heartbeat so strong it shakes my hands/arms

I believe you are hyper-attuned to watching your body move with each heartbeat. The numbers you cite, and which you are comfortable with (because you cite them) suggests that all is well. You should try to focus on other aspects of your health.

FWIW, everybody's body moves with heart rhythm. You don't/haven't noticed it until you began to pay attention, and now it consumes you. Your physician's prescription has your BP under control, good control, and your strong movement means your heart is preserving a solid ejection fraction (EF). You are in the best place possible for someone needing help maintaining one's blood pressures in a good range. Perhaps you can put some energy into figuring out, researching, ways to get off the medicine(s) by adjusting what CAN BE adjusted....if that is possible. It may be a way to channel your energy and angst, and be somewhat more productive than fretting over your body movements due to heartbeat.

@gloaming thankfully taking BP readings, not any medicine;-) Taking prednisone for PMR, so yes, pretty in tuned to body. Thank you.

Hi @pmrnew Good call to check your blood pressure so you know that it is not causing you to feel your heart beating so strongly. I agree with @gloaming that it sounds like you are in a good place, making strides in the direction of living your best quality of life.

Saying this, however I am not a medical professional. I have experienced somewhat your same sensation in my body. I have felt my heart beating strongly in various places like my abdomen, back, fingers, etc. at times that I could watch my skin move as I felt the pulsing. I agree that it is freaky!

I notice beating sensations after stretching and exercising, for sure. It happens in problem places that seem to clear up/improve by my self-care efforts. I notice this for a time and then it must work into being normal for me. I don’t feel it in that spot anymore.

Are there specific times you feel your heart beating throughout your body? What type of therapy, maybe self-care or medication have you adopted since learning you have what I think you refer to as Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)?

pmrnew, PMR can increase the intensity of heartbeats and increase blood pressure because of stiffening in arterial walls. Prednisone, too, can increase both symptoms. I suspect that your body is responding to the prednisone. You could get a cardiologist involved with the prednisone dosage. Your symptoms are often consequences of prednisone dosage changes.
Prednisone increases the body's sensitivity to adrenalin acting a bit like cortisol. It also causes fluid and salt retention increasing fluid levels in the vascular system making you feel those beats.
I like your conclusion best--your body is complaining about the new, healthy lifestyle and is increasing the volume because you seem not to pay attention.

@pmrnew
Having a strong heart beat is good versus have a weak one. Your BP is good and Distolic could be lower but on high enough to be concerned with. 120-80 is norm. Mine runs 100/65. My HF doctor is more concerned with mine being low and concerned is dizzenes when standing.

The medications I take keep my BP low as well as BPM.

I know PMR is probably on abbreviation list but can you explain? When you are hyper focussed on your heart you will feel it beating. I can sometimes feel my heartbeat just putting my hand under my leg. But when I feel that strong pulse it reassures me heart is doing it's job and it nice and strong.

@gloaming has given you a lot of good and valuable advice and information.

@jc76 OMG;-) Yes, PMR stand for Polymyalgia Rheumatica. Only since Dec 2025 (thankfully) and though no cure but Prednisone covers the pain. Longer story but this Mayo Clinic chat has really really helped to hear others' experiences and how they have tapered. Yes, probably hyper in tuned. Went for a hike last summer and could barely make it back. High BP, high cholesterol, etc. For PMR, which wake up call might have been a lifesaver, I refused to start Prednisone, the side effects are brutal. January to mid March I went vegan/vegetarian, stopped drinking and fasted a week and 31 days. Then I capitulated (it is a miracle drug, pain gone in an hour) but taking Pred now started from a much much healthier prospective. Sooooo keeping the lifestyle.

@gently thankfully body is responding well to lifestyle changes. But yes, not temporary, this lifestyle has to remain.

@jlharsh yes Polymyalgia Rheumatica. No specific times, often just reading in bed. The only PMR treatment that does not cure, but covers the pain is Prednisone. Seems that drug does raise BP. Among all the other side effects, like diabetes, hi cholesterol, osteoporosis and many more. My self care has been gym, no alcohol, mostly vegan. To combat Prednisone side effects as per doc, I now take some supplements. This Mayo clinic sharing stories has helped me incredibly. I have not had any health issues, no meds, nothing at 64 years. Never knew that a health issue could be so very different for so many, it has helped reading about others sharing.

I had the feeling that my heart was trying to beat its way out of my chest 3 years ago with long covid. It gradually went away after the LC subsided. My BP and heart rate were normal, other than odd spikes of up to 190/100 (which also were pounding). So, my cardiologist had me on a lesser exercise routine until LC was gone, biking 60 mi/week and resting down from 160 mi/week. No myocarditis, just a cranky heart.