Sinus Tachy question

I was having a think and wanted to ask a question -

I have been in contact with a cardiologist on allexperts.com and he said to me that anxiety does NOT cause CONSTANT sinus tachy.  It would be on and off with the anxiety.  And that if it was anxiety, relaxants such as benzodiazepines and even meditation and breathing exercises would calm it down.  

I started having Sinus Tachy in April.  It then seemed to not be occuring until early May when I was sat at my PC and it just out of nowhere started racing really fast and did not calm down for over an hour.  I was not anxious.

Since then it progressed to about 100-110bpm on standing and walking about, then more recently it went up to about 120-130bpm and I was put on beta blockers.  My resting rate (all of the time) was about 88-96 bpm.  Then as soon as I stood up it went up.  It was as though my resting rate was about 90bpm all the time.  My GP insisted it was GAD (Generalised Anxiety Disorder).  I also had a lot of palps when it was slowing down from racing.  

I had 4 ECGs in total and 2 chest x rays which have been normal.  (Apart from the fast rate)

When my heart slows down after being fast it does about 4 to 5 slow beats, 2 quick beats, then back to 4 to 5 slow ones again.  

I am on a waiting list to see a cardiologist.

Some people online suggested I had vasculitis or dermatomytisis (sp?) but I have had so much blood work including tests that wouold rule that out like Creatinine Kinaise.

My question is - How many people on here have or have had CONSTANT increased rate?

I know there are many with anxiety, but are your rates always faster than normal?

[sueinns]

I was diagnosed with PAT (paroxysmal atrial tachycardia) and I don't consider that it was brought on by anxiety.  I'm athletic and I have read many articles about people with low heart rates getting palpitations.  There was even an article in Runners World about this afflicting many runners and it's not due to anxiety.  There's also the question of hormones.  Many women have developed them with pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause.  So, there are definitely other factors at work, not just anxiety.  Once you get them though, they can be uncomfortable enough to make the most laid back person very anxious because they are scary.  Then the anxiety doesn't help - it just makes the condition worse.

Personally, I don't give them too much thought because I've been assured by my doctor that there is nothing structurally wrong with my heart.  My struggle right now is dealing with the side effects of the beta blockers but will give it time.

[Lextgrim]

It;s funny, the beta blockers I am on have not given me any side effects appart from increased appetite which is great because when my probs started I had lost lots of weight!  I lost my appetite and virtually starved myself before the tachy started, I did not think of myself as fat, I just did not want food, I was depressed!  I went down to 8 stone and I am 5'11" tall so that is REALLY skinny, I lost most of my body fat and muscle.  I looked terrible.  I was really pale looking and had really dark circles under my eyes.

Since being on the beta blockers I have eated lots!  I have gained 1/4 of a stone in a week!  I hope to gain more weight!

[Capleton]

In the normal healthy population, heart rate increases by an average of 10 - 15 beats a minute.  It is a bellcurve.  Some people have smaller increases, some people have larger.  Mine is often a difference of 20.  Walking will increase it even more.  Mostly my standing heart rate is 90 - 100 whereas my walking heart rate is 100- 110.  That is perfectly normal.  It may be slightly higher than the average but normal all the same.  Sometimes my standing heart rate will go as high as 120 or 125, but usually my resting heart rate is 100 at this time, and it is usually due to a stressful day, dehydration or following exercise.  I really think you are overanalysing but if call your doctor if you want to be sure.  

[Capleton]

In my last post, first line, what i meant to say was: In the normal healthyl population, heart rate increases by 10-15 bpm on standing.