Is my heart rate dangerous?

[donna4140]

I was told I had atrial fib back in march because of my irregular heart rate.It is not always in a irregular rythym though.So Im wondering if I actually have it.My problem actually is though my heart races incredibly fast.My doctor had yet to figure out that problem.I am now on a events monitor because he wanted to know how fast it was and I could never count the beats.Well it happened and it started racing so I hit the record button and it recorded at 234 beats per min. Im assuming this isnt to dangerous because it has happened alot before.Maybe once a week or once every month.Its very unpredictable.Im not on any meds, only a aspirin daily.Im waiting to go back to the doctors.Dont know what to do? thanks donna

[donna4140]

Has anyone taken atenolol for afib and svt?Just wondering if it worked and if it caused any unwanted side effects .    thanks donna

[donna4140]

I have been tested for h plori ,and I was on the borderline for it .My doctor said she could give me the meds for it but I kind of wanted to be tested again to see if it came out positive this time.Ive read that sometimes the meds wont get rid of it .I dont really know much about it.Ive had stomach issues for years and its gotten worse lately.I used to drink alot of milk,but havent lately.I dont know if I should just take the meds for it just in case.The cardiologist said my stomach issues had nothing to do with it.I dont believe him.What type of foods have you eliminated?

[allaflutter1213]

I think donna4140 is saving she has supraventricular tachycardia, "supra" meaning "above" the ventricles, or the atria.
I myself have PSVT, PVC's, PAC's and also a-fib and digestive issues that I am now comtroling with diet and Flecainide.

Donna,
For your gut, get checked for H. Pylori and Candida.
Also try going a few weeks eating "gluten free" this has helped me tremendously.

I am no docor just a a fellow disrhythm sufferer but I would seriously try to control my problem by process of elimination and medication before considering an ablation.

Just my thoughts.........
with your digestive issues

[donna4140]

Im just very nervous about having the eps study .My dad died 6 years ago with heart issues.He had a pace maker put in and died weeks later.Are you saying they dont perform ablations for svt. Thats what the doctor made it sound like.That it would get rid of the racing,not afib.What meds did you take for your svt?.I was on metoprolol for 1 month and really didnt have much symtoms that I can remember.It just made me very tired.Thats why I stopped taking it. Maybe if talk to my regular cardiologist I can see if my dose can be lowered.Is it likely that both can be controlled by meds? Did you have an ablation?Do you have the same things?

[Mom2four85]

I was under the impression that ablation could be done anywhere on the heart that was needed? Misfires can happen anywhere in the heart correct?

My problem was the lower left ventricle on the thin outside part of the heart (pvc's - premature ventricular contractions) - I'll get the paperwork from my EPS & surgery and put in specifically what my EP said he ablated :)

My sister in law has afib and had an ablation 9 years ago - her rate was 250 when the paramedics got to her.  They shocked her and put her heart back to a normal rate; and she really hasn't had any problems since her surgery.

[Gary3201]

The EPS study is just that it is a study or test of your heart, it is not a cure for anything it is just to determine the origins of your hearts problems, Do not get that confused with an ablation as they are two entirely different things. You should by all means do all the testing possible to isolate your problems. I am confused though as I never ever heard of an ablation being performed on the ventricles. While there are procedures for treating them I never heard of an ablation being one of them. I started out back in 1994 with VTACH which was treated very successfully with medication. The AFIB is an entirely different animal ablations on both the left and right atrium are very common and even is the ablation of the AV node which also requires a pacemaker to be installed.. Take your time, do your own research, and ask questions. Remember its your body and you have to live with it. Read about it more in detail AFIB and VTACH is two different things and require two different treatments, I have been there on both and have the Tee shirt as well. Metroprolol I believe is more for rate rather than rhythm more to deal with Hypertension and chest pain it is not really an anti- arrhythmic medication. If it was me I would get the VTACH in check first and then go after the AFIB. What part of the country are you from? Anywhere near the Cleveland Clinic? or Brigham and Womens hospital in Boston?

gary

[Mom2four85]

I don't know much about afib; but I wanted to say please listen to your drs and do the testing they want if they think it's severe enough - go with your gut and don't let anyone else sway that.

Even though I was told nothing was wrong with me until a few months ago, I am extremely "lucky" to be alive.  I have these dangerous ryhthms that cause my heart to stop, along with 54,000+ pvc's daily and tested positive on my tilt table test.

please please please take care of yourself and get it done before something happens. I shake every time I think of the ordeal I went through last week and not knowing how serious things were for me and no test picked up the really serious stuff until I had my EPS & ablation.

check out my surgery post it has all my details in it about what happened

take care

oh btw - after my ablation a funny thing happened; I noticed a few times my heart started to race and I hiccuped like crazy for a few min each time and then it straightened out - strange things our bodies do huh?

[donna4140]

Well I was told I have afib back in march,but believe I've had it longer.My issue though is my heart will race very fast like its gonna beat out of my chest.My cardiologist put me on a events monitor for a month,but finally it stared racing and it recorded it.Only took a week or so.It lasted for about 2.5 min Too long for me.My cardiologist looked at the recordings and said it was an electrical problem.So he sent me to another cardiologist who specializes in this. He looked at previous ekgs and said he wasnt sure it was afib.He then looked at my recording from my events monitor and said it was superventricular tach.He also confirmed itwas afib.He gave me the options of medicine to control,but wouldnt get rid of it,or doing the electrophysioplogy study.He said it would never race again,but I would still get an occasional palpitations.In other words it wouldnt get rid of the afib.What is the point?When I was told I had afib I was put on metoprolol which made me very tired.Iwas taking 75mg daily.He said that was a very small amount.Ialso had to take an aspirin daily 325mg.I had to stop that because of a recent breast biospy and still havent started back on it.Are you saying they shouldnt do an ablation on svt.He also said if I just had afib he wouldnt do an ablation.Im assuming he didnt think it was severe enough,I dont know.I dont know what to do. Should I talk to my other cardiologist and talk about medicine. I've also had issues with acid reflux lately.I keep feeling that is somehow related,because Im extremly burpy and belcthy and that sometimes causes my heart to skip or palpitate.Im having anxiety over this.He said it wasnt life threatening unless it lasted long.  thanks donna

[Gary3201]

By all means have the EPS test done and a tilt table test or whatever else they recommend. I think the cardiologist is jumping ahead a little bit by speaking of ablations at this point, you're not even sure of what you have or the causation. You also need to remember that an ablation is an invasive procedure and nothing you would want to jump into before trying medications first. Vtach is usually treated with beta blockers they don't do ablation procedure on the ventricles. Vtach however can be driving you into AFIB but you re a long way off from having an ablation on you atriums to control it, like I said you need to discover the causation first get the Vtach in check thats the real serious issue not the AFIB, or A flutter whatever it turns out to be.

gary

[Jerry_NJ]

I have not had an ablation for AFib, but have given it consideration.  My medical advice is that my symptoms from AFib are not severe enough to justify the "risks" assoicated with the ablation procedure.  Don't take this as a statement that an ablation is a dangerous  procedure, but it isn't risk-free either, nothign is.

If you read my profile you'll see I've taken my chances, had open heart surgery and a maze procedure which did not stop my AFib.  Again, my AFib is pretty much in the background until I try to do some serious physical activity... just walking around I have no troubling symptoms.

I agree, digestive problems can add to the problem. Try a bland diet, no bubbly drinks, caffeine (including chocolate) and take an anti-gas and/or anti-acid following meals.

You didn't mention being told to take an aspirin or anticoagulant.  You don't need a prescription to take an aspirin, and I think you should consider taking one with a meal each day...being careful that the aspirin doesn't cause more digestive problems...some people don't handle aspirin well.  

[donna4140]

Well I  went for my appointment today and I found out that I have superventricular tach.and a-fib which I already knew I had.The cardiologist gave me the option to do a electrophysiology study and then see if I need an ablation.Have you had this done ,and did it work for you? It really scares me.I brought up the fact that I have had digestive issues and still havent found out what though .I believe that plays a big role in my pvcs.It just seemed like he was ignoring that fact.He said it was unlikely.Ive read alot on here  that digestive issues are a big issue for some people,and even certain foods can cause palps.I feel I should look into  that first.What do you think? donna

[donna4140]

I wonder sometimes if my stomach issues are causing my palpitations and racing.I'm extremely gassy and burp alot especially after eating or drinking.Whenever I feel a burp coming on  I get palpitations.When my heart races  somtimes it will stop if I burp.I just think its very odd for that to happen.I dont know if I should get that checked out first ,and go from there?My appointment is for today to see another cardiologist.donna

[donna4140]

I have a appointment to go to another cardiologist monday.My heartrate will race like that just out of the blue.Yesterday I Just reached into the refrig.and then it just started racing so I had to sit drink some ice water.Sometimes it helps make it stop other times not.Its also done it just watching tv.It doesnt sound normal to me.Im only 41 ,and my father died almost 6 years ago from heart problems.Im just afraid Im on the same path.donna

[Jerry_NJ]

An "electrical problem" is what most of us on this MedHelp Community suffer from. So, don't let that over stimulate your fears.  Most are not life threatening, still it is good to see a specialist, I have myself.  The specialist is (usually) called an Electro Physiologist (EP).

A HR of 160 isn't much of a worry unless it is there all the time, at rest.   My cardiologist, I no longer see an EP, says it is alright for my HR to hit 160 for short periods during exercise, and that is my is a bit over my maximum guideline HR.

I think an aspirin a day could be a good strategy until/unless aspirin gives you stomach problems or your doctor says you shouldn't take aspirin.  I take one a day myself.

[donna4140]

Well yesterday my information was sent to my cardiologist,and he called me right back.He said the recorder was wrong he said my heart rate was in the 160s.He wants me to go see  a specialist on heart rythms.He says it sounds like an electrical problem.That scares the **** out of me.hopefully all I'll need is medication. thanks donna

[Jerry_NJ]

A HR of 234 is way too high, and it age sensitive.  That is a young person will be at a lower risk at that HR than an adult or senior would be, I believe.  I say this simply because of the recommend HR control guidelines given from exercise.   Still, if the high HR passes in a few minutes I would think it unlikely that any damage would be sustained.  

It is good you are under a doctor's care, and depending on where your "normal" resting HR sits, there may be a need for a medication to control/reduce your HR.

I suffer from permanent AFib and take a BB to lower my (ventricle) HR.  But in my case, I have never clocked a HR as high as yours.  My problem is without medication my resting HR runs around 130, too high to be left untreated...I am a senior.