Has anyone ever had a fast heart rate when poorly with an infection?

[alexis97]

Hi everyone, I went to a&e this morning as I’ve been having heart palpitations for the last 2 days. I have been fighting off bugs for 3 weeks I was poorly about a week and it went away and I’ve caught a secondary bug and it has floored me. My resting heart rate is 130, it’s really creeping me out, it was 150 at a&e so has dropped massively. I’m not anxious incase anyone thinks it’s anxiety (well trying not to be) has anyone ever experienced high heart rate and palpitations when poorly? They sent me home with antibiotics, did an ECG which was normal just fast and a chest xray which also came back great. I’m so worried please someone put my mind at rest. I don’t know if I should go back.

Yes! I went to the GP for antibiotics for tonsillitis and my heart rate was so high that they send me to A&E. It was definitely a response to the infection and being dehydrated. They gave me some fluids in A&E and then I was discharged with more antibiotics. In a day or two, I felt much better.

How high was it if you don’t mind me asking? It’s got me massively freaked out because I don’t want anything bad to happen.

Yes, it’s a frequent response. However, do get a second opinion if you think it’s caused by something else.

I seem to remember that it was 148 when I presented at my GP and was higher once I got to A&E. I know I was triaged immediately and saw a doctor within about 10 mins of getting there.

Yes, it’s pretty common I think. It could be related to the stress/anxiety caused by illness, or the illness itself. Rest, plenty of fluids, painkillers and your prescribed antibiotics should see you right asap.

If you’re getting worse, rather than better do go back.

High heart rate can occur with infection that’s under control. It can also occur with infection that isn’t and is turning into sepsis.

So if you get worse, go back.

130 bpm is a high resting heart rate. What is it normally? Mine is usually 60, and I notice it increases to more like 80-90 when I’m sick or really sleep deprived.

I’ve been to A&E once on Saturday and again on Sunday for a second opinion. I have antibiotics. Heart rate is still quite high it went 160 when I climbed the stairs this morning, but it’s around 150 when I’m cleaning or doing a job in the kitchen. Trying to parent from the couch I’m a single mam. ECG was normal just sinus tachy, no reason they could see, chest X-ray didn’t show anything alarming. They’re going to refer me for a holter monitor and a heart scan just incase. I don’t feel very reassured but my grandma keeps saying they wouldn’t have let me home if they were overly concerned. I just worry for my kids. Last night while in bed my heart rate managed to get to 89 which is normal so hopefully I’m starting to get better but I’m still scared. I really worry for my kids with being a single mam. Since starting the antibiotics the taste of the stuff I’m coughing is dreadful. Do you think I should be worried?

I think it's quite a normal response to infection op. Especially if it's a chest infection....you mentioned coughing, clogged airways are making it harder to get oxygen. I think you you look reasonably pink and stay hydrated you will be fine. No need to keep going to A&E. Just rest and hydrate.

I have major health anxiety with becoming a single mam and having 2 young babies. One with autism one 18 months. I have been really concerned. I am coughing really really strongly and I’ve pulled my ribs, I’m so drained, my nose is so stuffy but starting to unclog when I sneeze. On the bright side I have stopped sweating so hopefully a good sign. My grandma did say I look loads better on video call and that I was getting my colour back. I feel so silly for worrying like I do

When my son had sepsis, his heart rate got as high as 170. Keep an eye out for symptoms of sepsis.

They did struggle to get it down for ages once he had recovered from sepsis and he had a heart scan, ecg and a 24 hour ecg which all came back normal except for his high heart rate. His heart rate did eventually return to normal and they never found a reason for it.

Did they even bother testing you for anything? Even the basics like flu or covid?

They took 2 sets of bloods off me in a&e. Not sure what for. It is going down when resting just up when I’m on my feet. I had chest xray and 2 ecgs. They said my inflammation markers/infections markers are raised but not too high to cause too much concern.

Sepsis did worry me but I do actually feel a little better today than I did yesterday.

They did bloods for my infection markers but I’ve ordered some Covid tests for me and the kids today