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Original poster

Sudden fast heart rate - any idea why?

39 replies

LittleOldLadies · 03/05/2022 04:26

I’ve woken up tonight with a heart rate 30bpm faster than it is usually. Every time I try to fall back to sleep I seem to wake up with the feeling my heart is racing. My heart rate is 80 so it’s not really that fast but compared to its normal 50 it is quite different.

no fever, feeling slightly sick.

Is it likely I’m just ill and that’s what is causing this, or something else?

OP posts:
Suzi888 · 03/05/2022 04:42

Have a glass of water.

Are you perimenopausal?

Original poster
LittleOldLadies · 03/05/2022 04:43

I’m 42 so possibly but not really having any other symptoms of perimenopause.

OP posts:
TulipsHere · 03/05/2022 04:45

Suzi888 · 03/05/2022 04:42

Have a glass of water.

Are you perimenopausal?

I was going to ask this. There are tonnes of symptoms that I didn't know where symptoms before I started going through it.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

General health Heart disease
Cubangal · 03/05/2022 04:47

Any discomfort or pain ?

Suzi888 · 03/05/2022 05:00

I’m 44, I get these little heart palpitations or whatever it is. Doctor couldn’t find anything, but said it could be peri. I get a bit lightheaded too, only happens at night.
Work colleague gets them too, she’s had on of those overnight heart monitor devices. She’s peri, suffers a little with anxiety, nothing wrong with heart. She got told to drink the water as it’s good for your heart apparently.

You could ring 111 if you are worried, maybe give the GP a call tomorrow and put your mind at rest. It’s not a pleasant feeling at all!

carefullycourageous · 03/05/2022 05:15

As ever, any symptom is immediately attributed to (peri)menopause.

Women need to be careful not to dismiss every symptom out of hand, as illness still exists in 40+ women!

@LittleOldLadies - there could be loads of reasons, such as a viral infection or be having an anxiety/stress episode. Or perimenopause of course. Keep an eye on it and if it doesn't resolve or gets much worse, get a check.

Original poster
LittleOldLadies · 03/05/2022 05:23

Cubangal · 03/05/2022 04:47

Any discomfort or pain ?

Some upper abdo pain but that seems to come and go. Every time I drop off to sleep I’m back awake with this pounding heart. It’s been 3 hours now. If it’s perimenopause how long do these kind of episodes last for?

OP posts:
TheChild · 03/05/2022 06:02

I get this, it's like all of a sudden my heart is pounding, I feel nervous and like I've forgotten to take a breath and have to take a deep breath in. Bloody annoying when I'm trying to sleep and it keeps me awake.

Someone I was speaking to told me that she had this when she suffered with anxiety and it was the build up to panic attacks. I do have some anxiety and have struggled a lot in the past, anything like that for you OP?

Original poster
LittleOldLadies · 03/05/2022 07:28

I don’t think it’s anxiety. I had a really busy day yesterday but I don’t think that is linked. It does feel like I couldn’t breathe properly though, even though I could.

Still sitting at 80+ whilst I’m laying down on the sofa.

OP posts:
Theunamedcat · 03/05/2022 07:34

Anxiety attack? They can be self perpetuating

Thyroid? Have you lost weight recently? Could be going overactive

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 03/05/2022 07:37

Have you had covid or the jab recently? A friend has this recently and needed beta blockers while it settled down.

PerfectionValley · 03/05/2022 07:42

I was going to suggest COVID too.
When I was first infected before I even knew I had it, my heart rate was all over the place for 24 hours or so.
Also, the same happened when I had my third jab.

Original poster
LittleOldLadies · 03/05/2022 07:43

Theunamedcat · 03/05/2022 07:34

Anxiety attack? They can be self perpetuating

Thyroid? Have you lost weight recently? Could be going overactive

I don’t think it’s an anxiety attack (although I’ve not had one before so I don’t really know what it would feel like)

I already have hypothyroid and am medicated and don’t think it’s that (although I am due a repeat blood test so thanks for the reminder!)

OP posts:
Original poster
LittleOldLadies · 03/05/2022 07:44

I last had COVID at the end of Feb. My heart rate was a bit higher when I had it but not as high as this. My lateral flow that I did at about 4am when I couldn’t sleep was negative too.

OP posts:
Original poster
LittleOldLadies · 03/05/2022 07:45

But I guess could be COVID again and just not yet positive on the test

OP posts:
AlternativePerspective · 03/05/2022 07:46

While it may not be anxiety as such it could be that you concentrating on it has made it into anxiety, iyswim.

So you may have had an episode for whatever reason, and now concentrating on that means your heart is still racing because you’re anxious about it.

80 bpm is only just above a normal resting heart rate so I wouldn’t be too concerned, but it’s always worth having a glass of water and then concentrating on something else, a book perhaps and not giving the episode any thought.

Speak to the GP if you have any other issues but it’s likely it’s just stress/over exertion/peri menopause.

jackstini · 03/05/2022 07:49

Is it one of the side effects of any meds you take?

Friend had this and she had been taking them for 10 months but doc said side effects can start at any time

She had 24 hour heart monitor and an ecg and nothing else wrong so they changed her meds

SierraSapphire · 03/05/2022 07:50

I get this. Don't really know why, possibly peri menopause, it was the first symptom I got about mid-40s. I had tests and nothing showed up. It's horrible in the night though when you're trying to sleep. The GP was convinced it was anxiety and tried to refer me for CBT but that was pointless because I didn't feel anxious (I was stressed though from work and caring responsibilities) and I think high cortisol is the other possibility. I have low ferritin so that's also something I wondered about.

SierraSapphire · 03/05/2022 07:52

Oh and my normal resting heart rate is 50-60 (went down to 42 overnight when I was wearing the monitor) but because the doctors consider up to 100 normal, they don't really seem that bothered even though mine might have nearly doubled and seems fast for me, it's still under 100.

Suzi888 · 03/05/2022 07:53

That’s a long time OP, but possible. Colleagues lasted much longer than mine. I think you should probably see your doctor today.

Original poster
LittleOldLadies · 03/05/2022 08:01

I’ve just had a bout of diarrhoea so maybe I’m just ill.

OP posts:
MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 03/05/2022 08:05

LittleOldLadies · 03/05/2022 08:01

I’ve just had a bout of diarrhoea so maybe I’m just ill.

Could be covid again and not showing yet on the LF test.

Original poster
LittleOldLadies · 03/05/2022 08:13

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 03/05/2022 08:05

Could be covid again and not showing yet on the LF test.

Show quote history

Yes I’ll test again later. Could really do without it again! (Although also don’t fancy a stomach bug so….)

OP posts:
TheDoveFromAboveCooCoo · 03/05/2022 08:14

LittleOldLadies · 03/05/2022 07:44

I last had COVID at the end of Feb. My heart rate was a bit higher when I had it but not as high as this. My lateral flow that I did at about 4am when I couldn’t sleep was negative too.

My sister has been getting this and wondering if it's an after effect of covid. She had it last July.

There was an article online a couple of weeks ago that mentioned some people were experiencing these fast heart rate episodes post covid infection.

I would speak to your GP though and set your mind at ease.

I get them but mine are anxiety related. The GP still did an ECG though which was normal and set my mind at ease.

User3568975431146 · 03/05/2022 08:21

I can't believe the dilly dallying here!!

Get in touch with your gp now. I'm guessing you meant 130 bpm rather than 30?

This needs to be checked out so please get onto them now and tell the gp what's happening.