Please read, losing the will to live ATM.

[Moxxi]

This is all my heart rate data from yesterday. Is this going to harm me? Yes I've posted here before so please don't have a go at me. My Dr is constantly telling me I'm ok, to me... This isn't ok, if you look up tachycardia it can be very dangerous.

I've had a heart scan which Showed my heart is structurally fine. I had a 24 hour ecg which showed numbers like this, sinus tachycardia. I'm lying awake at night shaking because I'm so scared, I know I have anxiety right now but a year ago I didn't have any anxiety and I was happy but the rates were still like this.

I don't know what to do, I'm scared of living this way forever. I don't want to develop heart failure.

I'm 26 btw

Thank you for reading

I've said this to you on all your other threads about this.

You need help for the anxiety not the heart rate. It's seems that this is normal for you (given it's not changed) and the doctors don't seem to think it's a problem. I'm guessing the specialist you've seen known their stuff about this.

We can tell you it's fine as often as we like, but your anxiety is not letting you believe it.

You have to get proper help for your mental health

I've had times where I could have written this myself. I took the watch off in the end and I promise you it has really helped.

I have health anxiety that is a lot worse at night. I hear what you're saying about preventing panic attacks but overall the watch does more harm than good.

Heart rate is also just a snapshot. They've done the ECG and blood pressure and overall have decided you're fine.

I know EXACTLY how you feel by the way and it's horrible

A small increase in heart rate like yours is not going to kill you🙄 your doctor has told you this and you get told this on each of your threads.

Have we not learnt that all humans don't work at what is deemed 'normal'??
I have a very low heart rate - do I panic? No? Nor does my Dr. I mean this in the nicest way possible but, it won't be your heart that gets you into a mess - it'll be your head! This coming from someone who has anxiety and depression. Just stop looking at your watch.

I might be able to reassure you a bit here, and offer some advice. You went to the hospital and had a 172, did they take an ecg? If they took one at the time, the should have been able to judge if you were in sinus tachacardia or if it was a formal arrhythmia. If it’s sinus that’s ok, unless you are constantly at that high heart rate which you don’t appear to be by your watch, it shouldn’t do any lasting damage. Chronic tachacardia your heart rate is elevated the entire time, without exercise or movement and that is where the issue lies there. An arrhythmia can do damage, but if you were in hospital with symptoms such as high rate, they likely would see the arrhythmia on an ecg. They can act further then. I know as I have one and got referred to cardiology who performed an ablation to rid me of it. I will say though I was on the medications for years and hated them.
I would strongly recommend If you have concerns ask to be referred to a cardiologist. They can preform more tests and you can put this concern to bed once and for all or catch any issues if there is a problem there. Really if they put you on the medication you should have been referred if there is any issue. I know when mine flares up, my breathing goes very bad and I get very weak, it goes very high every time there is a flare up. Everyone is different though. But the fact your heart rate isn’t elevated all the time is a good thing (I have been under a few cardiologists over the years and they all said this!) but I also don’t have for example afib as an arrhythmia that can do damage over time, this is why the ecg is so important while you have an episode as sometimes the 24 hour holter s don’t catch things if they don’t happen in that period. But in saying that the figures you are giving sound pretty standard so if you are worried about those and had a holter and all was fine rhythm wise I would not be too worried!

@Yummymummy2020 that's quite reassuring. Thanks so much. My heart rhythm has always been perfect, just all the tests show sinus tachycardia. My heart is above 100 more throughout then when it's below 100. Usually my heart will go to 89-90 when I'm sat down, then when I'm up its goes fast. To me 120 is fast but I am trying to reassure myself that it "hopefully" won't harm me.

Why do some websites say tachycardia is dangerous?

You need to recognise that you believe you are going to develop heart failure and die in a decade even though that is not true. There is no evidence this is going to happen. Your mind is twisting normal physiology into evidence to try and make the belief plausible. But the belief is erroneous and it is causing you great stress.

Your anxiety is using your watch to 'gather the evidence'. You now think you can't leave your own heart unattended and you have to monitor it. You also think you need a watch to monitor your emotions and prevent panic attacks.

You do not need a watch. You need to let it go and tune back into your body and use better coping techniques to address the anxiety regarding your heart and the feelings of panic when they start. Using a watch is fuelling your anxiety and making you feel like you then can't address the anxiety without the watch. It's a viscous cycle of escalating anxiety and dependency on numbers/evidence to manage yourself.

You've disconnected from your own ability to calm yourself and challenge faulty thinking. Get rid of the watch. Use your own intelligence and intuition and coping mechanisms (learned through therapy if necessary) and enjoy the healthy life you have been gifted.

Sinus tachycardia is normal. Sinus arrhythmia is normal. It's the normal functioning of your heart. The electrical impulse that makes your heart beat is coming from exactly where it needs to, sweeping down your heart and making it pump effectively, and it is doing this with a normal amount of variability in response to the different needs of your mind and body. It's a wonderful, brilliant system which is looking after you. Trust it some more! It doesn't need to be monitored with a piece of tech. Let it do its thing.

@TonkaTrucker - brilliant post, I hope the OP takes your advice.

Tachycardia is a sign/symptom of other things usually; it can be a sign that the heart is working harder than it should be. @Yummymummy2020 explains very well that not all tachycardia is concerning. I would agree with other posters and suggest that this is a physical manifestation of anxiety, and that your baseline HR is higher than average, but still within normal range give or take a few beats (normal range is considered 60-100bpm)

I'm sorry to say your BMI is just over 30 so definitely overweight bordering on obese. If you want to improve the health of your heart then you need to lose weight and exercise more.

You need to address your anxiety as your heart rate seems ok.

If you're worried go to A&E and get an ECG just to make you feel better that you're heart is ok.

So basically anything over 100 is classed as tachycardia BUT what really is important here is the rhythm you are in. So if you are sinus that’s actually ok. You are not “locked” into sinus tachycardia all the time (so you are below 100 some of the time) which is a good thing. To be honest I would say to you be very very careful with websites, you will not always get correct information and also all patients are different so a website can’t really look after your individual situation the way a doctor can. I can be in sinus tachycardia myself a lot too and it’s just normal for me. The important thing is it’s not 24/7 and the rhythm is ok. I had to go on medication more for the rhythm I was in than the speed of the heart if that makes sense. Your heart will naturally change speed depending on what you are doing too, so if you are walking fast and get to 160 for example, that is very different to lying in bed and it jumping to that out of the blue with a funny rhythm. I do understand your worries though but I definitely would trust a doctor over a website as they can be way too vague or purely incorrect! Your heart can withstand a lot and everyone has different set points for normal which can change over time with fitness and even illness ect.

@Yummymummy2020 what are your heart rate numbers like? Do you think I could be like this forever? X

Mine are generally high nineties at rest to over a hundred and in a genuine svt flare up I could be 170 upwards then which Is treated in hospital as I’m very symptomatic if that happens. But when I’m just sinus it’s grand. I can exercise and get up to 180 quite easily. I’m fit but it’s normal for me! There is a huge difference between if it’s the arrhythmia or just from normal activity mind you. I don’t know if you will always have those figures but I’m not sure its an issue even if you do. I would talk to your doctor if you are feeling somethings not right though and def not use websites for info unless if it’s nhs or British heart foundation ect where you know the info is pretty reliable. Even at that though a cardiologist could reassure you more!

So when I'm walking in a shopper centre for example my heart rate doesn't drop below 135 for the whole duration I'm in there. Would that also be the case for you? Do you mind me asking how old you are? @Yummymummy2020

Yeah sometimes I could get higher than that! I have been sinus tachy on holters as high as 180 and my cardiologist is ok with that as the rhythm was ok, any movement really can increase your heart rate and emotions too, but once you are in sinus you are happy out! I’m 34 but have had issues since my early twenties and am under cardiology since then!

How often do you see the cardiologist? I am speaking to mine on the 3rd of August and I'm so scared he will just discharge me and leave it at that :(

@yummymummy2020

82kg is quite high bmi. How reliable is the watch? It gives a range not an absolute. Your anxiety will only make it higher. Some medications can make it worse (Amotripoline for example).

@Moxxi

How often do you see the cardiologist? I am speaking to mine on the 3rd of August and I'm so scared he will just discharge me and leave it at that :(

But if he discharges you, it's because he's not concerned there's any risk. Wouldn't that be a good thing?

If you will only feel satisfied if it's confirmed that it's a serious condition, then it's most likely anxiety. Most people would love to be discharged!

I used to have huge health anxiety and was overweight too OP. Covid scared me into changing my diet and starting exercise.

To my great surprise, as well as losing weight, my mental health improved hugely. I don't have panic attacks any more. I feel more stable and secure. I am absolutely convinced that diet affects anxiety - it must be something about gut bacteria.

You mentioned going to the gym in the old days - did you stop because of covid or because you were scared of your heart rate?

@Vanishun has your heart rate improved? I'm too scared to go to the gym ATM because of my heart rate :( I don't want to drop dead. Also I feel like my heart isn't getting a break since it's beating fast all the time :( xx

You sound horribley anxious about this, OP.. and anxiety will make your heart beat faster... and you end up in this loop you are now stuck in.

I second the other suggestions to ditch your watch. It is doing you no good at all. Also consider tackling your weight too as your weight/height puts you in the overweight/obese category. Getting this under control with a healthy diet and regular exercise will also help your mental health and your heart too.

Thoughts are not facts.