“Increasing resting heart rate, what is it?”
My resting heart rate seems to be faster and more pronounced. Even when I'm laying in bed. I do not have any known heart conditions. What could this be?
18 Answers
Many different possibilities. You should see your doctor and wear a "Holter Monitor" to assess further.
Review your use of alcohol and caffeine as well as prescription drugs and
vitamins. Usually what you describe is caused by an externality.
vitamins. Usually what you describe is caused by an externality.
Increasing resting heart rate : anything greater than 100 beats per min is considered Tachycardia.
If it remains regular it could be : Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia (normal or regular fast beating heart) .
If irregular beating is noted it may be: atrial fibrillation (irregular heart beat from the upper chambers of the heart) or atrial flutter a fast but more regularly irregular heart beat.
There are several possibilities , so I'd recommend that you see your primary care doctor who can order a heart monitor(ambulatory ekg) that you can wear for 24 hours or more or an event monitor for up to 30 days as an outpatient or refer you to your local cardiologist.
The danger of a continuous fast beating heart is enlargement or dilation of the heart known as a cardiomyopathy.
I hope this helped to answer your question & that you seek additional evaluation & treatment as needed.
Thanks,
Dr. Webb
If it remains regular it could be : Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia (normal or regular fast beating heart) .
If irregular beating is noted it may be: atrial fibrillation (irregular heart beat from the upper chambers of the heart) or atrial flutter a fast but more regularly irregular heart beat.
There are several possibilities , so I'd recommend that you see your primary care doctor who can order a heart monitor(ambulatory ekg) that you can wear for 24 hours or more or an event monitor for up to 30 days as an outpatient or refer you to your local cardiologist.
The danger of a continuous fast beating heart is enlargement or dilation of the heart known as a cardiomyopathy.
I hope this helped to answer your question & that you seek additional evaluation & treatment as needed.
Thanks,
Dr. Webb
Yes I understand the concern, it's usually due to adrenaline, but may not be a bad idea to check your heart out. Also may check, thyroid, make sure you don't have sleep apnea, check blood tests ( anemia), be care with weight loss supplements, excessive caffeine, sport drinks , tobacco smoke, may consider over the counter mood relaxing vitiams ( gaba), also make sure your well hydrated with water.
ANXIETY
You could have autonomic dysfunction. I would try some lifestyle modifications such as eliminating caffeine, nicotine and alcohol. Keep yourself well hydrated. Make sure you exercise 3-5 times a week for 20-40 minutes.
As an isolated observation in an otherwise healthy person I dont know.If its sinus rhythm Id say cardiovascular deconditioning.
Dehydration, anemia, thyroid etc.
Go check with your pcp
Go check with your pcp
This is one area where the actual numbers are important. Also, many things may contribute to elevation in heart rate, like thyroid elevations, anemia, anxiety, undiagnosed heart weakness (needs echo). The heart responds to other things and it's not usually intrinsic to the heart. A heart monitor which records the actual heart rates is important in this regard.
The range of causes is very wide starting with slight dehydration to anxiety to stress, to anemia, to endocrine issues (thyroid) to reconditioning to intrinsic heart issues (arrhythmia, heart muscle function,...) allergy, metabolic issues etc.
To fully determine the cause, start with keeping a log of heart rate, time of day, blood pressure and circumstances (sitting, standing, having walks upstairs etc). Keep the log for at least 2 weeks and then present to your doctor for further options. Additional, objective tests need to be considered
To fully determine the cause, start with keeping a log of heart rate, time of day, blood pressure and circumstances (sitting, standing, having walks upstairs etc). Keep the log for at least 2 weeks and then present to your doctor for further options. Additional, objective tests need to be considered
There are many reasons for increasing heart rate which include anxiety, anemia or an arrhythmia. Would recommend following with your primary physician for further evaluation.
Dr Callahan
Dr Callahan
Julia G. Ansari
Cardiologist
first you need to see how fast is the heart rate and if it is regular or irregular. A holter can answer that. Other conditions such as hyperthyroidism, anemia, infection can also raise the heart rate
Elevated resting heart rate usually represents physical deconditioning. It
may also be an early sign of nascent heart failure. There is enough data to
support that elevated heart rate is deleterious to health long term. It
needs further evaluation. Contact you PCP and possibly a cardiologist. A
simple stress test may answer most of these concerns.
Anwar Ahmad MD, FACC
may also be an early sign of nascent heart failure. There is enough data to
support that elevated heart rate is deleterious to health long term. It
needs further evaluation. Contact you PCP and possibly a cardiologist. A
simple stress test may answer most of these concerns.
Anwar Ahmad MD, FACC
Conditions related or unrelated to the heart can do this. Systemic conditions like fever or infection can do it or irregular heart rhythm can do it.
Many physiologic conditions can increase heart rate. Stressors like dehydration, pain, anemia, infection, overactive thyroid, and the list is extensive. An abnormal heart rhythm can present like this as well. A complete physical and appropriate testing would be a great place to start.
JMarcum MD
JMarcum MD
A rapid heart rate or tachycardia has many possible causes. One may have a rapid heartbeat from anxiety or fever or a hyperactive thyroid, other unknown illnesses or possibly due to underlying heart disease. The best thing is to go to your family doctor and be examined and have an EKG and ask what further testing could be done based on your symptoms. Depending on the findings, the doctor may recommend a Holter monitor, echocardiogram, lab work or other diagnostic testing. Meanwhile, it is best to cut down on the caffeine and make sure you are not taking medications that can speed up your heart rate. I hope this is helpful.
Normal heart rates are considered between 60-100. It can be normal for the HR to increase mildly due to things that increase adrenaline such as anger, excitement, anxiety, caffeine, other stimulant etc. Absent any obvious source of adrenaline or stimulant, outside influences on the HR would include infection, inflammation, anemia, high thyroid levels among other things. What would clue us in to a more specific diagnosis is other symptoms such as palpitstions, shortness of breath, dizziness, excessive sweating, weight loss, symptoms of infection or inflammation or pain.
I hope this helps a little. Feel free to reply with more questions or added information you might have
Mark Zweben, MD FACC
I hope this helps a little. Feel free to reply with more questions or added information you might have
Mark Zweben, MD FACC
It could mean a few things. Your resting heart rate at times can be a measure of your fitness level. In general the normal resting heart rate is between 60-100. Some people who exercise regularly can have lower resting heart rates, sometimes as low as 40s-60. Heart rate can be a measure of infection, dehydration, or an abnormal heart rhythm. Usually while lying in bed, you're more in tune with your heart beat, so you can feel abnormal beats or faster beats. If your heart rate is between 60-100 beats, do not be concerned. If you're still worried, you can have a 24 hour Holter monitor which captures every beat of your heart and when you have symptoms, it will record them, and you can also get a feel for what your heart rate is doing when you are experiencing symptoms. I hope this helps.
Jason Talavera, MD, FACC
Jason Talavera, MD, FACC
