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Racing heart…go back to ER
I’m a 78 year old woman diagnosed with hypertension and aFib, although rarely how’s up on EKGs or my Cardia Mobile. I went to the ER at 3AM because after hearing feeling like my heart beat was pulsing in my right ear, Itook my BP(which is usually under control with meds..diltiazem, carvedilol and irbesarten) and it was 180s over 90s. Bloodwork was normal as was EKG. BP still very high, was given labepalol(sp?) and it helped some. No other symptoms…no pain, dizziness, no palpitations. I was discharged and saw my cardiologist this afternoon, he repeated EKG and BP, down but still above my normal. Home now and about an hour ago, palpitations and high BP. Could only leave a message with doctor’s service. Do
Do I return to ER? Naturally I am very worried. Thanks for your thoughts.
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It depends on what the arrhythmia is, how fast the heart rate is, and how long it has been going on. Short runs lasting several minutes and then reverting to normal sinus for hours is not so bad...certainly not urgent. However, there are a couple of arrhythmias that are bad and you don't want them at all if you can help it, even for a few minutes. Those are ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. Arrhythmias like premature atrial complexes (PACs), and PVCs, and atrial fibrillation, or SVT (supraventricular tachycardia) are benign when in the early stages and when they self-convert after an hour or so.
However, any arrhythmia lasting more than 24 hours with a rate above 110 BPM is cause for concern and, yes, you would then get yourself to an ER quickly. It can tire the heart.
And yes, it is common, especially for AF sufferers, to have their hearts act up when they get into bed and relax for the night. My sister-in-law has this problem. I haven't heard that PACs also do this, but I suppose each case is different.
For you, apart from not wanting an arrhythmia of any description...at all..., doctors will want to act when you tell them you're feeling distinctly unwell, even if you're mostly just anxious and are not able to sleep. Tell your cardiologist about this, or at least a family doctor or GP.
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1 Reaction@gloaming Thank you. I decided not to go to the ER. I was able to sleep in a recliner and my numbers are better. I know my anxiety makes things worse.
@marianne103 Bless you, marriane103. Your mind is sometimes going to be your worst hindrance if it is fearful......but fear comes mostly from a lack of understanding or enlightenment..............knowledge. We're all different in how we approach life-changing conditions when they take place. I have to know about stuff. When my own heart began to fibrillate, I spent hours reading up on the condition and how it is treated. Pretty much any arrhythmia can be treated, although sometimes the treatment is a pacemaker. Once that happens, your heart must depend on that device for the rest of your life (they need maintenance and occasionally replacement or upgrading). It's not like there aren't 100M humans alive today with pacemakers keeping them there. And very contentedly and active, thanks very much. 🙂