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Original poster

Terrified is it serious for heartbeat to pound from 74 to 94 whenever I stand up?

40 replies

Terrifedaboutheart · 01/04/2020 21:11

I've been managing specific anxiety about another health problem since before the Coronavirus and not sure if it plus the virus are giving me severe stress.

I am now really worried I am on the edge of having a heart attack because of the constant palpitations. I am self isolating and the idea of going to a Dr terrifies me as I need to stay indoors.

When I stand up my heart pounds and goes up by 20 beats, if I watch the monitor it goes up and up can go up to 115.

But this afternoon went from 74 to 94 as I got up to make a cup of tea, then went down to 75 again as I sat down and now I'm also scared to take a beta blocker in case it goes down too low?

I just feel like crying at the thought of trying to get a phone appointment with whatever doctor is available I feel like I just want to try to calm down and relax but is that ignoring a serious terrifying problem? My anxiety is making it impossible to figure out what is the most immediate threat?

OP posts:
Tatty101 · 01/04/2020 21:14

It sounds like you really need to get help to calm down. You know anxiety can increase your heart rate right?

Do you have any coping techniques for your anxiety? Maybe you could have a phone appt with your GP?

Tatty101 · 01/04/2020 21:15

Oh and your heart rate does go up when you stand up - that's completely normal. It's supposed to fluctuate based on how hard your heart is working e.g. if you're standing up quicker/been at rest for longer etc it will increase more or quicker than otherwise

SeaGale · 01/04/2020 21:16

My partner is a GP and he says it's perfectly normal for your heart rate to increase when you stand up. It's how the body is designed. I'd hazard a guess that anxiety is contributing

Original poster
Terrifedaboutheart · 01/04/2020 21:20

I do have coping techniques and they basically work but the problem is I feel I'm mistakenly managing anxiety when actually I'm on the verge of dying? Then I get really distressed in case I'm ignoring warning signs of something terrible?

It sounds stupid I just honestly can't figure out what exactly is the real risk.

If this was in normal times, I'd pretty much do some yoga and force myself to ignore it and tell myself, well ok if you're wrong and you ARE dying we can go to hospital and you have a good chance of being ok. But now I feel like there's no guarantee of help and I'd probably get CV if I wind up at a hospital, and then I'm at risk from dying of that bc of other health problem.

Plus cardiovascular issues mean likely to die of CV I'm just stressed and can't work out how much danger I'm in at this moment.

OP posts:
user1353245678533567 · 01/04/2020 21:20

Your heart rate increases when you stand up, just like it increases if you sit up from lying down. It also increases when you start to panic and when you're frightened.

Anxiety could easily get your heart up to 115. Easily.

I know it sounds crap when you're this frightened, but do you have breathing exercises? Because learning to slow your breathing down when you start to panic like this is going to be a big part of making this manageable.

swishswashswoosh · 01/04/2020 21:24

Your heart rate should go up when you stand up, if it didn't you would feel dizzy - people get this, it is card postural hypotension, a perfectly benign condition that in worst case can cause you to feint as your blood pressure doesn't raise to counter the effects of gravity when you stand so not enough blood gets to your head. You are very normal with those readings but of course, as your GP to check it out to reassure you - most GPs are enforcing telephone or video consultations anyway so if you have a blood pressure monitor at home (it sounds like you do) then you will be able to discuss specific readings with the GP at that specific time.

Original poster
Terrifedaboutheart · 01/04/2020 21:25

Ok thank you it is really helpful to hear that it's supposed to increase. It may sound ridiculous but googling ANYTHING to do with the heart and health just makes me start to feel it beating harder and harder. I can't read articles about the heart when conscious of it pounding, it makes me certain I'm about to keel over

OP posts:
cardibach · 01/04/2020 21:28

Don’t look at a heart monitor. Unless your heart feel uncomfortably poundy it’s all good. The monitor is feeding your anxiety.

Theresnobslikeshowb · 01/04/2020 21:28

It’s normal- my heartbeat does exactly the same. Stop panicking and step away from Dr Google!

MrsT1405 · 01/04/2020 21:30

As people say it's normal or you would pass out everytime you stood up! My resting heart rate is usually near 100 and has been for years. I've had eggs etc and it's normal for me!

user1353245678533567 · 01/04/2020 21:31

the problem is I feel I'm mistakenly managing anxiety when actually I'm on the verge of dying

It's a horrible vicious cycle but that's exactly how anxiety talks to you and it's what is keeping this problem going.

If you were on the verge of dying you wouldn't be well enough to think about getting up to make cups of tea, let alone carry it out or post so clearly on here.

I've been admitted to hospital as an emergency because they were concerned at my heart rate, and it was significantly higher at rest than your resting rate.

The numbers you've listed are the kinds of spikes I get when I'm distressed and frightened. They're unremarkable, although I get that in the context of your life it feels very scary.

tell myself, well ok if you're wrong and you ARE dying we can go to hospital and you have a good chance of being ok

That's a good way to handle it, I can see why this situation has disrupted your strategies!

From what I can gather hospitals are being careful to keep covid and non-covid patients segregated. And a factor in all these measures to reduce pressures on the system are to ensure that people needing urgent/emergency healthcare for non-covid reasons can still receive that care. So they would still be there for you if you needed them for an emergency.

Could you build yourself a new mantra incorporating some things like that to get you through this period?

titchy · 01/04/2020 21:36

Your heart has to work a lot harder when you're standing as it does when you're sitting - less gravity to help get that blood around - It's supposed to go up!

Bestbe · 01/04/2020 21:36

Take your heart monitor and hit it with a large hammer.
You have every right to be anxious. That is a normal response to stressful situations. But at some point you need to acknowledge your anxiety and learn from it. Think about ways of calming yourself... colouring, reading, drawing or music. Think about exercise.. that really helps anxiety. Speak to friends, watch TV.
You are doing well and you’ll get through this but at this point having a heart rate monitor is not helping. Try and remember why we have anxiety and how you can manage it.

museumum · 01/04/2020 21:38

Can you go out? If so why not play around with walking briskly then sitting still and observing your heart rate going up and down. It’s natural.

mylittlefidget · 01/04/2020 21:39

Perfectly normal. Mine goes above 100 when I turn over in bed.

Whatsmyname26 · 01/04/2020 21:41

A pulse rise of more than 30bpm for a sustained amount of time could be postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome which is linked with other conditions. However high pulse can also be because of stress and anxiety. Do you have other symptoms or medical conditions that could be contributing?

Bluntness100 · 01/04/2020 21:41

Op, have your doctors asked you to constantly monitor your heart rate like this or is this down to your anxiety. Is this what your beta blockers are for, anxiety?

If your doctors have asked you to, have they not told you what rates are concerning? If they have not, and you’re doing it due to anxiety, then I think you need to stop.

Whatsmyname26 · 01/04/2020 21:42

Oh and a rise in pulse isn’t a risk factor, think about every time you exercise etc. The heart is designed to cope with these fluctuations but they can make you feel pretty ill if it’s a consistent problem

Original poster
Terrifedaboutheart · 01/04/2020 21:44

Thank you everyone. I'm just going to go back to my normal way of dealing with it which is yoga, telly or a nap. Got myself in a state.

My doctor recommended I do not go out so self isolating. She also recommended the heart and blood pressure monitors which is why I have them, but going to stop looking at them for a bit.

OP posts:
gobbynorthernbird · 01/04/2020 21:55

OP, have a look at Postural Tachycardia Syndrome.
It sounds scary, but once you know what's going on, it is easily managed (and you won't die from it).

I'm not saying that's what you have, but it's worth looking into.

titchy · 01/04/2020 22:15

74 to 94 on standing is normal and doesn't meet the criteria for POTS.

Slith · 01/04/2020 22:17

Stop monitoring your heart rate - this will only worsen your anxiety.

OmgThereAreNoPlanesAboveMeNow · 01/04/2020 22:28

Is there a reason you are permanently connected to heart beat monitor?
You are supposed to occasionally check, not be on it all the time.

CrazyToast · 01/04/2020 22:55

I get palpitations due to anxiety--the weird thing is that it happens when I dont feel anxious as well as when I do. I have been checked out a few times cos of it and it never showed anything, but this week it's been back, panic and palpitations on waking and just random heart thudding and glugging in the day. Stress reaction i suppose. I would stop monitoring it so much cos that will freak you out. You'll be ok, the heart can put up with a lot, you are highly unlikely to die or have any major health issue as a result of this. When things are back to normal you can get it checked out if you want but don't worry too much, it is a common thing xx

PurpleCrazyHorse · 01/04/2020 23:33

I have Generalised Anxiety Disorder and my heart rate regularly reaches 120bpm when I'm suffering from anxiety. I have a Fitbit watch with heart monitor and I can see it low when I'm calm and rise when I'm getting myself in a state. My GP put me on beta blockers for a while.

I use a variety of techniques to bring myself back down but my anxiety is cyclical and ongoing, so my physical symptoms mirror that. I have to remind myself that it's my anxiety that is the cause of my physical symptoms, not an underlying heart issue trigging my anxiety.