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SVT’s and running
I’ve been running about 50 years. In recent years I have passed out during races. My heart rate got up to 200 bpm. I’m a 67 yr old female.
After wearing a heart monitor I was diagnosed with SVT’s. They are short and infrequent. I don’t really notice them. My cardiologist said I could run, but not to race. My heart rate does get up into the 170’s on a slow run. My resting heart rate is 53. Do you think I should heed my cardiologist advice and not push myself?
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I doubt that anyone on this forum is qualified to answer that question. However, when I asked a similar question to my cardiologist's PA about x-country skiing and heart rate, she said 'listen to your body, if it feels like you are overdoing it or struggling, then back off'.
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2 ReactionsI've had a number of arrhythmia issues, mostly PAC and PVC, apparently, probably had episodes of SVT my whole life but never formally diagnosed. I never actually passed out but starting around age 50 and at its worst about age 60 many times I curtailed activity because, well, it seemed pretty obvious. Somehow my various arrhythmias seem to have subsided pretty much as I passed 70, but because of unrelated health reasons I still limit aerobic exercise to low levels.
My friend continued to run and even did a couple of marathons into his sixties (seventies?) and what slowed him down was more foot problems than anything else (that and he refuses to buy new shoes until the old ones shred themselves, lol).
I think it best to show some respect to the calendar. Just what that means will be different in every case.
@nevets I recommend The Haywire Heart which delves into heart arrhythmias in endurance athletes.
@chickenfarmer
Thanks for the recommendation.
With SVT dehydration can be a contributing factor. Knowing ones core temp is important for runners in particular.
I wear a Garmin watch that among other things provides a constant reading of my heart rate so I can monitor it throughout the day.
My cardiologist is not someone I would rely on 100% as I was proscribed clopidogrel which is the least effective and least reliable P2Y12 platelet inhibitor and doses of meds that were too long to be effective. There has also been no monitoring of my meds over time and I always need to make requests for any changes. As it is my health and life that is at stake I accept this situation and make the best of it.