Increased HR= flare of autoimmune illness?

[sickchick1234]

Hey has anyone noticed that their resting heart rate on a fitness tracker is higher than usually during or prior to an autoimmune illness flare?

I haven't had mine long enough to know but I can see that mine has increased a lot over recent months and I'm thinking this could be a likely explanation?

Bump

Yes I’d say that would be my experience. I had a very temporary autoimmune response to an illness for about 3 months (post strep arthritis) and my HR was about 10 BPM higher than previously. it’ll be to do with inflammation I expect.

I can normally tell when I’m going to come down with an illness, as my HR will tend to rise a day or so before symptoms.

Plus it changes with my cycle as well.

Thanks for replying @misspositivepants. I find it all so interesting. Mine could be due to a bad flu I had in January. But seems to be going on a long time now, no other symptoms of my Crohns re emerging yet though. Had a google earlier and apparently HRV (heart rate variability) is a good indicator for inflammation. Didn't even know my Fitbit had this feature. Mine seems to be quite good so who knows

sixtyandme.com/heart-rate-variability/

And yes have noticed those changes before illness and throughout my cycle

Yes I find it quite interesting. I know when I was trying to conceive my HR was also one of the first indicators I was pregnant.

when I was exercising regularly too, quite hard (I had loads of time) my HR stayed really consistently lower than now, where most my exercise is walking.

Like you say I don’t know how accurate the actual readings are but an overall average over time has been really enlightening!

When I had my post strep arthritis, my average HR was like about 89BPM, whereas usually it’s about 63 (and less when I was very fit and active). It’s a bit terrifying if I think about it too long!

Yes, definitely. Mine's currently too high, yet BP is ok. Having a huge flare up of everything (joints, skin, guts, eyes), seeing GP tomorrow for any advice they can offer pro tem, then consultants on the 12th and 20th. Busy times.

@misspositivepants yes it was my first sign of pregnancy too!! And stayed high all throughout pregnancy.

Now that you mention it prior to my pregnancy I exercised a lot. I only walk at the minute. Maybe that could explain the increase in my RHR too. Mine is roughly mid 70s now but it used to be mid 60s. It's all such a minefield. I think im becoming obsessed with checking my stats. Probably not helping either

@AutumnCrow ah no. Sorry to hear you're unwell. What is your RHR?

Yesterday it was 90-100, @sickchick1234.

@AutumnCrow that is high. Hope GP can prescribe steroids or something to give you some relief 🤞🏼

This is really interesting. I have hypothyroidism, but am struggling to get GP to take seriously other symptoms. My RHR on Fitbit varies from 58 to 70. I am middle-aged not fit at all any longer and it worries me when it gets too low. I also though am trying to stop checking as it makes me stressed.

Really interesting thread as I hadn't made that connection before. Which Fitbit do you have? I need a new one and I'd like to be able to track variability.

@SquirrelSoShiny it's a Fitbit versa 3