Help- Fast heartbeat?

[Cantthinkofausername20]

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.

Should have said sorry- I’ve tried eating and drinking as normal so I’m not dehydrated and I’ve tried relaxing as much as I can and breathing in the nose and out the mouth but it still feels so fast and it’s annoying x

Is it actually fast or do you just have palpitations? And how fast is fast, because your heart can go very fast and it’s still not an issue.

How fast?

How fast is it, how long ago did you take the inhaler, any pain or feeling dizzy

I’ll go and check it now- when I checked earlier on it was 130 something, 132 I think. I feel absolutely fine apart from that and the asthma has fully gone. I’m not sure if it’s palpitations or fast but it sort of feels like both- im so aware of it pounding in my chest and it feels like it’s going so fast x

Can you take your own pulse or are you using a machine, can you tell if its regular or not, how much ventolin did you take.

Lay down on your bed and deep breath. In for 4 out for 8. Repeat

Sip some cold water

Try to relax. Take again in 15 mins.

Your anxiety about it could be making it worse.

I’ve got a pulse oximeter (for when I have Asthma attacks) but it also shows pulse on it but I’ve never usually looked at it before because I don’t usually have pulse problems x

Just throwing a few suggestions out (as a non medical person!) menopause and Covid both did the same for me.

I found it pretty scary at the time but seemed to be fine.

When did you take the salbutamol? I'm fairly sure that It stays in your system for quite a few hours so this could be driving your heart rate still

You could try deep breathing but TBH I would phone 111 and see what they say. At least you could get some reassurance.

I'd be calling for medical advice especially if this is not usual for you

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.

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.

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.

148 is very fast, but salbutamol will do that.

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

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

SVT?

not that rare!