Tachycardia: How High is too High

[cal7902]

Hi, I have been having a rather high heart rate (by my standards) lately of nearly 90-110 when I am sitting at my desk at work.  I have had tachy in the past mostly due to what my doctor says in hindsight were panic attacks.  During the attacks my heart rate would go to 160 or so, along with all the other classic symptoms.  Over the last few years, I have had two echos, two stress tests, and many ekgs.  I wore an event monitor for 30 days.  All of these test came back as normal, with no issues cited.  

Right now my heart rate is just up.  Not the same feeling as when the panic attacks were going on.  My question is how high of heart rate is too high when at rest?  Also, are there any other test out there that could explain what is causing high heart rate?  Thanks.

[betauser]

Mine has been well over 200 but I would think it would depend on what might cause them.  I went 4 days last month between 120 and 150.  It is very uncomfortable but my the emergency room said my cardiologist just needed to change my meds.  Have they ever captured a ekg when you were having a problem?

[cal7902]

Yes, every ekg I have ever had has been normal.

[whatayear]

read about IST (inapropriate sinus tachycardia) and SVT

[slarew]

I have the same exact problem! I went to the ER the first time it happened to me, and I was hospitalized for it so they could run all sorts of tests, and everything was fine. I even went back to the ER a second time for it and they pumped some water into me via an IV and my heart rate went right back down.

I have panic disorder too, so that is part of the reason your heart rate will go up that high, but it's not the whole story. You do need to realize how you are thinking though when it starts to climb that high, like are you thinking this is bad when you start to feel it climbing? Do you feel like you're about to die? Are you getting stressed out at work? I noticed for myself that I got this way every time I was on campus (I'm a student at the U of I) and I finally realized it was because I was putting WAY too much pressure on myself.

Another thing that is important is to really get enough to eat and drink throughout the day. I had blood tests when I was having tachycardia both periods I've had it and both times I was told I need to eat more, but especially to DRINK lots more water. Being dehydrated causes your heart rate to climb high too.
Also, you need more potassium! (bananas and the such) I can't stress enough how important this is to bringing the heart rate down.

Also, I started using this relaxation CDs, which have helped a lot. I have tachycardia, but I can't take any beta blockers to lower it because it messes with my asthma, so I have had to find other ways to deal with it, and this by far has been the most helpful.

When you start feeling it come on, lean back or lay down, take a slow, deep breath in through your nose, hold it for a few seconds, then slowly breathe out through your mouth, focusing on relaxing every muscle, especially your jaw. Keep doing this, and intermittently do this technique that I learned from the ER doc who treated me. Push down with your stomach hard like you are having a bowel movement. This lowers it considerably immediately, and I'm not sure why, but the cardios and docs have you do it, and it works.

By the way, your max heart rate is 220 minus your age. This is how fast your heart can safely beat, and if it goes past it, and you can't get it down, go to the ER. Other than that, try to relax.

good luck!

[cal7902]

Thanks for the encouraging words.  I do have a lot of stressors in my life, but alot of times I think they are no different than anyone else's stressors and my life is really pretty good.  I think one of my main problems is that I am putting pressure on myself to figure this out.  It's SOOO FRUSTRATING!!!
I just want to get back to how I used to be before all of this started going on.  

I recently weaned off taking the beta blocker that my cardiologist gave me because I just hated to feel like medicine was controlling my heart rate.

What relaxation CDs do you use?  I think this is something that I could and probably should look into so I can get my body relaxed.

I appreciate the other suggestions as well.  I am glad you were able to get yourself straightened out!

[Donna-lee]

there is a book by Claire Weeks that is related to heart and stress. The more fustrated you become the more stress you put yourself under. Mediatation or relaxation exercises to help you cope would be a good idea.
Donna

[Sunshine47]

Hi,
Well I can tell you that before my Ablation that my resting heart rate was always 100 to 120. When I landed in the ER 3 times in one day and went through all their test my heart was in SVT's beating as accurate as they could get at 332. It was more of a quiver. I had 2 shots to make it slow down and get back to normal but they didn't work so they put me in ICU and performed Ablation the next day. Good choice. I have PAC's and PVC's most everyday now but no SVT's thank goodness. Good luck!!!!!!!!!! By the way I was born with an extra A-Node. It is no longer there.