Walking and HeartRate

68 year old female that had PM inserted on May 5, 2022 due to SSS and AFIB.  Have been walking around stores with moderate increase in heart rate.  Today decided to walk down the street, a short walk.  Got back and heart rate was up to 128 which has upset me as It was a moderate walk.  I am trying my best to get moving. Should I be concerned?  The EPNP said to talk with my Cardiologist as everything looked ok to him.  Have any of you experienced this?
 

 


10 Comments

HIgh heart rate

by AgentX86 - 2022-07-22 23:57:48

Are you in Afib? You said that you have a pacemaker because of SSS and Afib.  SSS is easy to fix with a pacemaker.  Afib can't be. It might be able to help walk you out of it when an episode starts or allow different or more drugs to reduce Afib the number of episodes but all it can do is help indirectly.  Maybe. In itself, a pacemaker won't fix AF.

Walking and Heart Rate

by Pacer54 - 2022-07-23 00:07:33

They pulled my PM data yesterday and said I haven't had Afib since July 9th.  Didn't feel like Afib.

Heart rate

by AgentX86 - 2022-07-23 10:20:26

Did the high heart rate continue after you stopped walking? If not, it's probably flutter or some other SVT.  You should raise this problem to your doctor. 

If it doesn't continue, you may just need some adjustments to your rate response. You need to see your device tech or perhaps you have to go through your EP/cardiologist (he'll sign off on it before or after the adjustment).

how did you feel?

by Tracey_E - 2022-07-23 11:39:03

If you felt ok, and your doctor isn't worried, then I wouldn't worry. I get that high walking, that's my normal. 

Walking and heart rate

by Pacer54 - 2022-07-23 13:20:22

Thank you for your responses.  I was short of breath when I stopped but not real bad and the rate dropped slowly.

Heat

by Persephone - 2022-07-23 15:53:29

Hi Pacer! Any possibility that you were a bit dehydrated? It's hot as heck where I am, so maybe I'm projecting my own worries in my question. Hope you're feeling better and can get any adjustments that may be needed.

Dehydrated

by Good Dog - 2022-07-23 17:16:24

Persephone makes such an important point! I do quite a bit of walking and occasionally find myself a little dehydrated. OMG; what a significant difference in my heart-rate. There have been times when I was wondering why I was feeling so bad and my heart was racing. I like to get my heart-rate up, but not like that! I gotta tell ya, that as he said; walking in this heat it is really easy to get dehydrated. Even at a slow pace. So you have to be careful. Carry water or something to rehydrate if you can. 

Walking and heart rate

by AgentX86 - 2022-07-23 23:14:51

Since Pacer54 has SSS, I was assuming that he was chronotropicaly incompetent and so had RR turned on.  Maybe it's a bad assumption but if my read was right, dehydration or the "natural" heart rate run-up woudn't explain it. It would have to be caused by RR.  If it's too high, dial back RR. That's why I suggested seeing the device tech.  BTW, I don't get much above 115bpm when walking at a decent clip.  It's all RR's fault. 😑

Heart Rate when walking or exerting myself

by Pacer54 - 2022-08-22 23:49:32

Going for first 3 month check up tomorrow.  Will make sure I tell them about what is going on.  Thank you for your responses and support!

Update on exertion and extreme heart rate increase

by Pacer54 - 2022-08-23 12:29:47

So excited.  Went to my PM checkup, told them about my heart rate increase upon exertion and they lowered my rate response by 1.  Did also find out that my PM is being used 35% of the time.  Thanks to all that responded you were on point about the RR.  Now to test it out.

 

Well that didn't last long.  Had bad episodes of dizziness and heart rate.  Went back to Doc and they changed my RR back to 4. Just got home and resting.  Very disappointed!

 

 

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