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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Fast resting heart rate
Answered by
Cleveland - OH
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Fast resting heart rate
by KAK83, Nov 06, 2006 12:00AM
I'm 23, male, 5'11, 185lbs. No history or heart problems, very little family history of heart problems.
A few weeks ago, I started feeling tingling in my left hand and left leg. After a week of it, it got so bad that I went to the ER. I was there for four hours, and my average heart rate was 126. It never dropped below 110.
I went to a cardiologist, and had a holter monitor that said that my heart rate goes between 100 and 166, with little or no physical activity. He did a stress echo, which he couldn't see very well because of the way my ribs are situated.
My heart rate is still fast ... it never drops below 100, usually stays around 120. My doctor is out of town for a week, so it'll be a long time until I see him again. He doesn't think that I have heart disease, though he sent me to a radiologist a few days ago to have a CT scan on my heart to be sure that there are no coronary abnormalities.
My questions are these:
1. How serious is this?
2. What are the chances of having a heart attack or sudden death?
3. If my heartbeat is just too fast (tachycardia, I assume), will I be able to live a long, healthy life?
4. How is this treated?
5. He said my heart looked weak, like a "40 year old's". Could this be because I've had the tachycardia (or whatever I have) for a long time, and my heart has grown weak and tired? Will this affect how long and how well I can live?
Sorry for all of the questions, but my doctor won't be back for a long time, and I'm a bit frightened that I'm sitting around with a fast beat that's wearning my heart out.
Thank you!
A few weeks ago, I started feeling tingling in my left hand and left leg. After a week of it, it got so bad that I went to the ER. I was there for four hours, and my average heart rate was 126. It never dropped below 110.
I went to a cardiologist, and had a holter monitor that said that my heart rate goes between 100 and 166, with little or no physical activity. He did a stress echo, which he couldn't see very well because of the way my ribs are situated.
My heart rate is still fast ... it never drops below 100, usually stays around 120. My doctor is out of town for a week, so it'll be a long time until I see him again. He doesn't think that I have heart disease, though he sent me to a radiologist a few days ago to have a CT scan on my heart to be sure that there are no coronary abnormalities.
My questions are these:
1. How serious is this?
2. What are the chances of having a heart attack or sudden death?
3. If my heartbeat is just too fast (tachycardia, I assume), will I be able to live a long, healthy life?
4. How is this treated?
5. He said my heart looked weak, like a "40 year old's". Could this be because I've had the tachycardia (or whatever I have) for a long time, and my heart has grown weak and tired? Will this affect how long and how well I can live?
Sorry for all of the questions, but my doctor won't be back for a long time, and I'm a bit frightened that I'm sitting around with a fast beat that's wearning my heart out.
Thank you!
Doctor's Answer
by Cleveland Clinic, Nov 06, 2006 12:00AM
, Nov 06, 2006 12:00AM
kak,
thanks for the post. sorry you haven't been well.
The most important item for me firstly would be what your rhythm is while these episodes are happening. If it is sinus tachycardia, it could be caused by any number of things from anxiety to thyroid dysfunction. If it is an abnormal rhythm, then it may be primarily cardiac. Until the rythm is determined, telling you the treatment is impossible. Overall, a good history and physical should teas out the etiology.
1. How serious is this?
Depends on the cause. I would be seen if your heart rate starts racing again.
2. What are the chances of having a heart attack or sudden death?
Probably pretty low given your age, but I would discuss with your doctor.
3. If my heartbeat is just too fast (tachycardia, I assume), will I be able to live a long, healthy life?
Prolonged tachycardia can cause heart problems. You need to know the etiology of the tachycardia and treat it.
4. How is this treated?
Depends on the cause.
5. He said my heart looked weak, like a "40 year old's". Could this be because I've had the tachycardia (or whatever I have) for a long time, and my heart has grown weak and tired? Will this affect how long and how well I can live?
You obviously have some underlying process if this is the case. At such a young age I would seek the opinion of a cardiologist, particularly one who specializes in heart failure.
good luck
thanks for the post. sorry you haven't been well.
The most important item for me firstly would be what your rhythm is while these episodes are happening. If it is sinus tachycardia, it could be caused by any number of things from anxiety to thyroid dysfunction. If it is an abnormal rhythm, then it may be primarily cardiac. Until the rythm is determined, telling you the treatment is impossible. Overall, a good history and physical should teas out the etiology.
1. How serious is this?
Depends on the cause. I would be seen if your heart rate starts racing again.
2. What are the chances of having a heart attack or sudden death?
Probably pretty low given your age, but I would discuss with your doctor.
3. If my heartbeat is just too fast (tachycardia, I assume), will I be able to live a long, healthy life?
Prolonged tachycardia can cause heart problems. You need to know the etiology of the tachycardia and treat it.
4. How is this treated?
Depends on the cause.
5. He said my heart looked weak, like a "40 year old's". Could this be because I've had the tachycardia (or whatever I have) for a long time, and my heart has grown weak and tired? Will this affect how long and how well I can live?
You obviously have some underlying process if this is the case. At such a young age I would seek the opinion of a cardiologist, particularly one who specializes in heart failure.
good luck
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Have you had a good general work up done by your regular doctor? I ask because tachycardia is symptom of many conditions that are not coming from the heart itself, but are affecting the rate. If they can find and treat an underlying problem, the tachycardia will be addressed.
I haven't had an underlying problem discovered. Sometimes there's no reason they can find.
The good news is that my cardiologist says that I have no arrythmias, based on the holter monitor. Just going too fast ...
Sounds like other people have the same problem. Here's hoping it turns out well for all of us!
Again, thank you.
Typically when someone mentions a heart appearing "weak" from looking at an echo, it means your pumping function is beginning to suffer (the cardiomyopathy issue that was mentioned by someone else). If that is the case, and it's caused by the tachycardia, getting the tachycardia under control can reverse it a lot of the time. I really hope things work out well for you, and that you get some answers soon. Make sure you find a reputable cardiologist, ask around (soon) and see who people recommend in your area. Many times local hospitals will make recommendations or referrals too. Make sure when you're getting that appointment you mention what was said about your heart.
Sending good thoughts for you. Keep us posted.
It is frustrating to know you have a problem and no one seems to be able to help. Our cardiologist is sending his records to a surgeon, Dr. McCarthy in Chicago, to see if he thinks this surgery, a pericardectomy, can be done. The surgeon in Nashville thought it could not be done.
Has anyone had this problem?
My boyfriend (26 years old) has an enlarged heart. His doctor told him that it wasn't anything he ought to worry about, only he should have it checked every 10 years or so (this was at least 3 years ago). A few weeks ago he complained of dizziness, saying he felt as though he was about to pass out, but he was fine after a few hours and we put it down to a cold and ear infection he developed shortly thereafter. This morning I woke up to find him awake, saying that he hadn't been able to sleep all night because his heart was beating so quickly. I put my hand on his chest and could easily feel it (this was about 6 hours after we'd both gone to bed). About 2 hours later he was able to fall asleep and he's now fine. His new year's resolution was to quit smoking, so he smoked quite a lot of cigarettes (at least triple the number he'd usually smoke in an evening) last night.
I am very worried, can someone please tell me if his rapid heart beat might just have been the result of too much nicotine, or if, because of his enlarged heart, this is more serious? Tomorrow I am going to make an appointment for him to see a specialist but I would still really appreciate any information anyone on here can give me. Thanks very much.
im am 20 years old and i have a fast resting heart rate. it stays at about 120 bpm it has been like this for about a month that i have noticed. it all started after i quit taking my pain medication. i was hurt really bad in a car accident in "04" and they gave me oxy cautin had me taking 3 40's a day for pain. then when i went without my medication i started having really bad withdrawl symptoms. so i had to get off of it, i told my docter and he prescribed me methodone for a week or so then i went without it same withdrawl feeling. then he gave me hydrocodone which i had to take for a month to completley get off of it which i did. but while i was still tappering myself off of everything i was having terrible pains in my side that i have had for about 6 years but i wanted to see what it was and my white blood cell count was 20,000 and anywhere between 6-9,000 is normal i think so they keep me in the hospital for three days and the whole time i was in there my heart rate never went below 100bpm and when i went in it was 136bpm thats when i found out that my resting heart rate was high i was scared to death. i saw my family docter which thought it might be anxiety so she gave me klonopin 1mg twice a day which i have been taking for 6weeks know which havent helped me at all. so she reffered me to a cardiologist. he seen me for like 5 min and i told him how i was on the pain meds for a long time. and i heard that pain meds can slow your heart down so i told the cardiologist that i think it could be where i was on the pain meds for so long and it slowed my heart down for so long and know that im not taking them anymore my heart doesnt know what to do so it beats out of my chest. he laughed at me and said that doesnt even make sense pain medications doesnt hurt your heart at all. i was like they couldnt give me heart disease or anything he was like no.which i dont believe, what do you think?
then he told me he wanted to give me a echo and if nothing bad showed up it was fine i was young i could handle it beating fast, i was like even when it gets up to 154bpm he was like yea. i go back for my echo feb 5. what do you think about all of this? the er had me wear a holter moniter for 24 hours and my heart beat ranged from57-154bpm and they did a ct scan of my chest it was fine. what do you think is wrong with me. do you think its just my body adjusting from the pain meds to the life style without them now? or what anything will help me at this point im scared to death. everydocter tells me something diffrent.
i think the white blood cell count being up had something to do with the pain meds also.
thanx in advance
please help me any advice at this time will help!
im am 20 years old and i have a fast resting heart rate. it stays at about 120 bpm it has been like this for about a month that i have noticed. it all started after i quit taking my pain medication. i was hurt really bad in a car accident in "04" and they gave me oxy cautin had me taking 3 40's a day for pain. then when i went without my medication i started having really bad withdrawl symptoms. so i had to get off of it, i told my docter and he prescribed me methodone for a week or so then i went without it same withdrawl feeling. then he gave me hydrocodone which i had to take for a month to completley get off of it which i did. but while i was still tappering myself off of everything i was having terrible pains in my side that i have had for about 6 years but i wanted to see what it was and my white blood cell count was 20,000 and anywhere between 6-9,000 is normal i think so they keep me in the hospital for three days and the whole time i was in there my heart rate never went below 100bpm and when i went in it was 136bpm thats when i found out that my resting heart rate was high i was scared to death. i saw my family docter which thought it might be anxiety so she gave me klonopin 1mg twice a day which i have been taking for 6weeks know which havent helped me at all. so she reffered me to a cardiologist. he seen me for like 5 min and i told him how i was on the pain meds for a long time. and i heard that pain meds can slow your heart down so i told the cardiologist that i think it could be where i was on the pain meds for so long and it slowed my heart down for so long and know that im not taking them anymore my heart doesnt know what to do so it beats out of my chest. he laughed at me and said that doesnt even make sense pain medications doesnt hurt your heart at all. i was like they couldnt give me heart disease or anything he was like no.which i dont believe, what do you think?
then he told me he wanted to give me a echo and if nothing bad showed up it was fine i was young i could handle it beating fast, i was like even when it gets up to 154bpm he was like yea. i go back for my echo feb 5. what do you think about all of this? the er had me wear a holter moniter for 24 hours and my heart beat ranged from57-154bpm and they did a ct scan of my chest it was fine. what do you think is wrong with me. do you think its just my body adjusting from the pain meds to the life style without them now? or what anything will help me at this point im scared to death. everydocter tells me something diffrent.
i think the white blood cell count being up had something to do with the pain meds also.
thanx in advance
please help me any advice at this time will help!
im am 20 years old and i have a fast resting heart rate. it stays at about 120 bpm it has been like this for about a month that i have noticed. it all started after i quit taking my pain medication. i was hurt really bad in a car accident in "04" and they gave me oxy cautin had me taking 3 40's a day for pain. then when i went without my medication i started having really bad withdrawl symptoms. so i had to get off of it, i told my docter and he prescribed me methodone for a week or so then i went without it same withdrawl feeling. then he gave me hydrocodone which i had to take for a month to completley get off of it which i did. but while i was still tappering myself off of everything i was having terrible pains in my side that i have had for about 6 years but i wanted to see what it was and my white blood cell count was 20,000 and anywhere between 6-9,000 is normal i think so they keep me in the hospital for three days and the whole time i was in there my heart rate never went below 100bpm and when i went in it was 136bpm thats when i found out that my resting heart rate was high i was scared to death. i saw my family docter which thought it might be anxiety so she gave me klonopin 1mg twice a day which i have been taking for 6weeks know which havent helped me at all. so she reffered me to a cardiologist. he seen me for like 5 min and i told him how i was on the pain meds for a long time. and i heard that pain meds can slow your heart down so i told the cardiologist that i think it could be where i was on the pain meds for so long and it slowed my heart down for so long and know that im not taking them anymore my heart doesnt know what to do so it beats out of my chest. he laughed at me and said that doesnt even make sense pain medications doesnt hurt your heart at all. i was like they couldnt give me heart disease or anything he was like no.which i dont believe, what do you think?
then he told me he wanted to give me a echo and if nothing bad showed up it was fine i was young i could handle it beating fast, i was like even when it gets up to 154bpm he was like yea. i go back for my echo feb 5. what do you think about all of this? the er had me wear a holter moniter for 24 hours and my heart beat ranged from57-154bpm and they did a ct scan of my chest it was fine. what do you think is wrong with me. do you think its just my body adjusting from the pain meds to the life style without them now? or what anything will help me at this point im scared to death. everydocter tells me something diffrent.
i think the white blood cell count being up had something to do with the pain meds also.
thanx in advance
please help me any advice at this time will help!
im am 20 years old and i have a fast resting heart rate. it stays at about 120 bpm it has been like this for about a month that i have noticed. it all started after i quit taking my pain medication. i was hurt really bad in a car accident in "04" and they gave me oxy cautin had me taking 3 40's a day for pain. then when i went without my medication i started having really bad withdrawl symptoms. so i had to get off of it, i told my docter and he prescribed me methodone for a week or so then i went without it same withdrawl feeling. then he gave me hydrocodone which i had to take for a month to completley get off of it which i did. but while i was still tappering myself off of everything i was having terrible pains in my side that i have had for about 6 years but i wanted to see what it was and my white blood cell count was 20,000 and anywhere between 6-9,000 is normal i think so they keep me in the hospital for three days and the whole time i was in there my heart rate never went below 100bpm and when i went in it was 136bpm thats when i found out that my resting heart rate was high i was scared to death. i saw my family docter which thought it might be anxiety so she gave me klonopin 1mg twice a day which i have been taking for 6weeks know which havent helped me at all. so she reffered me to a cardiologist. he seen me for like 5 min and i told him how i was on the pain meds for a long time. and i heard that pain meds can slow your heart down so i told the cardiologist that i think it could be where i was on the pain meds for so long and it slowed my heart down for so long and know that im not taking them anymore my heart doesnt know what to do so it beats out of my chest. he laughed at me and said that doesnt even make sense pain medications doesnt hurt your heart at all. i was like they couldnt give me heart disease or anything he was like no.which i dont believe, what do you think?
then he told me he wanted to give me a echo and if nothing bad showed up it was fine i was young i could handle it beating fast, i was like even when it gets up to 154bpm he was like yea. i go back for my echo feb 5. what do you think about all of this? the er had me wear a holter moniter for 24 hours and my heart beat ranged from57-154bpm and they did a ct scan of my chest it was fine. what do you think is wrong with me. do you think its just my body adjusting from the pain meds to the life style without them now? or what anything will help me at this point im scared to death. everydocter tells me something diffrent.
i think the white blood cell count being up had something to do with the pain meds also.
thanx in advance
please help me any advice at this time will help!