What Causes Rapid Heart Pulse For Brief Duration?

Posted on Tue, 21 Apr 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 21 Apr 2015 Answered on

Sat, 9 May 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : My heart rate has stayed at 115 for the past 10 minutes. I was outside painting in the sun and I felt great, no pain or anything. Thought it would have slowed by now. Is this a concern? I have been evaluated by doctors with with EKG during some stressful episodes with everything coming up normal. I am 36 year old male with panic disorder and am transitioning from cymbalta to paxil. I also started taking klonopin during this process. Could this be something to concern myself with, or is it just my anxiety. I am a smoker as well. Thank you

Answered by Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (19 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
I do not think it is something serious

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for using healthcaremagic.

I read your query and understand your concern.

If somebody have rapid pulse for brief duration (<30 minutes) there is no concern if the patient has no history of any cardiac illness and age is below 45-50 years. You satisfy all the three criteria and it will not be wrong to say that you need to worry about it.

Now the question is why it should occur to you.

Obviously the first and foremost cause is anxiety. It is possible that pp\atient develop tachycardia (heart rate above 100 beats per minute) and palpitation in state of anxiety. It may or may not be accompanied by other symptoms.

The second possibility at this stage is withdrawal effect of cymbalta. Again the tachycardia is common manifestation while removing one or another drug.

The third possibility is dehydration due to working in sun and resultant tachycardia.

It may also be mild panic attack.

Having said this lets talk about serious issues.
While you visit your doctor discuss with him about pheochromocytoma a disorder which can present with both heart rate increase as well as panic disorder. Although it is rare disorder but it will not be wrong to discuss with your physician.

Hope I am able to answer your concerns.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.
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Thanks and regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (19 minutes later)

I wasn't in a panic, just painting outdoors and feeling better than I had in days. It is on the higher end most of the time due to my anxiety. I use to do a lot of physical labor and became anxious and sedentary over the winter. Could this be a cause? one side note, I am also on prescription Prilosec for gastritis possibly due to H. Pylori. Could any conditions cause that? Thanks again

Answered by Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Being anxious could be cause but not being sedentary

Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for reverting back to me.

Although I already said that it is unlikely to be serious but in background of new information (heart rate on higher side on most days) there is possibility that you have thyroid abnormality. Please get your TSH, T3 and T4 level checked from nearby laboratory.

Regarding your other questions I like to inform you that being anxious is known cause of high pulse rate but sedentary life do not increase heart rate. Similarly Prilosec is not known to cause increase heart rate.

I hope this helps you.
Thanks and regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (22 hours later)

I believe you. My thyroid is fine( been checked). I guess I have a tendency to obcess a bit about bodily processes I have no control over, which in turn causes anxiety and increases heart rate. I'm sure once I transition to my new medication( paxil) and continue therapy, my condition will improve. Anxiety gives me a since of eminent doom at times and I just need reassurance and to realize the symptoms are just anxiety. One last thing, since I smoke, is it normal to be a little more breathless with exercise? I just started doing 10 minute jogs and notice I get winded very quickly. As I said before, I am a smoker. Maybe a breathing technique you could recommend until I quit smoking. Thanks for all your help and patience.

Answered by Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Deep breathing may help

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome back to HCM.

I am glad to now that it is not thyroid and the most probable cause is anxiety itself. Since you already started the medication it is hoped that within few days you will feel aright in regard to anxiety problem.

Regarding your smoking and decreased endurance the only thing which can help is quitting smoking or at least cutting it down. We all know this fact but generally ignore it on one or another context. In my view this is time for you to take a final call about stopping the smoking altogether.

Regarding your question about whether it is normal- No it is not normal to become breathless with moderate exercise. But yes if the exercise is very heavy in nature it will naturally cause breathlessness and presence of smoke in body (cigarette smoke) will further compromise the circulation causing breathlessness.

As I said above the most effective treatment is quitting smoking but the short term measure which could be helpful for you is deep breathing. Take a breath and try to hold as long as possible and release it slowly.

I hope this helps you.
Thanks and regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E