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Increased heart rate during exercise
Hi. I'm hoping for some help to ease my fears and concerns. I am an avid exerciser. Lately, about half way into my workout (such as an elliptical) my heart rate will spike with no increase in the intensity of the exercise. This doesn't happen every time I work out. Sometimes things are just fine. I have been going through a lot of stress and anxiety lately. And I purchased a heart rate monitor that I wear when I work out. This probably isn't a good idea as the rate displayed isn't always accurate due to interference at the health club. Actually the first time the monitor went beserk and showed a extremely high heart rate I had an anxiety attack. I'm wondering if the increase in my heart rate is due to anxiety. I'm so focused on my heart rate that I'm actually causing these spikes. I have no pain or shortness of breath when this occurs. In fact if I didn't see it on the monitor and take my pulse on my neck, I probably wouldn't know its occuring. I have mitral valve prolapse but I typically don't have a lot of symptoms from it as I take a beta blocker. This spike in heart rate initially happened to me about 12 years ago. At that time, I had a stress echo and the mitral valve prolapse was found. I went to the cardiologist about a year or two ago and had an ekg. Everything was fine. I feel as though I'm losing my mind and that I'm bringing on these episodes with my anxiety and a self fullfilling prophecy. I'm expecting it to happen and it will!
Thank you for all of your responses. I'm going to try and get a grip this week and then determine what symptoms still remain. I'm making my situation worse by obsessing about it. I really think another stress echo wouldn't hurt as the last one was years ago. Of course it's a big step from thinking I should have one to actually getting one. I have a doctor phobia so any tests and such typically send me over the edge. I'm a little Hugh strung if you haven't noticed!
The Bruce Protocol is near and dear to me, as this methodology was often used in my sprint cycling and speed skating days. Team members were often administered this test as a way fo determining how conditioned they were. I remember making little side bets on how far somebody could go. Officially, I think there are 7 stages, but more stages have been added for trained antletes. The Bruce was designed with failure before the test was completed, and I personally know of no one who has ever completed all the "unofficial" stages, and I raced with a number of Olympic calibre guys. I've heard rumors of individuals completing it, but finding someone who can tackle a 28 degree gradient at 8 mph (Stage 12) I would think is akin to a needle in a haystack. In my late 20's and early 30's, I could just about complete Stage 6. I took one last last year following my cardiac ablation, and at age 60, I punched out midway into Stage 4 and my cardiologist said that was "pretty rare for an old guy". LOL!
That's why I said to get a Exercise Tolerance Test. If the problem is an SVT type, it will show up in an ETT. Just make sure you can get one that will push your limit and not a Bruce. The Bruce is just to easy for people in any kind of good shape.
p.s., the 256 with arrhythmia for me came on because I had a panic attack while hyper monitoring the damn thing. yea, it can do that.
I've been here, done that. step away from the HRM for some time. I had to start ignoring it and start back slowly. I hit 256 with all sorts of rattling going on in my chest. Ambulance was called (so embarrassing because I was fine).
I was fine eventually. I got checked out, I was already having a rough time with PVCs. To this day, I might spot check my HR when I exercise, but hyper monitoring is unnecessary unless you earn a living by winning marathons. just my humble opinion.
I was fine eventually. I got checked out, I was already having a rough time with PVCs. To this day, I might spot check my HR when I exercise, but hyper monitoring is unnecessary unless you earn a living by winning marathons. just my humble opinion.
I'll take the contrary opinion from the previous poster. From what I've read, there is no direct correlation between MVP and a sudden, abrupt increase in heart rate know as supra ventricular tachycardia (SVT). There are rumors and opinions surrounding the two. But SVT is so common that you're bound to find someone with MVP who also has SVT. I agree that chest strap monitors are the best. I used a Polar when I use to train, and it was always accurate and consistent.
Unfortunately, your description of the symptoms aren't detailed enough. When you the term "spike", how high was that? What did your monitor indicate? Did you stop and check your pulse in your wrist or neck? A more thorough description of the event would help us give you our unprofessional opinion. Just so you know, it's very possible for an individual experiencing SVT to have heart rates of 250 and higher. I was oncve timed in a hospital with a rate of 312. That's 5 beats every second, very fast!
Ironically, once SVT converts to normal rhythm, an EKG will usually show nothing but normal electrical activity. There are a couple types of SVT that may show a subtle modification in the waveform, but it's often hard to see that.
My advice to you would be more observant if you have another episode. Stop what you're doing, and "listen" to your body. SVT often occurs under high physical output such as running or spinning, activities like that. SVT event are unmistakable, especially when your respiration returns to normal and your heart contiunues to race along.
Don't confuse anxiety and increased heart rate from SVT. The latter will start and end abruptly. Knowing the difference will help you get proper treatment should it be needed. SVT can occur in superbly conditioned athletes, so has nothing to do with what shape you're in. Hopefully, it was just a momentary malfunction in your heart monitor. But at least you have some background on SVT should this be your case.
Unfortunately, your description of the symptoms aren't detailed enough. When you the term "spike", how high was that? What did your monitor indicate? Did you stop and check your pulse in your wrist or neck? A more thorough description of the event would help us give you our unprofessional opinion. Just so you know, it's very possible for an individual experiencing SVT to have heart rates of 250 and higher. I was oncve timed in a hospital with a rate of 312. That's 5 beats every second, very fast!
Ironically, once SVT converts to normal rhythm, an EKG will usually show nothing but normal electrical activity. There are a couple types of SVT that may show a subtle modification in the waveform, but it's often hard to see that.
My advice to you would be more observant if you have another episode. Stop what you're doing, and "listen" to your body. SVT often occurs under high physical output such as running or spinning, activities like that. SVT event are unmistakable, especially when your respiration returns to normal and your heart contiunues to race along.
Don't confuse anxiety and increased heart rate from SVT. The latter will start and end abruptly. Knowing the difference will help you get proper treatment should it be needed. SVT can occur in superbly conditioned athletes, so has nothing to do with what shape you're in. Hopefully, it was just a momentary malfunction in your heart monitor. But at least you have some background on SVT should this be your case.
A few things for you.
Monitor can cause stuff like that to happen, as the above said, poor contact, interference, etc. can cause a problem. Chest strap monitors are the best, anything over $100 and you should be satisfied.
MVP, meh, I would be more worried about you not taking antibiotics before a dental treatment because you could develop Bacterial Endocarditis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infective_endocarditis) It can get in and grow on the valves leading to a serious problem in a long or short amount of time. If you had no idea, BRING THAT UP AT YOUR NEXT DR VISIT OR BEFORE NEXT INVASIVE PROCEDURE **Dental Treatments**
I suppose MVP COULD cause an extra flow problem, like not enough is coming out of the LV and to much is going back to the LA, causing your body to compensate and increase the HR. I would THINK that this would only last a short time, not noticeable.
MVP could cause a form of Ventricular Tachacardia, SVT/PSVT, Google it, but I think your doctor would have noticed that, Exercise Stress Testing is a good idea and tell them to do a high functioning protocol, like the Balke-Ware Protocol or something. It gets you going much faster and stresses you more than a Bruce Protocol, which is typical of a doctors office. Tell them you are active and want them to see it happen if its going to. Bruce is for older, fragile, HD ridden patients, or no active individuals.
You said you are on Beta-Blockers? Beta Blockers stop your HR from getting to a point. Are you taking them for MVP, I suppose to decrease the risk of CHF, ask why... Anyway, BB can be overwritten IF you get beyond the threshold of the medication. If you are constant 130, no matter the intensity and then all of a sudden it jumps to 150-160-170? that could mean that you broke that Beta Blocker barrier and are at your normal, to be expected, HR for that intensity? Does that sound like it could be it?
Unless your doctor wanted you to stay below the threshold, its ok, they probably do though so I would ask about breaking the Beta Blocker threshold of keeping your HR below a certain point.
Anxiety, its your way of protecting yourself. I would bring some of the questions for sanity but overall I would say you're not in immediate danger. good luck.
Monitor can cause stuff like that to happen, as the above said, poor contact, interference, etc. can cause a problem. Chest strap monitors are the best, anything over $100 and you should be satisfied.
MVP, meh, I would be more worried about you not taking antibiotics before a dental treatment because you could develop Bacterial Endocarditis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infective_endocarditis) It can get in and grow on the valves leading to a serious problem in a long or short amount of time. If you had no idea, BRING THAT UP AT YOUR NEXT DR VISIT OR BEFORE NEXT INVASIVE PROCEDURE **Dental Treatments**
I suppose MVP COULD cause an extra flow problem, like not enough is coming out of the LV and to much is going back to the LA, causing your body to compensate and increase the HR. I would THINK that this would only last a short time, not noticeable.
MVP could cause a form of Ventricular Tachacardia, SVT/PSVT, Google it, but I think your doctor would have noticed that, Exercise Stress Testing is a good idea and tell them to do a high functioning protocol, like the Balke-Ware Protocol or something. It gets you going much faster and stresses you more than a Bruce Protocol, which is typical of a doctors office. Tell them you are active and want them to see it happen if its going to. Bruce is for older, fragile, HD ridden patients, or no active individuals.
You said you are on Beta-Blockers? Beta Blockers stop your HR from getting to a point. Are you taking them for MVP, I suppose to decrease the risk of CHF, ask why... Anyway, BB can be overwritten IF you get beyond the threshold of the medication. If you are constant 130, no matter the intensity and then all of a sudden it jumps to 150-160-170? that could mean that you broke that Beta Blocker barrier and are at your normal, to be expected, HR for that intensity? Does that sound like it could be it?
Unless your doctor wanted you to stay below the threshold, its ok, they probably do though so I would ask about breaking the Beta Blocker threshold of keeping your HR below a certain point.
Anxiety, its your way of protecting yourself. I would bring some of the questions for sanity but overall I would say you're not in immediate danger. good luck.
I think replied to your post in the anxiety section...
In a way, you probably are causing a self-fulfilling prophecy in that you are worrying over an episode at the gym, so you are making yourself anxious even though you could be masking the anxiety and when on the elliptical you are probably giving yourself subtle hints or clues and this could be responsible for the spikes in your pulse rate, so the course of action resides with finding a way to combat and get rid of the anxiety for good.
The above commenter said it, if it isn't helping then dump it. I know that may seem kind of short, but that's just what you have to do. I had those dumb worries too, but one day I thought "screw it" and just began exercising and you know what, I felt fine during and after, I did it again and I felt fine so it pretty much abated my fears. I also educated myself on exercise physiology and how our hearts work and I must say, that has helped tons.
In a way, you probably are causing a self-fulfilling prophecy in that you are worrying over an episode at the gym, so you are making yourself anxious even though you could be masking the anxiety and when on the elliptical you are probably giving yourself subtle hints or clues and this could be responsible for the spikes in your pulse rate, so the course of action resides with finding a way to combat and get rid of the anxiety for good.
The above commenter said it, if it isn't helping then dump it. I know that may seem kind of short, but that's just what you have to do. I had those dumb worries too, but one day I thought "screw it" and just began exercising and you know what, I felt fine during and after, I did it again and I felt fine so it pretty much abated my fears. I also educated myself on exercise physiology and how our hearts work and I must say, that has helped tons.
COMMUNITY LEADER
It has been my experience with the chest strap wrist display HR monitor that a drastic change in the indicated HR is usually a system problem: poor contact with chest or perhaps RF interference. That said it could be useful to wear a heart monitor to see what it records. This is especially easy if you can stimulate the episode.
As for anxiety, dump it somehow it surely isn't helping.
As for anxiety, dump it somehow it surely isn't helping.
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