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Original poster

Help- Fast heartbeat?

37 replies

Cantthinkofausername20 · 08/02/2024 22:27

Had an asthma attack and my heart went up a bit from the salbutamol. I feel fine asthma-wise now but my heart is still pounding like crazy, does anyone know if there’s a way I can bring it down? Or something I can do to lower it tonight? I’m going to the GP tomorrow anyway for an asthma review, if it’s still high then will they be able to give me a tablet or tell me an exercise or something I can do to bring it down? I’m obviously so grateful the salbutamol helped the asthma attack but ive never had the fast heart last this long before and it’s making me feel all flushed and it’s hard to ignore.

OP posts:
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ToffeeShocker · 09/02/2024 16:43

132??? That’s not normal. You really need to get that down. I can’t believe they didn’t mention it.

Original poster
Cantthinkofausername20 · 09/02/2024 12:40

Sorry for not replying- I lay down to see if it would help bring it down and ended up falling asleep and I woke up at 6! It was 120 when I woke at 6am but I was going to the doctor anyway in the morning. At the GP today they weren’t too concerned thankfully, my oxygen was ok and my pulse was 132 on their machine and they didn’t mention it (and amongst the talk about new inhalers etc I completely forgot to ask about my pulse) but I’m assuming the fact they were ok with it says it’s fine for me. Thanks everyone for the help x

OP posts:
Ohnoooooooo · 09/02/2024 01:00

VerityUnreasonble · 08/02/2024 23:33

While my advice is speak to 111 just in case, to reassure you, my heart rate occasionally goes up to 140 when I'm stressed and for a while was randomly fluctuating between 60 -130 when I was doing a whole load of not much. It is very commonly 110. Bloods and ECG were all fine, no one was very worried about it, I haven't died or needed any medical intervention.

Same with my daughter’s heart beat - she has PoTS and it can go up to 140 regularly when she walks around.
but if this is unusual for you agree to with calling 111

LlamaDuke · 09/02/2024 00:49

Phone 111, especially if it's been like it for a few hours. It might be the salbutamol causing it but you also might have gone into atrial flutter or fibrillation, which definitely needs to be checked out. In my experience (as I had a similar episode to you back in May 22), if you end up going to A&E as a precaution, they will take you straight through and you shouldn't have to wait.

ToffeeShocker · 08/02/2024 23:59

Amba1998 · 08/02/2024 23:23

What is it now?

salbutamol is known to raise your HR

lie down legs up against a wall

blow hard into a straw

drink a glass of ice cold water

if it doesn’t come down I’d get it checked out.

As well as these you could try rubbing the side of your neck (vagus nerve)
Also coughing sometimes works.

(My DS had a type of SVT before he had an ablation and these would sometimes work to get his heart back to normal)

But please get help if it doesn’t come down. What is it now?

Whenisitwineoclocktime · 08/02/2024 23:56

Salbutamol lasts for 3-5 hours in your body so it's not that. I would phone 111 for advice x

VerityUnreasonble · 08/02/2024 23:33

While my advice is speak to 111 just in case, to reassure you, my heart rate occasionally goes up to 140 when I'm stressed and for a while was randomly fluctuating between 60 -130 when I was doing a whole load of not much. It is very commonly 110. Bloods and ECG were all fine, no one was very worried about it, I haven't died or needed any medical intervention.

nocoolnamesleft · 08/02/2024 23:29

In my case, sinus tachycardia secondary to pneumonia. Needed IV antibiotics and IV fluids.

Original poster
Cantthinkofausername20 · 08/02/2024 23:28

nocoolnamesleft · 08/02/2024 23:27

Let's put it this way. I've twice had a heart rate of 140. On both occasions I needed treating urgently in A&E, and on one of them was admitted via resus. Get assessed tonight.

Oh gosh, that sounds scary. If you don’t mind me asking, was it quite a quick fix and were you home again once it was all sorted? Thanks x

OP posts:
nocoolnamesleft · 08/02/2024 23:27

Let's put it this way. I've twice had a heart rate of 140. On both occasions I needed treating urgently in A&E, and on one of them was admitted via resus. Get assessed tonight.

scaredofthefuture2024 · 08/02/2024 23:26

@Amba1998 I was talking about the precise condition I had that caused it, but thanks for your chippy response.

Original poster
Cantthinkofausername20 · 08/02/2024 23:26

Amba1998 · 08/02/2024 23:23

What is it now?

salbutamol is known to raise your HR

lie down legs up against a wall

blow hard into a straw

drink a glass of ice cold water

if it doesn’t come down I’d get it checked out.

I did the breathing exercises suggested upthread and it’s come down slightly to 135 now x

OP posts:
Amba1998 · 08/02/2024 23:24

scaredofthefuture2024 · 08/02/2024 23:15

Op how long has it been like this? I'd be minded to call 111 as it better to be safe than sorry. I had something similar but dismissed it as anxiety and I was worried I'd be wasting the drs time.

I ended up in resus because my heartrate was effectively stuck and needed medical intervention to bring down. I'd like to stress that what happened to me was apparently rare but keep an eye on this and don't be afraid to seek help.

SVT?

not that rare!

Amba1998 · 08/02/2024 23:23

What is it now?

salbutamol is known to raise your HR

lie down legs up against a wall

blow hard into a straw

drink a glass of ice cold water

if it doesn’t come down I’d get it checked out.

TraitorsGate · 08/02/2024 23:19

All the gp will do is an ecg anyway, you could end up feeling pretty poorly if it continues. Personally I wouldn't leave it.

scaredofthefuture2024 · 08/02/2024 23:18

If it isn't coming down then I wouldn't wait. I was an idiot and waited 3 days. Once I was more alert the consultant explained I was lucky not to have had a stroke or a heart attack due to the stress on my heart. It could be nothing but I'd err on the side of caution. Hope you're better soon.

scaredofthefuture2024 · 08/02/2024 23:15

Op how long has it been like this? I'd be minded to call 111 as it better to be safe than sorry. I had something similar but dismissed it as anxiety and I was worried I'd be wasting the drs time.

I ended up in resus because my heartrate was effectively stuck and needed medical intervention to bring down. I'd like to stress that what happened to me was apparently rare but keep an eye on this and don't be afraid to seek help.

Original poster
Cantthinkofausername20 · 08/02/2024 23:15

I’m really sorry, I’m honestly not trying to be one of those people who ask for help then dismisses all advice etc, but instead of hospital do you think there’s anyway I could wait until the GP tomorrow or is that a totally stupid idea? Just really want to avoid hospital and was hoping the GP could just do something to bring it down if it’s still high tomorrow but not sure if they can or not x

OP posts:
nocoolnamesleft · 08/02/2024 23:11

The lunchtime salbutamol should be out of your system by now. That's really a worryingly high heart rate. Honestly think you need to get checked out tonight.

TraitorsGate · 08/02/2024 23:07

Maybe at least call 111 if its going up and has lasted 10 hours, you might need an ecg and medical advice

Original poster
Cantthinkofausername20 · 08/02/2024 23:00

I took it earlier on today (around lunchtime if I remember correctly) so I’m guessing it’s still lurking about my system x

OP posts:
User8646382 · 08/02/2024 22:59

148 is very fast, but salbutamol will do that.

Original poster
Cantthinkofausername20 · 08/02/2024 22:57

Great thanks I’m going to try all the advice on this thread. I just checked it and it’s 148 right now and I’ve just been lying on the couch (watching the apprentice!). Hope it comes down soon because it’s tiring in a weird sort of way, im not doing anything active but I feel like I am.

OP posts:
KnowledgeableMomma · 08/02/2024 22:54

How fast is fast? First take your HR. Then, you can try the Valsalva maneuver. Hold your breath and bear down (like you are going to take a poo.....but please don't :-). Keep bearing down----think, like a cartoon character getting red in the face. Do that for a few seconds and see if, once you relax, it lowers your heart rate.

ZombiePara · 08/02/2024 22:50

To be honest, I would say it's still the salbutamol running around your system!

Try the breathing exercises a PP mentioned - in for 4, out for 8, and try and not get caught up in your head - worrying about it will keep it higher due to stress.