Resting heart rate 85 bpm - is that OK?

[trumpisagit]

Hi,
Just took my oxygen levels with oximeter as been feeling unwell for a few days.
Oxygen OK for me (asthmatic) 94%
My resting heartrate was 85 bpm. It is not something I normally measure but that sounds high.
Is it anything to be concerned about?
I have googled and its described as higher than average.
I am a 49 year old woman. Low bmi 18.5
I did pcr this morning although lateral flows negative.
Currently feel "unwell", although that comes and goes. Tired, joint pain, coughing (although I normally cough so not new).
Reasonably fit although my asthma has been poor recently so not exercising as much as I used to.

It's a bit high but not excessively.

Resting heart rate can be between 60-100 ish and be normal.

I’d be more concerned about your oxygen levels. Even with asthma 94% is low. It should be 98-100. If it isn’t it might indicate your asthma isn’t being managed well.

No my asthma isn't great. I have a long awaited respiratory referral next month (referred in Feb).
I am going to try 111 though.

Just realised I am 45 (not 49), but I feel like I am 80 today!
111 phoned back - really helpful, although they were more concerned with asthma/ coughing.
They booked a telephone appt with go.

It’s not high. I would not be concerned with that at all

To be clear... did you phone 111 because of a HR of 85?

Your resting heart rate is best measured overnight I think. Mine varies between 65 to 75 throughout the month according to my Fitbit - but during the day it's always higher, even if I'm sitting super still for a while.

High side of normal. My normal resting is about 75 normally, down to about 60 in bed.

Tachycardia is a heart rate over 100 (outside of exercise, when it’s normal for you hear rate to be higher). I have tachycardia issues and my resting can be 110-130.

Have you been taking more ventolin than usual? That can bump up your heart rate.

Yes, to the ventolin.
No I did the online 111 because I feel unwell and wanted some advice.

It's normal for resting heart rate to increase when you're under the weather

94% isn't great at all though and you should probably try and do something about that in case it deteriorates especially with cold weather

Ventolin does make your heart rate higher but so does an infection/struggling to breathe

Do you have preventers or will they give you oral steroids?

Thanks @StrongArm
Yes I take strong preventer inhalers.
Spoke to the gp last night.
She was happy for me to also take oral steroids (I have a rescue packet) if I feel. I need them. I don't really at the moment.
111 and gp helpful, but just waiting for pcr result, drink fluids etc.

Normal resting heart rate is 60-100 (athletes might be lower, without it being a cause for concern)

It's a shame you've been feeling ill, but your heart rate won't be a factor.

The covid advice on the NHS website says to call 111 if your oxygen is consistently 94...

@trumpisagit

Thanks *@StrongArm* Yes I take strong preventer inhalers. Spoke to the gp last night. She was happy for me to also take oral steroids (I have a rescue packet) if I feel. I need them. I don't really at the moment. 111 and gp helpful, but just waiting for pcr result, drink fluids etc.

I think with 94% oxygen this is the point you should be starting the steroids.

@RoseAndRose

Normal resting heart rate is 60-100 (athletes might be lower, without it being a cause for concern)

It's a shame you've been feeling ill, but your heart rate won't be a factor.

My resting heart beat is typically 50bpm - I wouldn't describe myself as an athlete. I do run (typically 5-8km 2-3 times a week) but fairly slowly (I am typically about three quarters of the way down the finisher times list for 10km races which I do once every 6 months) and I am overweight and tend to slow to a walk for uphills so hardly a fitness bunny. Does my low heartrate warrant concern?

Was the GP happy with your oxygen sats? That is quite low and might be why you feel unwell. I think the steroids would be a good idea.

it's still normal, though on the high side of normal. your use of ventolin explains that though. my heart rate goes up a lot if I need to use it.

however, your blood oxygen seems very low.
but having said that, home oxygen meters are not entirely acurate, especially if you have darker skin or wear nail polish.

Paramedic here.
Ventolin and other reliever inhalers can cause your heart rate to increase. I wouldn't blink an eye if I assessed you and your heart rate was 85 as it's within normal range. It varies between person to person and you're taking drugs which increase heart rate. Also, if you're chronically short of breath or currently having asthma related breathing problems then your heart rate will increase in response to that.
94% oxygen level is very borderline but you wouldn't receive oxygen until your oxygen levels were below 94%, so 93%. Again, you sound like your asthma is not currently well controlled which explains this.
You know your asthma, if you think you're having an attack, which is not being relieved by your meds, you must ring 999.
In the respiratory clinic they'll do lung function tests and will review medications and you can ask all these questions to them.