Thanks for your help. I hope everything works out for you.
Maybe a 48 hour holtor monitor would be the way to go to see if you are truly having a lot of dramatic swings (ones when you aren't having increased anxiety) in pulse. Sometimes a pulse is hard to get an accurate count on with the feel of the fingers. I was surprised how often my heart rate went over one hundred- many more hours of the day than I thought with my postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.
I tend toward anxiety myself with blood pressure when it is going too high when standing, so I feel I'm better off not taking it very often because of that. Maybe you would find yourself feeling less anxious if you didn't take your pulse after exercising? The cardiologist I saw last didn't want me on any blood pressure medication because he felt I would just feel worse on it.
When I notice the variation in my pulse rate I am taking my pulse at my wrist. I usually take it for 10 seconds or so. In reality I'm not certain what is occurring while I'm not taking my pulse, When I notice the rate change I stop due to anxiety.
Exercise is a stress reducer for me, my anxiety increases post exercise because I'm concerned my heart rate will not return to normal within a reasonable time frame. I know this is nuts but thats who I am. So taking my pulse post exercise actually raises my anxiety, causeing the rate changes I experience, I think.
Thnks for trying to help.
You say your fluctuation in pulse coccurs every three to five seconds- so does that mean you have a holtor monitor or pulse meter on telling you this, since you should take your pulse for at least 10 to 15 seconds and multiply to get your beats per minute picture? Plus, you said if you were checking your pulse, you wouldn't know this is occuring- how are you determining these rapid pulse changes?
Your blood vessels open up with the hot water, so this can affect your heart rate. It's interesting your anxiety goes up with exercise- is it because you are afraid about your heart when you exercise? Exercise often relieves stress, so how sad it is not for you- that must be awful!
Sorry, for the confusion. Hopefully the attached clears it up.
Hello, I am a 53 year old male with a family history of heart disease. I am currently taking lotrel for hypertension and on and off citalopram for sever anxiety. 5 1/2 years ago I had a complete heart work up including nuclear stress test with no issues found. My cholesterol since the work up has been good averaging 150 or so with a high of 197, most recent result and 130.
On occasion after exercise I notice my heart rate fluctuating between 60 or so and 90-100. This fluctuation occurs every 3-5 seconds, with no symptoms, if I was checking my pulse I would not know this is occurring. Some of the time the change abruptly from fast to slow. This is probably a coincidence but most of the occurrences occurred post a hot shower. My anxiety increases post exercise. This do not seem to correspond to respiration as I understand can occur.
Has anyone had this experience?
Can it be anxiety driven?
Is it some sort of arrhythmia caused by heart disease?
I have a doctors appointment is a couple of weeks but can use so stress relief if possible.
Thanks and have a great day.
Looks like some extra stuff got added to you post- maybe you could try this again deleting the extras for a more coherent read?