Heart rate near maximum with very light exercise?

[cRoseF]

I'm 19, a bit overweight (a lot is muscle, but I am still a little chubby I suppose - but who isn't in college!) Well, anyway... I've been keeping track of my heart rate with a monitor every few days or so. When I walk for about 5 minutes to class at a leisurely pace (not even uphill), my heart rate speeds up to around 170-180 and it makes me feel extremely dizzy and lightheaded and I feel like I'm going to pass out, and it lasts until I sit down (and even then, it takes about 15-20 minutes to actually chill out to go back to my "normal" resting heart rate [which is usually around 110-125bpm]). Sometimes my normal is around the 70s though, and I feel fine then. My heart rate even jumps to the 140s when I climb out of bed after watching a movie or studying... This is in addition to the random jumping to around 230 and then back down to 30-50bpm (but that doesn't happen too often). Is there a certain condition in which the heart just naturally beats excessively during extremely minimum workout? I haven't been too stressed out lately and I've been staying away from caffeine and sugar! My blood pressure is also normal... I posted here before regarding the random jumps to super high (230) and super low (30-50), but this is in regards to exercising. I'm moving back home in a week and I'm going to be going to the gym again, 6 times a week like I always do when I live at home...Is it even safe for me to exercise? I'm a little scared to because I don't want to pass out on the treadmill (even if I don't push myself hard!)... but I don't want to get further out of shape.. I'll be making an appointment with the cardiologist but until then, do you have any advice?

[cRoseF]

P.S. The maximum heart rate is generally calculated by subtracting a person's age from 220. It's the general rule of thumb. Of course it may vary with the individual, but that's what it normally is.

[cRoseF]

Poppycock? I'm not sure how you drew that conclusion from my posting. My posting was asking for advice and not criticism. I've seen my GP and was referred to a cardiologist, and I was able to make an appointment with them for a few weeks from now. I wasn't asking for a diagnosis, I was asking what conditions sounded similar to the symptoms I'm experiencing.

HesAPooka, thank you kindly for your reply :) I did more research on IST and it does sound nearly word for word of what I've been experiencing for a long time. Blood tests, echo, and x-ray came back normal! I'm sorry you suffer from it, but I'm glad beta blockers are helping you! I was given some low-dosage beta blockers (propanolol?) by my GP. Haven't seen any improvements as of yet, but probably soon!

Thanks again for your reply!

[updownleftright]

I call ignorance.

[littlegreenman1]

I call poppycock. How do you know your maximum heart rate?
Nobody here can tell you if it's safe for you to exercise or what your "deal is." Go see your GP. Get cleared for aerobic exercise and don't use "I want to pass out as an excuse."  

If he sends you to a specialist and they confirm you have a "deal." Then sorry. Otherwise... no excuses.

[updownleftright]

Yes there is a condition that causes the heart to beat just the way you describe it. It's called Inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST). I too suffer from it, and the classic symptoms include heart rate usually above 90 at rest that jumps up really high with minimal effort. It's considered benign, but you should see a cardiologist all the same. The way IST is diagnosed is by eliminating all other possibilities. IST is basically a condition where the hearts sinus node responds exaggeratedly to adrenalin. Beta blockers can help tremendously for some people. I myself see huge results from them, and couldn't imagine living without then. I'm lucky enough to see results from a very low dose of beta blocker. I used to be very athletic and than one day I just started noticing my heart wouldn't respond the same, and minimal exercise like walking would send my hear soaring and cause me to feel very dizzy, as if I was having a panic attack.

Go see a cardiologist, and see about taking some beta blockers. I'd recommend you try a few until you find one that works as not all work the same for everyone. Most people seem to respond best to Atenolol or metropolol.