Felt a bit funny- anxiety

[quicketyquick]

How do you deal with anxiety when you don’t actually feel anxious? I don’t usually have health anxiety or any sort of anxiety at all tbh but I’m otherwise healthy so I think anxiety is probably causing this without even realising it (as in, im anxious without even realising it)

basically I felt a bit funny and decided to check my oxygen (I don’t usually check it, but I’m severely asthmatic and during lockdown followed the advice to get a sat checker from Argos) tbh I’ve only ever used it during an asthma attack but I don’t routinely check it or anything. Anyway, I felt a bit funny so wanted to check if my asthma was being a bit funny. My peak flow is a little bit low but nothing significant. My oxygen was fine. But my pulse was 170! I checked a family member and there’s is fine, and also changed the battery in case it’s dodgy but nope it’s still saying it.

I think i must be feeling a bit anxious without even realising it and that’s made it go up, but since I don’t know what I’m anxious about, how on earth do I fix it?! I can feel my heart thudding and it’s not exactly comfortable. I’ve tried deep breathing and meditation but it’s not helping, but because I don’t know what I’m anxious about I’ve no idea how to help the symptoms!!

does anyone have any experience of this??

Here’s the reading

Have you used salbutamol? It raises your heart rate

If you haven’t, then that’s just weird?? - as in, a cause for concern!

Sorry should have said! No haven’t taken anything at all. i don’t really feel wheezy so didn’t feel like I needed to take salbutamol

Is this the first time you have felt like this or has it happened before?
As this is something which is unusual for you I would be tempted to ring 111. Do you have any other symptoms?
It could well be anxiety but since you clearly state you have no previous history of anxiety and have not indicated that you have had a particularly traumatic day I'm not sure why you would assume anxiety?
You've tried to relax and are resting and your heart rate is still very high.
You need to seek medical advice.

Have you tried taking your pulse manually OP? What does it feel like - is it regular? Usually the sats probes are quite accurate. How long have you been rested for? Has your pulse dropped a bit at all? I have anxiety and panic disorder, and will have times where my heart begins to race for no reason whatsoever. I usually control mine with propranolol, which is great for the panic attacks in my experience. However I will not automatically assume this is anxiety. Have you got any other symptoms?

It’s happened before and usually gets better itself and I’ve been told it’s probably just from anxiety, but just happened so out of nowhere tonight and I want to try and make it feel better but at the same time I don’t know how to because I don’t really know what I’m anxious about or what’s causing the anxiety because I don’t feel particularly worried or stressed about anything IYSWIM!

I don’t understand why you’re assuming anxiety must be the cause of this?

There are loads of things that can make your heart rate go up suddenly and bring on palpitations. If you don’t suffer from anxiety and don’t feel anxious, then it’s more likely to be something else. It would certainly be worth checking the info leaflets for any medication you take, as it could be a side effect. Caffeine or energy drinks can also cause a fast heartbeat in some people, or even your body fighting off a virus or an infection. If it hasn’t eased off, then I would be inclined to call 111.

This happened to me OP and I went straight to A&E. I was rushed through to cubicles straight away and ended up in Resus about ten minutes later for treatment for SVT.

I would be calling 111 at an absolute minimum.

I think I agree call 111 at the very least

I have no idea why on earth you would deduce that anxiety is the cause of this. You need to get medical advice ASAP.

i assumed anxiety because that’s what I’ve been told it is before! Admittedly it wasn’t as high as this but it’s been high before and they said it was probably just anxiety and it can cause your heart to beat fast etc

I’ll give 111 a call and get some advice, thanks 👍🏻 hopefully it is just anxiety after all but I’ll get a 2nd opinion on it!

I'm glad you're calling 111.

Oh god! I hope you’re ok now?

if you don’t mind me asking, how did they treat it and how long were you in hospital for? I don’t think I’ve ever even heard of SVT before so I’m going to google it.

I’m hoping this is just anxiety but going to give 111 a call just in case 🤣

Definitely get advice, from 111 at least.

My other thought was caffeine. It impacts my heart rate massively, although nowhere near that much.

I’m racking my brains trying to think if I’ve had any caffeine today but I don’t think I have, I’m not really a tea/coffee drinker and all I’ve drank is water and orange juice with bits x

Are you able to check your blood pressure? I had a resting pulse rate like that, and it was because my blood pressure was dangerously low.

You need to be ringing.

My heart rate was at about 180 beats per minute and initially they tried some breathing exercising and various airway manoeuvres to correct it, but when that didn’t work I had to be taken to Resus.

I was given a drug that temporarily stops the heart (for a very very short time) and I was told it would feel awful, which it did. The idea is that the drug temporarily stops the abnormal rhythm and then when the heart kicks in again the rhythm is normal.

Sadlt for me it didn’t work and I had to have a second dose (and a higher dose) and thankfully that bought my heart rate back down to 100.

They said that if that second dose hadn’t have worked they would have had to heavily sedate me and then use the defibrillator to try and get my heart back into a normal rhythm.

I had to wait in Resus for a few more hours to make sure I didn’t have another episode and then I was allowed home.

Sadly it happened again the following weekend (heart rate of 160) but thankfully it self-resolved that time. I was then started on beta blockers and booked in for various cardiology tests.

It turned out I have a very abnormal electrical pathway in my heart but nothing can be done about it so I just take my beta blockers daily.

I did have another episode about a year ago and I called 111 who sent an ambulance out to me. My heart rate was only 150 that time and I didn’t need to go to hospital and the paramedics just did tests on me at home and stayed with me until my heart rate dropped to 90.

Prior to that first SVT episode I’d only ever had the occasional episode of palpitations but when the SVT came on it came completely out of nowhere. One minute I was fine and then the next my pulse was absolutely pounding. It was very frightening.

Have you had caffeine? Strong coffee does this to me.

I had a similar experience once, I was sitting and learning at my desk (nothing strenuous) and my HR went up to 156bpm. Thought I was going to pass out. Turns out I was consuming a huge amount of nuclear-strength coffee. I went to A&E to be sure it wasn't anything else as it sure wasn't normal.

Hopefully OP is talking to 111. I mean it's also possible that the feelings of anxiety are a result of the tachycardia.

I would get your thyroid checked OP.

I wish I hadn’t read this thread!

I suffer from extreme anxiety and have panic attacks that come on randomly.

Recently my Apple Watch has given me a high heart rate alert a few times when I have been happy and relaxed resting at home reading or watching tv.

I assumed just as panic attacks come on randomly that my heart rate would fluctuate due to that. It did make me panic more and then it would rise, I was always torn about if I should call 111 or not.

If if happens again I will call them after reading this but it’s so difficult to know what’s anxiety and what could be a situation to worry about. I’ve always been worried about wasting resources.

An infection can cause a rapid heartbeat.

If you don't feel anxious don't be fobbed off with that answer. It's just a lazy solution that requires no further investigation.