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What Causes Increased Heart Rate Post Workout?
Question: Hi , I am a 24 year old female and i was always been very active. Last year In May I did a fitness competition and my weight got down to 120 pounds when I usually sit at 130-135. Right after that I took a new position that was extremely stressful I was on call a24 hours a day everyday. I decided to leave that postion because I was starting to not sleep well and was exhausted wih stress. I barely ate throughout the day. While drinking coffee to keep me going. My last week of that position I was sitting one day after work and my heart rate inceased randomly and rapidly. It was scary but I as able t calm down in just a few minutes this was accompanied by shortness in breath. About two weeks later when I was done work for a month i was walking on the treadmill which is very easy for me. I did take a stimulant based prework out before which I have been for the past two years. My heart rate skyrocketed and I got very dizzy and had was having hard time catching my breath. My bpm as measured on treadmill jumped from 145 to aprox 200 bpm. Got off treadmill and tried to sit to calm down. It calmed down but then Started up again aprox 4 times. Went to emergency and they did an ecg and it appeared normal. However by this time my heart rate decreases and was fine for the rest of the night. Since then I've felt off, shakey. Extremely tired. Not all days but I'd say three days out the week. My heart rate rapidly in creased like that on three separate occasions one when I was going to drive on hwy which makes me nervous usually, one when I went to go use the treadmill again. And once when I was at home folding laundry. This is always accompanied by shortness of breath and slight dizziness. Since the time I went to the er I have had minimal caffine. I had a halter monitor just two weeks ago but they have not called with results yet. They told me to drink coffee to try to stimulate what I was feeling. However this did nothing and I felt fine all day. I now only occasionally feel my heart do a hard beat or a few rapid beats this usually causes tightness and anxiety and sometimes caused my heart rate to increase aprox from 70 bpm to 85 bpm resting. And very slight shortness of breath. I'm now in a new position it is still stressful but in a way better environment. I worried that I now just might have anxiety as I no long want to workout, all I can manage still is work and sleep I don't even want to go out and do social activities which I very much used to.
Brief Answer:
anxiety attacks; lifestyle modifications.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I have gone through your details and understand your concerns.
You have been working in a stressful environment. You have had repeated episodes of shortness of breath, shakiness, increased heart rate and dizziness.
ECG has been normal. Holter reports are awaited.
Well, in light of normal ECG (and if holter reports come out to be normal), i think these episodes are purely anxiety attacks and are due to stressful job.
Increase sympathetic activity during anxiety attacks is the cause of most of such symptoms.
Now, you donot want socialise like earlier. I think the stress of job is taking toll on your health.
I jave some suggestions for you which might prove helpful:
1. Find time for yourself. Enjoy your hobbies, cooking, gardening, dancing or whatever you like.
2. Practice relaxation exercises like deep breathing and meditation. Or go for a brisk morning walk.
3. Sometimes, sitting idly and just killing the time also destresses you.
4. Eat green vegetables and fruits as they are natural antioxidants.
5. Avoid caffeinated drinks. These increase anxiety.
6. Adequate sleep is important to refresh your mind.
7. Omega-3 fatty acid supplements can help to elevate mood.
8. When the anxiety is intense, you can drink a glass of cold water. This will control heart beats.
Hope this helps. Feel free to discuss further.
Do keep me updated about your holter results.
You can also approach me directly if you need any assistance in future.
Take care.
Thanks.
anxiety attacks; lifestyle modifications.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I have gone through your details and understand your concerns.
You have been working in a stressful environment. You have had repeated episodes of shortness of breath, shakiness, increased heart rate and dizziness.
ECG has been normal. Holter reports are awaited.
Well, in light of normal ECG (and if holter reports come out to be normal), i think these episodes are purely anxiety attacks and are due to stressful job.
Increase sympathetic activity during anxiety attacks is the cause of most of such symptoms.
Now, you donot want socialise like earlier. I think the stress of job is taking toll on your health.
I jave some suggestions for you which might prove helpful:
1. Find time for yourself. Enjoy your hobbies, cooking, gardening, dancing or whatever you like.
2. Practice relaxation exercises like deep breathing and meditation. Or go for a brisk morning walk.
3. Sometimes, sitting idly and just killing the time also destresses you.
4. Eat green vegetables and fruits as they are natural antioxidants.
5. Avoid caffeinated drinks. These increase anxiety.
6. Adequate sleep is important to refresh your mind.
7. Omega-3 fatty acid supplements can help to elevate mood.
8. When the anxiety is intense, you can drink a glass of cold water. This will control heart beats.
Hope this helps. Feel free to discuss further.
Do keep me updated about your holter results.
You can also approach me directly if you need any assistance in future.
Take care.
Thanks.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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