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Is Heart Rate Of 150-200 A Cause For Concern?

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Posted on Mon, 25 Jan 2016
Question: athough i have suffered all my life from a weak[ish] heart plus now i have exhusted adrenals and also i am a highly sensitive person im now in my 60s and have had a very stressful 3yrs having lost my husband and sister and my stepson also had cancer dueing the time my husband was ill.happily my step-son recovered.but my health has taken a real knock and what i would like to know is what causes on waking up mornings my heart to beat anywhere between 150-200bts per min for several mins? it can do this at anytime of the day but i hate it first thing mornings when im only half awake to try and deal with it so i try not to move for several mins as it only makes it worse and thats really frightening.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (37 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!

Regarding your concern, you should know that it is normal to have e higher heart rate during physical activity or emotional stress (anxiety), but this heart rate is above the normal levels.

Are you taking betablockers?

Coming to this point, I would recommend consulting with your attending physician for a careful physical examination and some tests:

-a resting ECG and cardiac ultrasound to examine your heart function and structure
-an ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring to examine your heart rhythm trends during the day
-blood lab tests (complete blood count for chronic anemia, inflammation tests, PCR, sedimentation rate, thyroid hormone levels for thyroid dysfunction, blood electrolytes).

You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.

Hope you will find this answer helpful!

Feel free to ask any other questions whenever you need!

Greetings!

Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ilir Sharka (40 hours later)
thank you for your answer but could you please tell me what electrolytes are in the blood and what their function is and why they may not be working as they should be?
i have been on beta-blockers for over 20yrs, could this have had anything to do with this issue?
lastly i also suffer from adrenal exhustion which im aware puts strain on the heart as well so what can be done for me to help my adrenal glands to behave themselves?thank you.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hello again!

You should know that there are several electrolytes like : potasium, calcium, sodium, chlorides, etc. which are essential for our body function.

They travel in the blood and are present in different concentrations in the cells of our body and in the blood. They help create a differential of electricity in the cells surface, which is essential for the normal function of the cells. They also help the cells to maintain their natural shape.

If any changes to these electrolytes occur, the cells of different part of the body act abnormally.

I would mention the heart cells. Potassium and calcium are two main electrolytes, which help in the electrical function of the cardiac cells. When potassium levels decrease in circulating plasma, the cardiac cells have an increased excitability leading to cardiac arrhythmia.
Similar mechanisms are related to calcium plasma levels.

That is why, when a cardiac arrhythmia is present, blood electrolytes are between the first tests to be done, to exclude possible electrolyte imbalance.

Have you performed any tests for the adrenal function? An adrenal gland dysfunction could be related to different disorders (chronic fatigue, cardiac arrhythmia, electrolytes imbalances, etc.).

I recommend consulting with your GP for a careful physical examination and performing besides the above mentioned tests, the cortisol and aldosteron plasma levels to exclude possible adrenal dysfunction.

Hope to have been helpful!

Wishing all the best,

Dr. Iliri



Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ilir Sharka (19 hours later)
thank you for your second answer which has answered some of my concerns. my final question i would like to ask you is that i recently read on line that if the adrenals were releasing to much adrenalin into the body then even if my tests found that the heart cells were low on potassium i shouldnt take more into the body because there would be too much there already in the bloodstream having been released with the over amount of adrenalin which the body didnt need.
does this make sence or have i read it wrong? thank you for your help.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (20 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
My opinion as follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hello again!

I understand your concern and would explain that the information on the Internet is often broad and non specific.

Such situation is noticed during anxiety or adrenal gland tumors (called pheochromocytoma).

Nevertheless, the blood levels of the electrolytes, indicate if there is a deficit or an increase in the levels of electrolytes.

This changes should be treated first.

Then based on the patients symptomatology other tests should be done (like cortisol and aldosteron plasma levels, urinary metanephrines,etc.) to examine the function of the adrenal gland. An adrenal gland MRI may be needed if suspicions of pheochromocytoma are raised.

Hope you will find this answer helpful!

Kind regards,

Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Ilir Sharka

Cardiologist

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 9536 Questions

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Is Heart Rate Of 150-200 A Cause For Concern?

Brief Answer: I would explain as follows: Detailed Answer: Hello! Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM! Regarding your concern, you should know that it is normal to have e higher heart rate during physical activity or emotional stress (anxiety), but this heart rate is above the normal levels. Are you taking betablockers? Coming to this point, I would recommend consulting with your attending physician for a careful physical examination and some tests: -a resting ECG and cardiac ultrasound to examine your heart function and structure -an ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring to examine your heart rhythm trends during the day -blood lab tests (complete blood count for chronic anemia, inflammation tests, PCR, sedimentation rate, thyroid hormone levels for thyroid dysfunction, blood electrolytes). You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues. Hope you will find this answer helpful! Feel free to ask any other questions whenever you need! Greetings! Dr. Iliri