Should I be concerned? Heart rate erratic 67-174 bpm at rest

[Mulie]

I have been suffering from breathlessness and dizziness for a while now. My doctor isn’t concerned as my oxygen levels were ok when he measured them. I have anxiety and depression and I’m worried that the GP is putting it down to this.

But I have had anxiety for years and this is different. I can feel my heart racing when I’m calm and resting at times. I have a heart monitor and my resting heart rate has fluctuated between 67 beats per minute and 176 today alone and has mostly been on the high side. One of the highest readings was when I woke from a nap and hadn’t even sat up!

Apart from some light headedness, dizziness and fatigue I’m feeling ok. Do I need to tell my GP about this or is it just one of those things that just happen?

I don’t actually suffer from health anxiety at all for background.

Thanks for reading.

That does not sound right. Atrial fibrilation? I think you need to see someone who can do some investigations.

Agree it could be something like atrial fibrillation, you definitely should get this investigated. DH has this, and its most likely to come on when he's resting rather than active.

It can be tricky to get diagnosed as it's an intermittent problem but you need to persist.

Thank you for the replies. I will call for an appointment in the new year. I wasn’t sure if I was being a drama queen and overreacting.

I would get this checked out, your dizziness and breathlessness might all be connected, is the heart monitor from the hospital.

I also echo AFIB. Sounds just like my situation. If so you will need treatment to get your heart rate under control (under 100 ideally) and also a blood thinner to reduce risk of blood clots. Please push for another appointment - the breathlessness should be a big tell tale sign. Especially if its going up a hill /stairs / carrying something heavy. Best of luck

Especially if its going up a hill /stairs / carrying something heavy

Yes... DH finds basically he's ok on the flat when he's having fibrillation (or as happened earlier this year a period of permanent 'atrial flutter') but theres no way to adjust to extra demand.

Are you using a fitbit kind of device for measuring your heart? These can be extremely inaccurate compared to a chest device. Mine will say 128 when seating on a sofa reading a book, but if I count it using my fingers, I am below 80.

This said, if you are feeling your heart racing and are breathless, you shouldn't wait for the New Year.
Do you feel pain, squeezing , grasping in the chest or pins and needles in arms or shoulder?

I have almost identical symptoms, have had lots of tests and it's just my anxiety. It can cause horrible physical symptoms, and the more you check, the worse they get. Make a drs appointment if you feel it needs it, but in the meantime stop checking your heart rate.

I have Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT), which has these symptoms.

It does need investigating but it could be many different things. Addison’s disease, pots, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and anaemia can all play havoc with your heart rate apart from the more obvious heart issues mentioned in posts above.