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Heart and Walking
I have a question I am hoping you can help me with. I suffered from anxiety attacks for 3 years and have not had an attack in over a year. But I have a question about the heart and walking.
I am 30 and thin non smoker and was in really good shape before anxiety took over for 3 years. The thing is when I walk I can feel my hert beating faster. I even went for a treadmill test and the cardiologist said my heart rate was very high for only a few minutes of walking (185 BPM) but he said everything looked OK. But knowing that my heart gets high really makes me uneasy because with the anxiety attacks the heart racing was my main symptom and focus I would check my pulse all the time.
Can you tell me if there is something wrong with me or does everyone's heart go up that fast just from simple walking at a slow pace.
I dont like to walk far because I feel like I always need to sit IN CASE my heart rate is going up. I am planning a trip to Disney and really want to go but I dont think I'll be good with all the walking. I don't have pain or a lot of breathlessness just feels fast in my chest. Thanks for any info you can give. Also do you know of any psychological problem where you become afraid of your own heart?? THANKS SO MUCH :)
I am 30 and thin non smoker and was in really good shape before anxiety took over for 3 years. The thing is when I walk I can feel my hert beating faster. I even went for a treadmill test and the cardiologist said my heart rate was very high for only a few minutes of walking (185 BPM) but he said everything looked OK. But knowing that my heart gets high really makes me uneasy because with the anxiety attacks the heart racing was my main symptom and focus I would check my pulse all the time.
Can you tell me if there is something wrong with me or does everyone's heart go up that fast just from simple walking at a slow pace.
I dont like to walk far because I feel like I always need to sit IN CASE my heart rate is going up. I am planning a trip to Disney and really want to go but I dont think I'll be good with all the walking. I don't have pain or a lot of breathlessness just feels fast in my chest. Thanks for any info you can give. Also do you know of any psychological problem where you become afraid of your own heart?? THANKS SO MUCH :)
A related discussion, immediate rise in rate after stopping exercise was started.
I didn't know how brand names would be received on the site.
I also use a Polar Heart rate monitor.
I also use a Polar Heart rate monitor.
Jean27
Do you feel any exhaustion when your heart rate is 185 bpm? While, as the Doctor states, your maximum attainable rate rate is higher than what you say you experienced based on the calculation of maximum rate, I wonder "how you feel" during these episodes.
My comments are based on personal experience of exercise and weight loss while monitoring my heart rate. I have used a heart rate monitor during exercise for three years (have sent it back twice for battery replacement). Without going into a lot of detail about my exercise regiment, my rate averages about 130 bpm max during a fast walk. Jogging gets my rate up to 170 bpm depending upon the intensity of the run. I am in reasonable shape, and it takes somewhat hard running to get my rate up to 170 bpm. Prior to getting into condition (resting rate decreased from 85 to 55 bpm), I would feel tired if my rate got up to 160 bpm during my exercise routine. Hence, my question about how you feel at a 185 bpm rate while walking.
Everyone has given good advice, so I don't have anything to add there, but I use one of several heart rate monitors available on the market. I assume they all work well. I use one which allows me to download my rate for storage on my computer (no I am not a fanatic, just data driven). I started this to monitor the longterm effect of weight loss and conditioning on my heartrate.
Do you feel any exhaustion when your heart rate is 185 bpm? While, as the Doctor states, your maximum attainable rate rate is higher than what you say you experienced based on the calculation of maximum rate, I wonder "how you feel" during these episodes.
My comments are based on personal experience of exercise and weight loss while monitoring my heart rate. I have used a heart rate monitor during exercise for three years (have sent it back twice for battery replacement). Without going into a lot of detail about my exercise regiment, my rate averages about 130 bpm max during a fast walk. Jogging gets my rate up to 170 bpm depending upon the intensity of the run. I am in reasonable shape, and it takes somewhat hard running to get my rate up to 170 bpm. Prior to getting into condition (resting rate decreased from 85 to 55 bpm), I would feel tired if my rate got up to 160 bpm during my exercise routine. Hence, my question about how you feel at a 185 bpm rate while walking.
Everyone has given good advice, so I don't have anything to add there, but I use one of several heart rate monitors available on the market. I assume they all work well. I use one which allows me to download my rate for storage on my computer (no I am not a fanatic, just data driven). I started this to monitor the longterm effect of weight loss and conditioning on my heartrate.
Hi again.
I use a polar watch/heart monitor with a strap which goes around my chest...works well. Yes I have had anxiety in the past, but what precipitated my current state of health I wouldnt wish on anyone.
I was dating a girl who was quite a bit younger than me and very stressful and demanding...made me drink myself silly from the stress of it..I was also taking ritalin and prozac....Finally got rid of the awful girl. However one morning my heart began to race out of the blue...of course I wnet to ER where they treated me like a child and then wheeled a corpse past me...when my heart slowed down, I thought I had better go as the standard answer you get in the UK on a weekend in ER is 'go and see your doctor on monday'. I walked across to speak to the nurse and as I did so an old lady on a trolley died in front of my eyes, the alarm went off and all the jurse said was...'oh that noise really goes through me' no-one made a move toward the trolley...the look on the old lady's face with her pupils taking up the whole of the coloured area of her eyes was horrifying...
That was 4 -5 years ago and I have had palpitations ever since, and I have had to ignore it because my doctor doesnt want to know, I have it has to be said lost count of the amount of times I have felt like giving him a slap.
I dont drink anymore, neither do I take any drugs, even prescription ones. whatever you do, try not to worry so much, it only adds to the stress, which causes most of the problems in the first place...Keep your exercise up...you'll feel better in the long run...and you will get your confidence back
xxx Ray
I use a polar watch/heart monitor with a strap which goes around my chest...works well. Yes I have had anxiety in the past, but what precipitated my current state of health I wouldnt wish on anyone.
I was dating a girl who was quite a bit younger than me and very stressful and demanding...made me drink myself silly from the stress of it..I was also taking ritalin and prozac....Finally got rid of the awful girl. However one morning my heart began to race out of the blue...of course I wnet to ER where they treated me like a child and then wheeled a corpse past me...when my heart slowed down, I thought I had better go as the standard answer you get in the UK on a weekend in ER is 'go and see your doctor on monday'. I walked across to speak to the nurse and as I did so an old lady on a trolley died in front of my eyes, the alarm went off and all the jurse said was...'oh that noise really goes through me' no-one made a move toward the trolley...the look on the old lady's face with her pupils taking up the whole of the coloured area of her eyes was horrifying...
That was 4 -5 years ago and I have had palpitations ever since, and I have had to ignore it because my doctor doesnt want to know, I have it has to be said lost count of the amount of times I have felt like giving him a slap.
I dont drink anymore, neither do I take any drugs, even prescription ones. whatever you do, try not to worry so much, it only adds to the stress, which causes most of the problems in the first place...Keep your exercise up...you'll feel better in the long run...and you will get your confidence back
xxx Ray
Congratulations on trying to get fitter...I've just started too, though I jog around a field and I am 44, jog about 30 minutes each time...I get a heartrate of up to 165 from slow jogging and it takes some time to come down afterwards...10 minutes will see it back around 100, mind you I've only just started...but it keeps going up and down...as I drive home it hangs around 112bpm..then drops...but it always seems to be around 100 nowadays...I've also been aware of my heartbeat most of the time for the last 5 years...no chest pain but the odd days with PVC's.
I generally try to ignore it, but it gets a bit tiresome when it's been going on for so long...of course my doctor just thinks I'm anxious...hes a pain.
Ray
I generally try to ignore it, but it gets a bit tiresome when it's been going on for so long...of course my doctor just thinks I'm anxious...hes a pain.
Ray
Do you have anxiety issues also?? You are right it is very annoying to constantly be aware of you heart but at least you are exercising anyway, that's great. I have to learn to not let the fast feeling from exercising make me nervous. How do you know your heart rate while you are jogging do you use a heart rate monitor? If you do can you tell me the name of it I am trying to find a reliable one to use while I exercise. THANKS for your post Jean :)
Please email me ***@****. I have the exact same situation as you and it really helps to talk about it.
Hia Jean,
I had something similar, could you email me... julie.***@****
Thanks!
I had something similar, could you email me... julie.***@****
Thanks!
Walking is one of the best things that you can do for your heart. I have severe coronary artery disease with a poor prognosis and I believe that walking, exercise, and cholesterol meds are keeping me alive, healthy, relaxed and happy.
I walk every morning and before lunch every day for both relaxation and exercise. Lately I have taken to walking up and down 1,500' to a Parasail launching point every morning before work, just to get in a little better shape and push up against my coronary artery disease every day.
I would say that when you have problems and fears that bother you, it's very hard to enjoy the moment. When I walk I try to listen to the birds, look up at the trees, and generally enjoy nature to get in the moment and push the other thoughts out for a few moments at least.
I wouldn't worry about the high H.R. - it will go down as you get conditioned and learn to grab some little moments of relaxation.
What other choice do you have? More meds? More doctors? If you do nothing, eventually the disease will come and get you or the doctors will have you screwed up so bad that you won't know which way to turn.
Just keep doing more physically. If you can walk a mile on the flat each day this month, perhaps you can walk a mile an a half next month, or put a couple of hills in your walk. Maybe you can walk one morning and swim the next. Exercise goes a long way to relieve anxiety.
Best Of Luck.
I walk every morning and before lunch every day for both relaxation and exercise. Lately I have taken to walking up and down 1,500' to a Parasail launching point every morning before work, just to get in a little better shape and push up against my coronary artery disease every day.
I would say that when you have problems and fears that bother you, it's very hard to enjoy the moment. When I walk I try to listen to the birds, look up at the trees, and generally enjoy nature to get in the moment and push the other thoughts out for a few moments at least.
I wouldn't worry about the high H.R. - it will go down as you get conditioned and learn to grab some little moments of relaxation.
What other choice do you have? More meds? More doctors? If you do nothing, eventually the disease will come and get you or the doctors will have you screwed up so bad that you won't know which way to turn.
Just keep doing more physically. If you can walk a mile on the flat each day this month, perhaps you can walk a mile an a half next month, or put a couple of hills in your walk. Maybe you can walk one morning and swim the next. Exercise goes a long way to relieve anxiety.
Best Of Luck.
Jean27,
Sorry to read about your recent troubles. The established dogma for the upper limit of normal for heart rate is 220 - age. Therefore, your heart rate maximum would be somewhere around 190, but there is significant variance with this number. I would certainly not be alarmed to see a person of your age who was able to get her heart rate as high as 200 without symptoms other than feeling a fast heartrate.
I think you did the right thing by undergoing a treadmill test under a doctor's supervision. I would have recommended this to you as well, just to give you reassurance that everything was alright. Unfortunately, you do not seem to relieved by your conversation with the doctor. Would a second conversation with him/her help? Maybe try asking very direct questions, such as "Were there any abnormalities with my treadmill test?" or "Is there anything wrong with my heart?".
Another way to provide reassurance in a less artificial environment than the stress lab would be to wear a holter monitor and go on walks in a safe place near your house. A holter monitor records your heart rate and rhythm for 24-48 hours for a doctor to interpret.
People can become afraid of anything that provokes anxiety. My heart races everytime my pager goes off! You are certainly young to become debilitated from anxiety. Seeing a psychiatrist or trusted internist might provide significant help.
A secondary cause of fast heart rate combined with anxiety is hyperthyroidism. You could consider having a thyroid hormone blood level checked.
Hope that helps.
Sorry to read about your recent troubles. The established dogma for the upper limit of normal for heart rate is 220 - age. Therefore, your heart rate maximum would be somewhere around 190, but there is significant variance with this number. I would certainly not be alarmed to see a person of your age who was able to get her heart rate as high as 200 without symptoms other than feeling a fast heartrate.
I think you did the right thing by undergoing a treadmill test under a doctor's supervision. I would have recommended this to you as well, just to give you reassurance that everything was alright. Unfortunately, you do not seem to relieved by your conversation with the doctor. Would a second conversation with him/her help? Maybe try asking very direct questions, such as "Were there any abnormalities with my treadmill test?" or "Is there anything wrong with my heart?".
Another way to provide reassurance in a less artificial environment than the stress lab would be to wear a holter monitor and go on walks in a safe place near your house. A holter monitor records your heart rate and rhythm for 24-48 hours for a doctor to interpret.
People can become afraid of anything that provokes anxiety. My heart races everytime my pager goes off! You are certainly young to become debilitated from anxiety. Seeing a psychiatrist or trusted internist might provide significant help.
A secondary cause of fast heart rate combined with anxiety is hyperthyroidism. You could consider having a thyroid hormone blood level checked.
Hope that helps.
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