Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Sudden Increase In Heart Rate And Blood Pressure After Physical Exercise?
Question: Hi I have a few questions. I had an episode at the gym approximately 1 year ago. I was losing a lot of weight at the time through diet and I started exercising pretty vigorously. I went to the gym but did not eat well the whole day. While at the gym I did 40 minutes on the treadmill and then did some weight training. After this I went on the eliptycal trainer for another 40 minutes. This was only my second work out in 2 years. Just as I was finishing my workout I looked at the sensors and my heart rate spiked up to 198. I freaked out when I saw this and they called an ambulance. The ambulance put me on the ekg and it said sinus rhythm. It was just very fast and because of my panic attack my blood pressure also spiked to 200/110. They brought me to the hospital and when I got there my bpm was already lower and my blood pressure went down to 150/90. They ran a lot of tests on me and the doctor says he thinks it could have happened due to dehydration or a drop in my glucose from not eating. Is this possible?
After all this I went to a cardiologist who ran an echo, ekg, stress test, holter and blood work. Everything came back normal. The only thing that showed up was 925 PACS on my holter over 48 hours. It said my heart rate was in bradycardia for 26 percent of the time and tachycardia for 12 percent of the time. Highest heart rate was 163 and lowest 51. 3 couplet cycles and 2 bigamy cycles. No Runs. 1 Ventricular beat. My echo had trace regurgitation in the mitral valve, mild pulmonic regurgitation and trace tricuspid regurgitation. Cardiologis says this is normal and common is this true. I was worried about the PACS but he also says this was nothing to worry about is this true.
Over the next few months I was very worried and had symptoms that I think were exaggerated by anxiety. My GP sent me to another cardiologist fir a second opinion and all the tests were normal again. This time the holter showed 15 unifocal single PVCS and 150 Single PACS. My heart rate went to 41 during sleep. Also I noticed when I sit on the couch at rest and watch television my heart rate goes down to 54 sometimes. The cardiologist says this is all normal. Im worried is this all normal. Ive lost 80 Lbs over the last year through completely changing my lifestyle and diest. I eat a lot of healthy fruits and vegetables, grilled chicken, quinoa and whole grains. No fried food, fatty food or white bread and pasta and no refined sugar.
After all this I went to a cardiologist who ran an echo, ekg, stress test, holter and blood work. Everything came back normal. The only thing that showed up was 925 PACS on my holter over 48 hours. It said my heart rate was in bradycardia for 26 percent of the time and tachycardia for 12 percent of the time. Highest heart rate was 163 and lowest 51. 3 couplet cycles and 2 bigamy cycles. No Runs. 1 Ventricular beat. My echo had trace regurgitation in the mitral valve, mild pulmonic regurgitation and trace tricuspid regurgitation. Cardiologis says this is normal and common is this true. I was worried about the PACS but he also says this was nothing to worry about is this true.
Over the next few months I was very worried and had symptoms that I think were exaggerated by anxiety. My GP sent me to another cardiologist fir a second opinion and all the tests were normal again. This time the holter showed 15 unifocal single PVCS and 150 Single PACS. My heart rate went to 41 during sleep. Also I noticed when I sit on the couch at rest and watch television my heart rate goes down to 54 sometimes. The cardiologist says this is all normal. Im worried is this all normal. Ive lost 80 Lbs over the last year through completely changing my lifestyle and diest. I eat a lot of healthy fruits and vegetables, grilled chicken, quinoa and whole grains. No fried food, fatty food or white bread and pasta and no refined sugar.
Brief Answer:
Exercise, dehydration and low glucose may have caused previous problem..
Detailed Answer:
Hi back XXXX!
Once again I read your query and understood your concerns.
It's a well-known fact that physical exercise and dehydration that follow together with a drop on the glucose levels may be the cause of hypertensive crisis and tachycardia.
As long as cardiac examinations didn't find anything important only some traces of valvular regurgitations and cardiac premature contractions (PACs and PVCs) which are harmless and didn't cause any life threatening problems. The only complication is fatigue, chest discomfort which increases your anxiety.
Based on the data you provided earlier and the new data (you have lost 80 Lbs. over the last year) I would suggest that your symptoms may be related to extreme diet, electrolyte imbalance that follows. I would recommend to measure blood electrolyte levels and to add multivitamins and electrolytes supplements reach in zinc and magnesium (for example centrum multivitamin/multimineral).
Moreover diet and weigh lost may aggravate stomach acidity reflux (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease) and will worsen your symptoms and palpitations.
Hope this was of help!
Dr. Shehu
Exercise, dehydration and low glucose may have caused previous problem..
Detailed Answer:
Hi back XXXX!
Once again I read your query and understood your concerns.
It's a well-known fact that physical exercise and dehydration that follow together with a drop on the glucose levels may be the cause of hypertensive crisis and tachycardia.
As long as cardiac examinations didn't find anything important only some traces of valvular regurgitations and cardiac premature contractions (PACs and PVCs) which are harmless and didn't cause any life threatening problems. The only complication is fatigue, chest discomfort which increases your anxiety.
Based on the data you provided earlier and the new data (you have lost 80 Lbs. over the last year) I would suggest that your symptoms may be related to extreme diet, electrolyte imbalance that follows. I would recommend to measure blood electrolyte levels and to add multivitamins and electrolytes supplements reach in zinc and magnesium (for example centrum multivitamin/multimineral).
Moreover diet and weigh lost may aggravate stomach acidity reflux (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease) and will worsen your symptoms and palpitations.
Hope this was of help!
Dr. Shehu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi Doctor I had my electrolytes checked everything was normal. My B12 even though was considered normal here in Canada was only 217. Everywhere I look it says this is low. Is it too low? Also the tests such as echo and holter were done 3 months after the gym incident. Is the regurgitation still normal?
Brief Answer:
Your vitmine B12 is at the lower limits of the norm, increase meat consume.
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
Although your vitamine B12 is above 200 it should be considered to be at the lower limits of norms and may be a cause or it may worsen your symptoms.
If you were my patient I would have recommended to eat enough meat, poultry, seafood, dairy products, and eggs. This will increase vitamine B12 levels and may help to improve your symptoms.
You shouldn't worry about Echo and holter for the moment your heart it's normal. you should repeat the test after one year.
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu
Your vitmine B12 is at the lower limits of the norm, increase meat consume.
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
Although your vitamine B12 is above 200 it should be considered to be at the lower limits of norms and may be a cause or it may worsen your symptoms.
If you were my patient I would have recommended to eat enough meat, poultry, seafood, dairy products, and eggs. This will increase vitamine B12 levels and may help to improve your symptoms.
You shouldn't worry about Echo and holter for the moment your heart it's normal. you should repeat the test after one year.
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi Doctor Thank you for your response. I have a question for you. This morning after breakfast I was working at my desk when out of nowhere I got light headed and felt like I faded out for a few seconds. I got really scared and jumped up and checked my pulse but it felt normal. I did not feel any pvcs before this. Could it have been that I did not sleep well? I was feeling a little tired. Also my heart tests were normal last month is it possible to develop a problem so quickly? Could it be something that is not related to my heart at all?
If it was my heart would the feeling last more than a few seconds?
If it was my heart would the feeling last more than a few seconds?
Brief Answer:
Sleep disorders and anxiety may be the cause of your concerns.
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
What you have experienced doesn't seems related to cardiac problems but to anxiety. A cardiac problem last 5-30 minutes and not a few seconds.
Sleep disorders and anxiety may be the cause of your concerns. I suggest to drink chamomile tea to relieve your anxiety.
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu
Sleep disorders and anxiety may be the cause of your concerns.
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
What you have experienced doesn't seems related to cardiac problems but to anxiety. A cardiac problem last 5-30 minutes and not a few seconds.
Sleep disorders and anxiety may be the cause of your concerns. I suggest to drink chamomile tea to relieve your anxiety.
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Doctor I have a question I had an episode after dinner and I'm not sure if it was anxiety because I did not feel nervous. I was sitting at the table and felt my heart start racing at 150 -160 BPM. I did deep breathing and it passed after 2-3 minutes. My question is can a pac or pvc cause the heart to start racing? Could this have been just anxiety? I checked my pulse when it was racing and it felt regular I'm just not sure if I had a pac or pvc just before. Would this cause the heart to race and is it dangerous?
Brief Answer:
following answer to your query...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
What you have experienced may be related to stomach acidity or PVC and PAC, although you didn't feel any problem prior to tachycardia. Even a single PAC which is hardly to be felt may trigger tachycardia.
However you shouldn't worry about that. Apart from general discomfort it wouldn't cause any problem to you.
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu
following answer to your query...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
What you have experienced may be related to stomach acidity or PVC and PAC, although you didn't feel any problem prior to tachycardia. Even a single PAC which is hardly to be felt may trigger tachycardia.
However you shouldn't worry about that. Apart from general discomfort it wouldn't cause any problem to you.
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi Doctor is it normal to get a heart rate of 160 BPM with a pac? How come the heart goes this fast with a pac or pvc? Also I was unaware that stomach acidity can do this. I have had a lot of acid the past few days. This can trigger the heart rate to increase this high?
Brief Answer:
Tachycardia is related to stomach acidity.
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
A heart rate of 160 bpm is tachycardia and may be triggered by stomach acidity and premature cardiac complex (PAC or PVC).
The premature cardiac beats are followed by a prolonged systolic pause. The prolonged systolic pause, which is a compensatory delayed cardiac contraction after the premature cardiac complex (PVC or PAC), may trigger tachycardia.
Stomach acidity may trigger both Premature cardiac beats and tachycardia. In your case you have had a lot of acidity in the past days and I think that your symptoms are related to stomach acidity.
If you were my patient i would recommend to use antacids (malox).
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu
Tachycardia is related to stomach acidity.
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
A heart rate of 160 bpm is tachycardia and may be triggered by stomach acidity and premature cardiac complex (PAC or PVC).
The premature cardiac beats are followed by a prolonged systolic pause. The prolonged systolic pause, which is a compensatory delayed cardiac contraction after the premature cardiac complex (PVC or PAC), may trigger tachycardia.
Stomach acidity may trigger both Premature cardiac beats and tachycardia. In your case you have had a lot of acidity in the past days and I think that your symptoms are related to stomach acidity.
If you were my patient i would recommend to use antacids (malox).
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you doctor so this is not dangerous?
Brief Answer:
Don't worry it's not dangerous.
Detailed Answer:
Hi back.
Don't worry it's not dangerous.
Dr. Shehu
Don't worry it's not dangerous.
Detailed Answer:
Hi back.
Don't worry it's not dangerous.
Dr. Shehu
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
