Tachycardia and Red Pepper

[DPM111]

I've had trouble with tachycardia and anxiety off and on for years, but have felt well for about a year.  This afternoon I had one of my old tacyhcardia sessions, resting pulse from 90 to 120, and after going for a short walk my pulse hit 150.  That seemed strange and disappointing after feeling fine for so long.

One thing I noted this time.  I used to eat a lot of crushed red pepper, like on pasta with olive oil.  I haven't had that in ages, but I ate it for lunch today.  With Google, I found an old medical article (1917) saying that tachycardia was sometimes brought on by "dilation of the stomach" and particularly by red pepper.  Really?

Is it possible what I ate contributed to or caused my tachycardia today?  Is there any modern association of red pepper allergy or reaction with this condition?

[tsco]

I am convinced of the correlation between the stomach and heart rythm, regardless of what any doctor says.  I have seen the study you mentioned and have found other earlier studies stating coorelations. I also suffer from Tachy and ectopic beats.  I can induce and worsen them simply by diet. I'm not sure why with some doctors the connection seems so strange.

[LukeL]

Red Pepper contains capcaisin which tricks the mouth into thinking it is on fire when it really isnt. I could see how this could cause a rush of adrenalin which would raise the heart rate in some people. Oddly enough I have read some articles which seem to indicate it also dialtes the blood vesels and could actually lower blood pressure. this too could cause a jump in heart rate in some persons.

[DPM111]

Very true.  Anxiety is at the center of a lot of these kinds of cases I suspect.  But in any case, I think red pepper is off the menu.

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

I have never heard of this before.
The best that I can say is that if it is a repeat offender, I would eliminate it from your diet.  The problem now is that you are consciously worried about it and anxiety could do the same thing.