High Pulse Rate?

Hi everyone,

I just have a question regarding my pulse. For the past 2 weeks or so I've been experiencing a high pulse rate. It's usually around 120-140. It just comes on suddenly, like for example, one day I wake up with it, or I go to bed with it. And I feel short of breath when it comes on, it's like I'm super conscious of my breathing and my heart. My heart pounds SO hard as well, it moves my body. I get chest tightness as well. Is this pulse rate considered high? What could this be?  

I know that if I go to a doctor he will just say it's anxiety, and I know it's not, I have nothing to be anxious about at all, and I'm so tired of hearing this when they don't know what else it can be.

I'm a female, 24 years old.

Thank you for any help on this matter!

[justanumber]

it could be SVT. you should tell your doctor to give you a 24 hour holter monitor. that will really help to see what is going on. SVT happens to young,healthy people,it is nothing to worry about,but if it is constant,it can cause fatigue and shortness of breath. if you do have constant SVT,medication will help and an ablation will get rid of it.

[worriedwu]

Thank you for the reply justanumber. I actually went to a cardiologist back in 2010, I got an echocardiogram and holter monitor tests done, he said both at the time were normal except for a benign heart murmur. But now I've been having these symptoms just constantly. I'll look up SVT. Thank you again!

[tom_h]

Just a couple of comments regarding SVT
1) The lower pulse rate of SVT is around 160.  Most experience rates >180.
2) SVT starts and stops abruptly; no ramping up or down.
3) An ECG will usually show a normal heart if an event is not is progress.  A 30 day monitor is usually required to capture the paroxysmal event.

[worriedwu]

Thanks for your input Tom_h!  When it happens it will just come on suddenly and it will then go away. It usually happens even if I'm resting/sitting down, and it's happening right now, my chest hurts too. It's kind of scary, I really hope it's nothing serious. I tend to not get too worried because the cardiologist tests said everything was normal, but I didn't even know there was a 30 day monitor!

[tom_h]

Yes, many of us here have worn the 30 day monitors, aka. long term monitors, or king of hearts monitors.  They are simple 2 lead recorders, with user replaceable electrode pads.  If you have sudden events spaced days apart, the 30 day monitor is your best bet to capture them.  

In the meantime, write down what you're feeling. Record dates, times, heart rate, along with how it started and terminated.  These will be important clues in helping your physician diagnose your problem.  I kept a small, tattered, spiral bound notebook in which I kept a record of all my events and observations.  This really gave credence to everything I was reporting to my doctor,and prompted him to dig deeper into my particular problem.

[littlegreenman1]

The thing about SVT that cannot be stressed enough: if it's SVT it will go away just as quickly as it comes.

It's a quick ramp up.  POUNDING HEART... quick ramp down.

Learn some valsalva maneuvers... see if they work for you. Chances are: this is not fatal. A complete and total utter PITA, yes... fatal probably not.