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Palpitations after intense exercise
After an intense session of cross-country skiing on hilly terrain, my Apple watch logged my average heart rate at 140 BPM, with a peak of 174 BPM. Although it was strenuous, I felt fine during the session. However, an hour or two later, I experienced frequent palpitations. When I checked with my Kardia device, I got two unclassified readings in a row, then a normal sinus rhythm with supraventricular ectopy, and on the fourth try, back to normal sinus rhythm. A few hours later things settled down and the palpitations went away. At no time did I feel faint or unwell, just a little anxious. I’m thinking this 77-year-old Olympic wannabe just overdid it (as usual), and hopefully no harm done. Backstory is I had PFA in January for paroxysmal Afib, with no recurrence of Afib since, however occasional palps. I will discuss this to my cardiologist, but in the meanwhile maybe someone out there can offer some insight. Thanks.
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getting on to 80, we unconsciously want to be sure we've still "got it," proving to ourselves by pushing the envelope.
Maybe your systems is telling you to go for the bronze, not the gold?
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2 ReactionsGood comment, thanks...it's just that x-country skiing, which I really enjoy, is physically demanding even for someone half my age.
You have one of two things going on: breakthrough ectopy, possibly (not absolutely) with some
AF and another treatment in your future (PACs, if they become more and more numerous, often indicate an imminent return to AF some time ahead)............or...................you are low om hydration or electrolytes....probably both. You continued to sweat for some time after you ceased your training, which means a continuation of electrolyte and blood volume loss. If this doesn't happen during your typical rest-of-the-day, and does happen frequently soon after exercise, what does that tell you?
@gloaming
I'm pretty sure the ectopic heartbeats are brought on by the strenuous exercise, and they eventually subside for reasons that can possibly be attributed to a return to normal levels of hydration and/or electrolytes. Maybe as an experiment, I will drink a lot of water enriched with magnesium and potassium immediately following my next skiing session. See if that makes a difference. Or maybe I just need to dial down the intensity to bronze level training!? Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
@nevets
I love X skiing too.