Why Does My Heart Race When I Am Eating?

Posted on Wed, 8 Jun 2011

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

Wed, 8 Jun 2011 Answered on

Last reviewed on

Question : I am 65 yrs old, 5' 4" tall, and weigh 250 and wondering why my heart races sometimes when I am eating ? I have begun exercising each day by walking 1/2 mile. The only medicine I take is hydrochlorot 12.5mg a day.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (18 minutes later)

Hi,

Thanks for the query.

The increase in heart rate is considered to be normal after you eat something as the body has to work to digest the food, and also due to sympathetic stimulation of the heart when the food passes through the food pipe.

I would like you to monitor the changes by Holter cardiography or by noting down it in a dairy regarding your heart rates in an hourly interval.

The only thing to be concerned is extreme changes in the heart rate. If this is found then it would be better to see a cardiologist as further investigations might be required to rule out any cardiac abnormality like Supraventicular tachycardia or Atrial fibrillation and has to be treated accordingly.

I hope this information has been both informative and helpful for you. If there are additional concerns, I am available for your followups.

Regards.

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