Why is my heart rate going up?

I have a medtronic pacemaker with one ventricular lead. This was fitted 6 years ago for complete heart block. Recently i have been noticing when i am lying in bed or sitting on my sofa either reading or using the computer etc, (so i haven't been moving really) my heart rate will speed up, i become aware of it when i feel a slight pounding in my chest,( although i feel i have become quite sensitive to realising when my heart rate changes) and when i take my pulse it tends to be around 60-70 BPM. My pacemaker is set to be 55 BPM at rest (although it can go above this as far as it likes with movement) and i dont understand why it would be rising above this when i have not been doing execise or even moving at all. I had thought it could be to do with smoking which i do on occasion but i have noticed it happening when i havent been. Why could this be? I was under the impression my heart rate couldnt speed up with emotions but thats the only other explanation i could think of for why it would raise a little bit for no physical reason. Any suggestions or information would be appreciated!

4 Comments

Possibilities

by jvaltos - 2015-10-13 01:10:36

WEll, its hard to say what is happening without the interrogations. It could be PMT (Pacemaker mediated tachycardia-doubt it if in CHB.)

It could be some intermittent conduction, or even an SVT with an accessory pathway.

Bottom line, get your pacer interrogated.

Two other ideas

by Theknotguy - 2015-10-13 02:10:19

Two other ideas for you. Talked to a doctor and he said he wished there was a way to test reactions to the heart brought on by emotional stress. He felt it could be as important, or more important than physical stress.

Was waking up with my heart racing after I got my PM. Nothing showing up on the PM reports. Cardiologist said it could be reaction to dreams. Or, since I have sleep apnea, I could be going into a really deep sleep and stopping to breath. My brain is screaming at me to take a breath in spite of having the CPAP. Since it's a "normal" reaction, the pacemaker doesn't record it.

Next question in my mind is if you're having mini sessions of afib? That should show up on the pacemaker report. It would be something to check out.

As far as short changes in heart rate, that happens all the time. In the US you can purchase inexpensive pulse/ox meters. If you have one, put it on your finger for a while and you'll see your heart rate go all over the place. Sometimes just a few BPM but the rate does change. No big deal. You've always had it but never paid attention to it.

You can also affect your heart rate by thinking of an emotionally charged situation. That's a normal reaction too.

Hope it's nothing serious.

No expert

by Zetha - 2015-10-13 06:10:47

Hi Eva, I'm no expert, in my 5th week after PM.... the only suggestion I have is that you may have developed tachycardia as well.... my diagnosis has been brachycardia as well as tachycardia and with tachy episodes I experience increased heartrate/palpitations totally at random and although I have 2 leads, 2nd in the upper chamber, it does not seem to help for the tachy and I have to take a low dose beta_blocker

I'm still sorting out this whole new situation in my life, so all the best to you, who should be an expert after 6years...

Mine jumps about often

by SaraTB - 2015-10-14 08:10:30

Firstly, the lower rate setting means that your pacemaker will prevent you from going lower. Even sitting still our rate my go higher - I'm 100% paced with heart block as well, and I'm one of those people who can feel when their rate changes (it's quite annoying!).
I feel rate increases often - I can be sitting doing nothing yet an hour before I may have had a glass of wine or a coffee - my rate increases although my exertion doesn't. I've often noticed it increase when watching an exciting movie for example.

My lower rate setting is 55 too - but I naturally pace higher than that anyway, so I wouldn't be at all concerned at being around 70, myself.

Pacing for heart block typically means that our brains our controlling the upper chambers and the pacemaker is making sure the lower chambers are keeping in time, so anything your brain is doing will affect it - as it's supposed to.

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