exercise

[latte4me]

39 y/o female, told I had SVT due to an episode while sitting at work and not to worry about it. A couple of months later I had another episode while taking a cycling class - HR monitor showed that it climbed from 160 to 190 - but did recover on its own. Cardiologist indicated on the stress test that HR appeared to be on the fast side but thinks it's probably due to deconditioning, which I think is odd.

While I'm a few pounds overweight, I have been a regular exerciser (and former aerobics instructor) for ten years and I still exercise 4-6x/week at a pretty high intensity (generally below HR=165) and my HR does recover pretty quickly when I do work out.  

Since I do have a problem with anxiety/panic - treated with Wellbutrin - I don't want to jump to conclusions but am concerned that this problem has suddenly appeared, been duplicated on the stress test, and categorized as deconditioning when I do actually exercise a lot. I've stopped exercising intensely until it's solved, and it's getting a little boring!

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[Duchess47]

My daughter has had anxiety issues for years.  Her phychiatrist put her on anti-depression meds. for it.  When I asked about this she told me that he said the two can go hand in hand and once the depression meds. kicked in there shouldn't be any anxiety.  I myself have more of an occasional panic attack and need something that works immediatly which is Ativan (same as valium but works faster).  My friend on the other hand swares by Paxil for her anxiety.

[lbcalistyle]

Bicuspid Aortic Valve with Regurg question with murmur and high blood pressure im a 21 male very active in weightlifting and steriod users i was wondering how bad is it with my condition i havent been taken it for a long time but used for about a year could it have made it worst? please respond back thanks

[woodruff]

If your husband has not seen a shrink who specializes in the pharmacology management of anxiety, may I suggest he do so?  The reason I mention it is that some psychiatrists are specialists in this area, and others know little about it.  My favorite shrink is really a biologist, very interested in physiology, and he throws himself into research, weighing one drug's effect against another in an educated way.

Of course, another approach is light on the drugs, and heavier on cognitive or talk therapy.  One approach may be better for a particular patient than another.

Often, well-meaning GPs undertake this kind of thing, but the fact is that it's really rather specialized, and if the doc's attention is divided by people with measles, colds, bad cuts, and back injuries, he/she won't have much opportunity to spend on psych followup.

[Erik36]

I have to agree with anacyde. wellbutrin is not an anti-anxiety drug. It is for depression and also is used to help people quit smoking. It can actually raise your heart rate and increase your anxiety problems. A drug like Paxil would be a good place to start. Xanax can be taken in conjunction with the Paxil. I take both together and have been anxiety-free for years. I also get PVC's and PAC's and I used to get SVT which is controlled with Toprol XL. I still get irregular beats with exercise but I continue to exercise. Once you get over the fear of the heart you'll realize you'll be fine and the exercise will actually make you feel better anxiety-wise. Good luck!

Erik

[zil]

Anacyde,

If you don't mind.  What anxiety med?

My husband has severe anxiety over the chest pains and jaw and arms pains he has been having with no apparent solution. (tests thus far have been clear).

He is 33, but because of family history and high bp, cholestorol he is constantly worried.

Tried both zoloft and cymbalta and within days he was MUCH worse.  Was on Xanax for a while, (low dose XR) but he didn't want to get addicted.  It helped, but didn't solve things.

Just wondering what med is working for you?

Thanks.

[zil]

Thanks.

Unfortunately he also tried Buspar but got dizzy almost immediately and a bit sick to his stomach.

Oh well... we will keep searching.

[zil]

Yeah,

In some ways I give him credit.

He is in anxiety hell right now, it comes and goes and it comes and goes when he gets jaw/upper chest pain primarily.  Though he wakes up shaking sometimes and denies it.

He was on .5 xanax XR for 5 months, it helped but he is very worried about becoming addicted or just needing it.

So, he weened himself off of it.  Had about 2 really good weeks after it was out of his system, then the physical symptoms came back... which ramp the anxiety up.  He doesn't want to die (who does?)  My brother died at an early age due to sudden cardiac death, and while no, that isn't his genetics he is so worried of leaving me and the kids.  That and last year his life was very strenous and it hit him afterwords.  

I'm really hoping this is all anxiety, and it seems to be as his thallium stress was negative, as was his 64 slice CT of the heart.  Unfortunately he is about 20 lbs overweight (works on it though) has high cholesterol (260, 175 ldl) and can't take statins.  His BP is high also, and he is in a high stress job.

He exercises regularly, never smokes, hardly drinks anymore also.  Sometimes he is afraid to exercise with the anxiety/physical stuff.  But he generally feels better after that.

It's tough on both of us.  Sorry to go on and on in this forum.

[Cleveland Clinic]

latte,

thanks for the post.

There are different types of SVT. Sinus tachycardia is one of them. If your heart rate slowly climbed and then decreased with exercise, it may have been a normal response. Im not sure if you are stating you have another arrythmia in addition to this.

The episode you had at work would be the one I was more focused on, and it may be different from the one you had while exercising. A holter or event monitor would tell if that were the case.

Either way, an SVT in itself shouldnt preclude exercise. I would discuss your concerns with your cardiologist, as you really should be exercising regularly.

good luck