rapid heartbeat during exercise

[Tfbike]

I'm a 57 yr.old male in good health. I am active and moderate in my eating and drinking habits. I am 6'0"  and 155lbs., my bp = 130/80, resting heart rate=57,  Colesterol  tot=211 - LDL=118 - HDL=80- Tri=81, and have no known medical problems. Both my parents died before 60 yr old, mother(probably mycardial infarction) father(kidney failure- morbid high blood pressure).  I was a farily serious recreational runner for 25 yrs and had to drastically reduse milage  at 50 due to achilles tend tear. In the last few years i have become a fairly serious recreational bicycle rider(100+ mi/ wk). My problem is that when I train on my bike I use a heart monitor and I have noticed that it is not unusual for me to register high heart rates(200-225 bpm) while riding.  Sometimes it will drop to the  150  range(normal for effort) and other times it will stay in the 180 range. Training literature states that the max heart rate for someone my age  should be in the 170 bpm.  I have  no shortness of breath , no pain, and no light headedness.  The only way that I became aware of the high rate was as a result of the heart monitor readings.  I have   had an  Echo Cardiogram and been told I'm OK.  What I haven't been  told is  what would cause the rapid  heart rate. I am planning to increase my training but do not what to do anything foolish.  Any insight, information or suggestions would be appreciated...Thanks.

[Tfbike]

Thanks for the advice...I'll persue this with my Doctor and see if   I can get  a consult with  a Cartionogist. Thanks for taking the time to respond.

[Artaud]

Hi,

Two Stress Tests ago, I was at the Hospital, having completed the Treadmill Part of my Cardiolite Stress Test. While sitting in another room, I watched them usher a youngish, thin, woman onto the treadmill. She started, and I heard the monitor. I heard the rate rising, then suddenly, a continuous series of very rapid beeps, it sounded like listening to a steam train that suddenly looses traction on the rails, slow initially, and then it shoots up rapidly.

The Stress Test was stopped an off she was sent for an Angiogram, that day, no going home and scheduling. I can't say she received the Angiogram that day, but she was hospitalized. The very rapid heart beat was a rhythm deterioration likely the result of problems with blood flow in the coronary arteries.

Be VERY CAREFUL until you have been tested, I do not believe that an Echo Cardiogram, in your case, will reveal problems with exercise induced arrhythmias. You are of the age, male, and likely have a family history of Cardiac Problems. DO NOT TAKE ANY CHANCES. It does not matter that you are conditioned. As I speak with my wife now (she works for my Cardiologist), she says that she feels that you need to stop exercising until after you are evaluated.

I would seek the assistance of a Cardiologist as soon as possible, perhaps consulting with your Family Doctor until you secure an appointment with the Cardiologist. My wife, while working for my Family Doctor (she left there, to work for my Cardiologist, except at the time, he wasn't my Cardiologist), said that they had a patient that came to the Family Doctor with chest pains. I don't know if a standard EKG showed anything, but they scheduled him for a Stress Test. This man, wanting to prove to himself that he was ok, maybe a little concerned about doing the Stress Test, decided to exercise vigorously the night before the test on his own tread mill. He died while doing so. The reason for the Stress Test in the Hospital (or well prepared Doctor's Office) is that they will watch carefully for signs of rhythm deterioration on the EKG and stop the test before any harm is done. In the very very few cases that things go wrong before they can stop the patient, they are prepared with techniques and medications to intervene.

There is the greatest possibility that your apparent rhythm disturbance has a benign cause, or that the monitor is not functioning correctly for some reason, but do not second guess the situation until you have had adequate testing.

For those of us with arrhythmias that have had testing, this post does not reflect on your situation. For the very reasons identified above, if you had a stress test under your Doctor's supervision and nothing unusual developed, and your Doctor feels your arrhythmia is benign, you should have the greatest confidence that you are healthy and safe. If you have been evaluated by testing to a level that the Doctor felt appropriate, you should feel secure.

Sorry for the darker than normal post.

Best regards to all, may we all have a Happy and Healthy New Year.

[sugarpea013]

There are certain autonomic disorders that create an exercise intolerance. I too was extremely active for 6 years while in the military...after I had my daughter I developed IST and POTS for some reason or another. There was a time where I was unable to do any activity as it would raise my heart to 140 just by standing up. I have gradually worked myself to working out again, doing light cardio and weights. My heart rate will go about 160 which bugs me...if it were the me a couple years ago I would be able to do these kind of workouts in my sleep.

I'm not sure if this is what you have but I know there are a slew of disorders that create exercise intolerance and an inappropriate reaction to working out. Not sure what to tell you, I wish you the best of luck in figuring it out though!