Heat, fatigue and heart rate

[marti]

I know you will all think I am a hypochondriac. But I have to ask this.

I was just in the kitchen baking a cake for a neighbor. Of course, it wore me out. While I was stirring the frosting on the stovetop I felt my heart rate increase and just felt exhausted and shaky. Now that I'm resting a little things are somewhat better.

Can fatigue and heat cause this kind of thing? I had a lot of heart tests a few years ago and everything was ok. Lately I get pretty dizzy every day and am so tired! I wish I could stop worrying about this stuff, but you all know how scary it can be.

It seems like any time I use my arms for any activity more strenuous than turning a book page I feel my heart rate go up. I have a finger oximeter so I check. It does come back down fairly quickly. I am 66 years old.. so not a spring chicken.

Can anyone give me any understanding about this or suggestions? Thanks again.

[Carolinemf]

How is your BP?

I and my hubby have AF ( atrial fibrillation) this causes the heart to beat both erratically and quickly and because it does this it pumps inefficiently and causes BP to drop, this in turn can lead to dizziness and vertigo.
Although this can be uncomfortable, inconvenient and worrying apparently we won't die of a heart attache but an AF heart is working harder so will wear out quicker.
We take medication daily.

An erratic beat in itself isn't to much of a concern but a fast/inefficient pulse can be. Clots.

Erratic beat is there 24/7 but increased rate isn't.
Most of the time this is triggered by some form of stress either physical or mental or both.
My heart always plays up more when i'm fatigued. Heating up too. Was it hot in the kitchen?

So if it settles after you rest I would think it a possibility that this is whats happening.

Worrying will make this worse - I find a Valium helps.http://www.msworld.org/forum/images/icons/icon7.png

We are 54 and 49 yrs old. so only just nudging the 'old boiler' category.
Hope this helps.

[marti]

How is your BP?

I and my hubby have AF ( atrial fibrillation) this causes the heart to beat both erratically and quickly and because it does this it pumps inefficiently and causes BP to drop, this in turn can lead to dizziness and vertigo.
Although this can be uncomfortable, inconvenient and worrying apparently we won't die of a heart attache but an AF heart is working harder so will wear out quicker.
We take medication daily.

An erratic beat in itself isn't to much of a concern but a fast/inefficient pulse can be. Clots.

Erratic beat is there 24/7 but increased rate isn't.
Most of the time this is triggered by some form of stress either physical or mental or both.
My heart always plays up more when i'm fatigued. Heating up too. Was it hot in the kitchen?

So if it settles after you rest I would think it a possibility that this is whats happening.

Worrying will make this worse - I find a Valium helps.http://www.msworld.org/forum/images/icons/icon7.png

We are 54 and 49 yrs old. so only just nudging the 'old boiler' category.
Hope this helps.

Thank you Caroline. Yes, the kitchen was hot. I actually cooked a meal first (rare for me to cook at all) and the burner was really cranked up. I have extreme anxiety and the least little thing can set me off. Maybe I was worried about how this cake would turn out. I don't know for sure.

My B/P was ok, but I didn't check it right away. I do get a few palpitations at times, but not terrible. My last thyroid labs were a little hyper. And I've seen so many doctors that I think at least one of them would have caught AFIB symptoms by now right?

I'm really short and have to stretch to do most anything. I think my arms are a little bit above the stove when I'm working there. Don't know if that means anything. But I've had this happen before when I am using my arms to do some kind of work... even light stuff. I can feel my heart rate increase.. you know.. it beats harder. Anyway, sorry to be so goofy about this. It just worries me. Everything worries me! I do wonder about POTS, but have not gotten any doctor to look into it yet. I just wondered if this could be another MS thing. ????

[Poppy7402]

Unfortunately if you've got a lesion in the right piece of brain real estate, MS can affect your heart rate.

Last Christmas I had a relapse that involved my heart rate sitting at 130 bpm or more, even when I was resting. By the time I connected the dots and went to my PCP, things were starting to return to normal. Nowadays I do have episodes of sinus tachycardia when I get hot, so to answer that part of your question, yes heat can affect it. Seems that no part of the body is immune to this infernal disease.

[Carolinemf]

Hi Marti,
Sorry I didn't mean to imply that you might have AF. (cog fog probably at work there)
Was just using that as an example.

Heat, fatigue, stress (and ms) combo most likely cause. It takes less of these to affect us than others.
I would monitor those and see what happens when you reduce them to gauge whether you need to pace your self more.

Have you ever worn a monitor for an extended period (48hrs)?
If you have had heart related tests and docs aren't concerned you need to monitor and manage and try not to worry because this will only make things worse.

If you experience rates of 140bpm+ for long periods (have rested and hasn't settled) then you should see a doc because of the risk of clots forming.They usally give blood thinners. But if your rate goes up with a trigger and reduces if you remove the trigger this is kinda 'normal'.

Again hope this helps.

[KatW]

Marti,

My heart rate goes up with heat. I have to bring my beta blockers with me to any summer events that will be hot.

[jreagan70]

But if your rate goes up with a trigger and reduces if you remove the trigger this is kinda 'normal'.

I have to agree. Marti, it might be a good idea to talk with your physicians about what's a normal increase in heart rate and what's abnormal.

Heart rate is supposed to go up with activity and go down when the activity is over. That's why heart rate is higher during the day when a person is up and walking around and low when they're sleeping. That's why resting heart rate is as important as heart rate during exercise and activity.

Heart rate is supposed to go up with extreme temperatures, which is why everyone has to be concerned about keeping cool in high temperatures.

Heart rates and blood pressures normally change with changing activity. Body temperature and hormone levels normally go up and down during the day. Sometimes that means that people have more or less aches and pains at certain times of the day in response.

You'd be in a lot of trouble if your heart rate didn't go up when it's supposed to. So if you've had your heart tested several times already and your doctors didn't find any problems, then maybe your heart is working correctly and you may not be familiar with what "correct" feels like.

A good talk with your doctors can tell you what's normal and what isn't, and what you should be concerned about and what you can stop unnecessarily frightening yourself about.

[marti]

I have to agree. Marti, it might be a good idea to talk with your physicians about what's a normal increase in heart rate and what's abnormal.

Heart rate is supposed to go up with activity and go down when the activity is over. That's why heart rate is higher during the day when a person is up and walking around and low when they're sleeping. That's why resting heart rate is as important as heart rate during exercise and activity.

Heart rate is supposed to go up with extreme temperatures, which is why everyone has to be concerned about keeping cool in high temperatures.

Heart rates and blood pressures normally change with changing activity. Body temperature and hormone levels normally go up and down during the day. Sometimes that means that people have more or less aches and pains at certain times of the day in response.

You'd be in a lot of trouble if your heart rate didn't go up when it's supposed to. So if you've had your heart tested several times already and your doctors didn't find any problems, then maybe your heart is working correctly and you may not be familiar with what "correct" feels like.

A good talk with your doctors can tell you what's normal and what isn't, and what you should be concerned about and what you can stop unnecessarily frightening yourself about.

Thanks for the good advice. Do you think the neuro is the right doctor to see about this? I never know for sure which specialist is needed for certain oddball problems.

[KatW]

Marti, my neuro referred me to a cardiologist for a stress test when I felt that I was having problems. After I was placed on DMTs, I was having chest pain with an increased BP and heart rate. The cardiologist did a stress test and all my cardiac rhythms were normal.

They can do a 24 hour monitor test if you keep having issues and they can't find it on the stress test. Since you have the pulse oximeter at home, you can check it several times a day and take the numbers with you to the doctor. I've had these issues too so I know it can be worrisome. I hope you find some answers.

[Carolinemf]

Hi again Marti.
I have never had a stress test. But the 48hr monitor showed my heart was 'firing' from the top and the bottom, irregularly 24/7.

My husband has a more severe case of AF and his rate has increased at times (not always when exerting) to 230bpm. He has now had 2 cardio versions to return his heart to sinus rhythm.
Yet when he did a stress test he was told not to worry. In fact he was told by one cardiologist to 'go for a run' when it happened.

I'm not trying to scare you.
But am just saying that you should do some self monitoring and again 'if it settles' back down after you rest and RELAX this is not something I consider you need be concerned about. but if the rate stays up or is occurring without triggers then request a monitor. This type of test reveals much more than some of the other tests. And remember that your triggers may be less intensive than a person without ms. Keep a diary Maybe?
I hope this helps.