No change in HR during cold weathe

Does anyone experience no change in heart rate in cold temperatures? Just stays at your demand rate.

In my case, I am experiencing an exaggerated increase in blood pressure in cold temps but no change in HR. Stays at demand rate of 60. BP goes from 110/70 to 140/80's and higher with activity. HR just pings at 60 the whole time. These vital signs bring on a heighten awareness for me. Take precautions but find this very odd?

I tried doing some searches and nothing comes up other than cold weather stimulates sympathetic nervous system thus causes an increase in HR and BP.

Wondering if this is an autonomic issue or part of my faulty SA node not responding appropriately? Would rate response help?

Any thoughts?

3 Comments

rate response

by Tracey_E - 2014-01-11 09:01:15

If your rate is not going up with activity, rate response can help. That's what it's for.

Cold changes things

by Theknotguy - 2014-01-11 10:01:54

Am in rehab now and nurses are cautioning me about going out in the cold. Temperature went down to -11 degrees F. that's -79.4 in C. Did I put a scarf over my mouth before breathing in air? No, of course. Why not?

The cold air going into the lungs constricts blood vessels including blood vessels in heart. So if you have a heart plumbing issue it can cause real problems. That's why you hear so much about people shoveling snow and heart attacks. Heavy exercise, constricted blood vessels, et al. A perfect combination for a heart attack especially if you're border line with blood vessels clogged with plaque.

I'm on the electrical side of the heart problems so the cold air feels good to me probably because it pushes up my blood pressure as the vessels constrict.

So I ignore the nurses which vexes them. But hey, they need patients who are a little ornery.

Hope this helps.

Theknotguy

In the same boat!

by crossettae - 2014-01-13 09:01:32

I have actually been dealing with the same issues. My blood pressure has been going up drastically when it should be my HR responding to the cold. Rate response does help if you have it turned on. But your pm should also respond to the cold, as my doctor has told me. They have not figured out the reason that this is happening yet. Hope they figure it out soon!

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