Is having a fast heart beat for most of the day OK? Should one perhaps seek a slightly less active lifestyle?

[upbeat63]

Hi Tom,
Don't know what you mean by a fast heart rate. Do you have some numbers? I used to get panic attacks and have my resting heart rate go to 120bpm and higher and it seemed to go on for longer than the anxiety. Tachycardia is anything above 100bpm as you probably know.

I was never really sure if the fast heart rate brough on anxiety or the other way around.

Sounds like you have a lot of stress as a performer. If you love what you do, stick with it. If you exercise stick with that too. And try to reduce the other triggers that might cause an increase rate, smoking? caffiene? alcohol? Don't know if you use any of these, but performers may use them to excess (sometimes).
Did they capture your fast heart rate on any of the tests you've had?

[debrox]

Hi I am new to this forum and I had a question that I hope can be answered.  I am 21 years old and in decent shape and no medical history.  Often times when I take a hot shower/bath I am tachycardia- about 115+, sometimes with slight palpitations.  It usually calms down within 30-45 minutes after I finish with my shower. I know it can be do to the heat and dilation of the vessels.  Is this something to worry about or is this a common occurence?

[jspei]

A related discussion, RE: Fast Heart Rate was started.