can my heart beat too fast?

i have a pm for complete heart block set at 55 bpm at rest. what i am wondering is that because my pm is used to stop my heart being too slow, will it not keep my heart from beating too fast due to a chemical or hormonal problem... e.g. if amphetamines or antidepressants are taken and this causes an increase in rate or blood pressure?

3 Comments

Unfortunately

by Theknotguy - 2014-11-26 02:11:44

Unfortunately, yes it can let your heart beat too fast. While the PM can activate your heart if the rate goes too slow, if it goes too fast it will only sit there and "watch". There is also a difference between "watching" and pacing.

For example, I went into afib with RVR. My heart rate went from the PM base rate of 60 all the way up to 140. This was while I was lying in bed. No exercise. Since the heart, for the most part, was beating on its own and was somewhat beating OK, the PM program observed and did nothing. The PM did record what happened, but did nothing.

The PM I have is Medtronic. It has an accelerometer in it and if I start moving quickly it will sense the movement and keep pacing my heart as my activity increases. So if the PM program determines I need a heartbeat every 1/8 of a second and my heart doesn't automatically start a heartbeat within that time, the PM will step in and initiate a heartbeat every 1/8 second. So it is pacing my heartbeat based upon my activity. My PM will pace my heartbeat up to 120 beats per minute. As my activity slows down the PM will slow down the pacing to match my activity. If my heart rate goes above 120 beats per minute during exercise the PM won't initiate the beat so my heart has to beat on its own.

Unfortunately there can be a lag between the time I start my activity and the PM comes up to speed to match my activity. So I may need a heartbeat of 100 beats per minute to get enough oxygen to my body to sustain my activity but the PM isn't pacing that fast. The difference between what you need and what you are getting is called Chronotropic Incompetence. You run out of oxygen, feel short of breath, feel dizzy, get spots before your eyes, all sorts of stuff.

According to posts on this forum, some PM's are better designed for athletic activity and others aren't. Based upon what I've read here my Medtronic wouldn't be good for bike racing. During heart rehab after I got my PM I would regularly go into Chronotropic Incompetence while on the treadmill. I'm on drugs to slow my heart down and the drugs wouldn't let my heart rate go up fast enough to keep up with the exercise. Not fun.

I go into afib quite often and I have a set of procedures to take if I go into afib with RVR. I can take extra medication to (hopefully) slow my heart down. If it doesn't work, I have to push the button, contact the EMT guys and go to the hospital. So if I'm out in the wilderness running around where I'm not close to a hospital, I have to make sure to take extra medication just in case. Hopefully I'll be able to make it back to a hospital before it kills me.

You will, of course, want to consult with your EP / cardiologist / pharmacist about all medications you take, or may take. That also includes vitamins, over the counter drugs, and food supplements. I carry a complete list of medications with me at all times with a medical alert "dog tag". I consult with any non-heart physician who prescribes a medication for anything other than the heart. Is the new medication OK to take with current medications and is it OK with my heart problems? If I don't know or can't find out, I don't take the medication.

Taking a medication without knowing the side effects or possible side effects can be deadly. I see from your bio you are young. Taking illegal drugs would be a good way to end up dead. Please don't do it. Also how you feel when your are in afib with RVR and your heart rate is 140 is NOT (believe me) nice. You pray for any help to help relieve the pain. It isn't a nice way to die.

Hope this gives you a good answer for your questions. I hope you have a long and happy life.

Mine Doesn't

by Runningmama - 2014-11-26 02:11:47

I have a single chamber pm for Type and Stage 2 heart block ~ I'm paced at 50. Mine does not do anything as far as the "top number" is concerned, my rate can go as high as it needs to like when exercising, but 1.1 second after my rate is below 50 it paces me. What kind of pacemaker do you have and what are your settings?

Thanks

by eva_rb - 2014-11-26 07:11:10


To 'Runningmama' -My pacemaker is a medtronic but i dont know if it is single or dual chamber. i have only recently been changed from seeing paediatric doctors to seeing adult ones so up till now most information like that has just been given to my mum although i do intend to find out ASAP anyway. it is set at 55bpm but it can go above this with exercise.
To 'Theknotguy' - Thank you for the information that is what i thought. I always have trouble finding information especially because i have to wait 6months for appointments and even when i ask my doctors they are sometimes very patronising but i hope this becomes less so now i am being transferred away from the paediatricians. thanks again for your help.

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