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Sudden Heart Rate Drop/exercise

During a recent intense work out with my trainer I began feeling weak after approx 50 mins. I had to sit down and after about five minutes of my HR being at 100-90, I went pale, felt light headed and sweat intensified. My trainer took me into the restroom and began splashing cold water on my head. My heart rate then dropped to 60 (I was wearing a monitor) and began dropping by 10 beats every 10 seconds until I told my trainer I was going down. He helped me to the floor at which point my HR was at 32. Within 5 seconds of being on the floor, my HR recovered to 80 and I was able to sit up. With ice on my neck and head, my HR stabilized at 90. After a hot cold shower and a protein shake, I was able to drive home 15 to 20 minutes later with an HR of 75 to 85. Two hours later, my doctor performed a physical exam and BP was 120/80 and HR 70, EKG normal and all signs of stroke were tested and non present.
He sent me to emerge where all blood tests and a second EKG showed negative. I am 40 years old, very active, work out 2 to 3 times per week, play hockey and baseball regularly. For two days prior to the incident, I had a flare up of my IBS and lost quite a lot of fluid however I did try to drink more water to compensate. I have also had bouts of panic disorder/ depression in the past and I am the CEO of a media company. I am currently wearing a holter monitor, 24 hours and have an echo cardiogram scheduled in a few weeks. The terms presyncopal and vasovagal have been thrown around by nurses but no real information has been given to me as yet as to what may have happened. Can you shed any light on this?  
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Avatar universal
A related discussion, Sudden Drop in Heart Rate & Dizziness while exercising. was started.
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Avatar universal
What are some of the common causes of vasovagal episodes? I tried a more intense bike ride for the first time yesterday but sweat more than usual and fatigued more quickly than usual.
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88793 tn?1290227177
Your post is interesting me.  I've sound like your events.  Do you have a very cold back chest feeling?  Out of my body was hot and sweat but only at the back chest is cold and I'd ghost bumps on and off too.  Everyone said mine one is anxiety!  
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230125 tn?1193365857
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
yes.
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Avatar universal
Thank you, this helps enormously. I have looked up vaso vagal events and they seem to be associated with fainting however I did not lose conciousness. My fingers however felt as though they had gone to sleep. The whole episode, from exhaustion to shower lasted maybe 5 to 10 minutes. Is this still in the realm of a vasovagal episode?
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230125 tn?1193365857
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
sounds like you had a vasovagal episode.  Not the uncommon.  It sounds like you were vagal when you were sweating and, believe it or not, cold water especially ice water on the face can increase vagal tone further.  If this was a vagal event, it does not mean something is wrong with your heart.  Vagal tone is actually a very good thing for the heart. A high vagal tone is associated with decreased cardiac morbidity and mortality.

Just finish your cardiac work up.  they probably will not find anything and you will go on with your life.

This is not related to panic attacks or depression.

I hope this helps.  Good luck.
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