Very high heart rate

[tigertummy]

Since having covid my heart rate is scarily high. 130+ going for a leisurely walk. 70 when testing. Pre covid my heart rate was much lower. Anyone experienced this?

Yes, covid can have extensive effects on the heart (one of the many reasons why it's not "just a cold")

You might find this page from the BHF useful

How does Covid-19 affect your heart? - BHF

Best thing you can do now is rest. A lot. And then some more. You can't push through this.

Yes, this can happen. How long is it since you had Covid? You're probably still recovering as this can take a lot longer than you'd expect. Rest, rest, more rest.

Just over 2 weeks. I can't really rest. I have 2 young children and no one around to help. My heart rate when I'm sitting down doing nothing is just under 90bpm. Should I try and speak to a dr?

Yes - I've had this since I had Covid in 2020. It was one of the first Long Covid symptoms to appear (along with feeling like an elephant was sitting on my chest).

As other PPs have said - rest, rest and more rest.

I eventually had a 24hr ECG but apart from some ectopic beats and a great range between low and high heart rate everything was felt to be 'within the realms of normal'.

@McBuckers are you still suffering now?

2 weeks is nothing. If you're still the same in 12 weeks, then I'd consider having a chat with your GP in case you're developing long Covid but 2 weeks is still the very early days of recovering from Covid.

Yes - unfortunately. I used to go to the gym every day after work and do a 4k lunchtime jog. Now, a short walk with the puppy can tire me out. Also experience a 'lucky dip' of various other symptoms most days, that get worse when I overdo things.

I think you should go to the Dr if it persists beyond the 12wk mark.

@McBuckers sorry to hear that.

Thanks for all the advice

Seriously, try not to worry. What you're experiencing is pretty standard for post-Covid. I used to be a member of a gym which had big screens up on the wall which showed our heart rates. A few weeks after I first had Covid I was back in a gym class and just during the (very gentle!) warm up, my heart rate was 100% of it's maximum and flashing red. The whole class was freaking out and the instructor thought he might need to get the defibrillator out. Seriously. It settled down back to its usual levels within a few more weeks. Apologies if I sound a bit blase, I've had long Covid for 3+ years now and have really been through the ringer with it. The most important lesson I've learnt is that you mustn't push yourself or you will make it worse. Rest is key.

Thanks @HundredMilesAnHour that's reassuring. It's not a nice feeling at all

It's very early days..I had COVID first time ever last September,I had 5 jabs at that.point..my heart rate was ridiculously high, I was so breathless I couldn't walk across the room. It lasted about 6 weeks,then one night central chest and left arm pain,BP so high I couldn't register it on a home device. Paramedic ambulance sent, local ed, bloods, ECG,Dr asked me if I had pain anywhere else, funnily enough,in my right hip, she reckoned myalgia, cardiac echo arranged anyway. Results, lovely consultant said I have the heart of a 25 years old,no issues, clogged arteries, visceral fat, and it should happily last me another 25 years, Im almost 74. The heart rate took several months to reduce,post Covid.