What's wrong with my heart?

Al B. Sure! · January 20, 2004, 16:28

For some time i've had a very fast heartbeat rate. even when at rest, my heart clocks close to 100 beats a minute. this has excluded me from donating blood and everytime a doctor or nurse checks my heart-rate and blood pressure, he/she has to check it several times. nurses have thought they did something wrong after three times of getting my fast beat and went to get the doctor who did it three more times before finally finishing, never saying what is wrong.

i'm otherwise quite healthy but my heart works over-time. what do you think would be wrong?

Patroklos · January 20, 2004, 16:30

You are probobly just pissed off from participating in this forum.

I expect all of us to die of heartattacks eventually.

Monk · January 20, 2004, 16:36

You're asking the Apolyton forum for cardiological assistance? I think you're over-estimating us.

asleepathewheel · January 20, 2004, 16:39

crack kills

Combat Ingrid · January 20, 2004, 16:43

Sorry for threadjacking, but that is a wonderful avatar, Monk

Whaleboy · January 20, 2004, 16:44

Get checked out by the doctors, don't get stressed out, try meditation. Do you do much CV exercise? If so, do so but don't overdo it. I assume you're young adult, in which case if you dont get things in order now, its downhill from age 20.

Stuie · January 20, 2004, 16:44

Hey Albert - go back to the doctor and ASK QUESTIONS. Don't stop until you are satisfied that you have a clear answer and that it is not life threatening.

Doctors don't usually hand out information; you need to ask for it, and advocate on your own behalf to receive proper care. Sad but true.

DRoseDARs · January 20, 2004, 16:51

Obviously, check with your doctor and ask questions first before taking any other action.

This will either cause your heart to explode in your chest, killing you where you stand

or it will help make your heart healthier: Take up running/jogging. As your heart gets conditioned (pumping more blood than it would at rest) it gets better at pumping more blood with fewer beats. The heart of course is a muscle, and a stronger muscle can do more work with less effort than a weaker muscle. Sedentary (sp?) peoples' aka couch-potatoes will beat noticably faster than the hearts of people who exercise.

You don't need to train for the Boston Marathon. Just give yourself achievable goals starting out. Hell, I'm a sprinter not a distance runner. My current best timed mile is 7:25 (m:s), but if I try to run a longer distance at a slower pace, I damn near drop dead. Something I need to work on.

My Wife Hates CIV · January 20, 2004, 16:55

Quote:

Originally posted by Monk
You're asking the Apolyton forum for cardiological assistance? I think you're over-estimating us.

i agree. as far as this thread goes, the only real advice that's worth anything is from asleepatthewheel.

Monk · January 20, 2004, 17:00

Quote:

Originally posted by Combat Ingrid
Sorry for threadjacking, but that is a wonderful avatar, Monk

Thanks Ingrid. In fact, you're indirectly responsible for my avatar. You inspired me back when you congratulated me on my IWS victory.

Snotty · January 20, 2004, 17:04

Quote:

Originally posted by Monk

Thanks Ingrid. In fact, you're indirectly responsible for my avatar. You inspired me back when you congratulated me on my IWS victory.

I can't read Danish, but does it have something to do with 'talking to god on the great white phone'?

As for you AS, I choose C) all of the above. Hope you feel better

Monk · January 20, 2004, 17:20

Quote:

Originally posted by Snotty
I can't read Danish, but does it have something to do with 'talking to god on the great white phone'?

Actually, it's a tribute to the outstanding actor Ernst-Hugo Jähregård and the text is in Swedish. The picture was taken from the Danish mini-series in which he partaked shortly before his death. With regards to the text, it's one of his quotes in Swedish, and although I understand fully what he's saying, I don't think there's a Danish nor an English word for "utskitet". Then again, maybe the lovely Combat Ingrid will come and prove me wrong?

Snotty · January 20, 2004, 17:22

Quote:

Originally posted by Monk

Actually, it's a tribute to the outstanding actor Ernst-Hugo Jähregård and the text is in Swedish.

Please forgive my confusion

Ming · January 20, 2004, 17:25

While I agree that this isn't the best to get health information... enough with the thread jack.

Monk · January 20, 2004, 17:29

Quote:

Originally posted by Ming
While I agree that this isn't the best to get health information... enough with the thread jack.

Yeah, you're right, Ming. So Ingrid, if you want to comment, just do it in one of the many not-so-serious threads in which we both frequently participate.

SlowwHand · January 20, 2004, 17:30

Albert Speer

chequita guevara · January 20, 2004, 17:34

It's a blackened cinder.

Ming · January 20, 2004, 17:35

I see some people are just begging to be restricted

chequita guevara · January 20, 2004, 17:38

Oh come on. That question was just begging for it.

Agathon · January 20, 2004, 18:20

Quote:

Originally posted by Ming
I see some people are just begging to be restricted

Come on Ming. I nearly fell out of my chair when I saw the Tin Man.

MrWhereItsAt · January 21, 2004, 08:09

What happened to Dr Strangelove? Didn't he dish out Doctorly health advice at times? I'm SURE it was him.

Cruddy · January 21, 2004, 08:28

Albert, having a fit heart and lungs isn't something that is your birthright - it is something you have to work at.

NOW DON'T go and run a marathon or something stupid to make up for lost time - but some vigourous exercise a few times a week should help.

I've had a fast heart rate for a long, long time - apparently the most effective way of CONTROLLING the sucker is Yoga, but personally I'm not prepared to spend 10 years doing stretches when a few hours spent swimming every week should sort it out.

Hope this helps!

Spiffor · January 21, 2004, 08:34

Doc Strangelove only pops in from time to time, so he probably hasn't seen this thread yet.

I think Guynemer has medical knowledge too (if I'm not mistaken), but he doesn't spread it as much as Doc.

Speer: I'm no doctor by any means, but I have heard that people tend to have a roughly equal amount of heartbeats before their heart dies.
If it's true, you should find a doctor quite quickly, otherwise this problem may just lower your life expectancy in the long run. As others have said, ask questions until you have a satisfying answer. Don't take the "you're too stressed" or similar advices at face value: while stress does count, the Doc will require to examine you, and maybe to know how you live (dieb, daily efforts, sleep patterns, etc.), to make an informed comment.

our_man · January 21, 2004, 09:16

From a physiological point of view:

Cardiac Output = Stroke Volume X Heart Rate

Therefore (apart from any pathological considerations) your increased heart rate could be due to the fact that your stroke volume isn't up to much and this is just your body's way of compensating. If it isn't (i.e. your stroke volume is normal) then an increased hear rate implies an increased cardiac output, which is bad because...

Mean Arterial Pressure = Total Peripheral Resistance X Cardiac Output

Assuming peripheral resistance remains constant, of course.

So if your blood pressure has increased, you're a candidate for hypertension.

It probably isn't good to be maintaining such a high heart rate over a long period of time. Best advice: see if you can think of anything in your lifestyle that might account for the elevated heart rate. If you can't and are still worried about it, see a doctor. If it turns out that the problem is poor stroke volume, take up a sport that will enlarge your heart, such as rowing.

Dr Strangelove · January 21, 2004, 09:22

Your heart is three sizes too small.

"You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch........."

Given your age it is unlikely that there is anything wtong with your heart, and after all, a rate of 100 beats/ minute is merely the upper range of normal. Anxiety and the anticipation of pain, i.e., getting a needle stuck in your arm could easily raise the rate that high. If your rate is not quite 100 I'm surprised that they excluded you. Being examined by a physician, having him/her listen to your heart and getting an electrocardiogram would make certain that you're OK. Remember to tip generously afterwards.

Al B. Sure! · January 21, 2004, 09:54

but i play an hour of basketball daily and i walk a full half hour just going to school, another half coming back, and then i got to go back later on in the day and so on. so it's not like i am not active at all. i get some cardiovascular exercise.

and about the doctor thing... i dont exactly got insurance... how much would just having a doctor check it out cost me?

Stuie · January 21, 2004, 10:28

Are you still in high school or are you in college? If you're in college, go to the health services center on campus and see if they can hook you up.

If you're in high school, go to Temple U and let the students practice on you.

SpencerH · January 21, 2004, 10:41

Is your heartrate that high when at home or just when someone else checks it ?

There's a phenomena called "white coat hypertension" that effects heart rate too. I've had it all my life. When I was 20 or so my resting heart rate was under sixty but would race during army health exams. Recently I had to buy a blood pressure monitor because my physician was (rightly) concerned about the fact that my BP was elevated during my occasional visits. After following my BP for months, guess what, no hypertension.

SlowwHand · January 21, 2004, 10:53

Quote:

Originally posted by Spiffor

I think Guynemer has medical knowledge too (if I'm not mistaken), but he doesn't spread it as much as Doc.

For those that don't know, Spiffor is talking about Guynemer and his propensity for spreading the clap.

Lefty Scaevola · January 21, 2004, 11:02

I am old, obese, and sedentary, with High colesterol and blood sugar, and my heart and arteries are in great shape.