My 21 year old son is in excellent physical condition. Is 6ft 4", 205 lbs. Has a very physically demanding job-and in the past 3 years has become almost "addicted" to exercise. He works out every other day faithfully--will NOT miss a day. When he works out, it is a solid 2 hours. He lifts weights for most of it, but also uses a punching bag, and spends the last 40 minutes on the treadmill. What I DONT like about it--is he takes these...supplements bought at GNC--before he works out. I dont know what he takes for sure, but one of them is called "Amplified Creatine"...has 1250 mg of creatine in every glass. You know the stuff...this age takes to build muscles--this "pre-workout" junk. He also takes mega doses of protein before and after the workout. I have always gotten on him about taking this stuff-what is it doing to his body on the inside...but not much I can do, hes old enough to decide for himself.
I question this--for the past couple years--he casually will mention that after working out---HOURS after...his heart will be pounding...and when he takes his pulse..its still high--80+ a minute.
Last night he called me, and was scared--said about 2 hrs after working out AND running 4.5 miles..he was eating..and his heart "took off"...raced. He said he had to gasp-felt like he couldnt breathe for just a moment. Then it settled back into normal rhythm. This happend again about an hour later. He also vomited at this time.
When he called me it was after he had gotten into bed for the night--it happend again. Just short bursts of rapid heartbeat, it sounds like. And when its happening, he feels short of breath, tightness in chest. Now, I know some of the tightness last night was that he was scared-he told me he dumped his "supplements" down the drain...wont take them anymore, or so he says.
I tried to get him to go to the ER, just to try to get this on a monitor. I had him take his pulse, it was 96. Not outrageously high, but much higher than it should be.
He wouldnt go--said "if it happens again I will go"....
he didnt call me, so he did sleep fine.
Im wondering if anyone else thinks that the "junk" that he is drinking pre-workout could be damaging his heart?
I am trying to get him to see a cardiologist about the high heartrate hours after exercise...but he doesnt seem to want to go. I am worried yet helpless to do anything.
Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!