Heart Rate Drop & Irregularities

jpotts

I am a long time cyclist and have recently experienced irregular palp;itations and drops in my heart rate while riding. I've been to a cardiolgist and have been told that I have atrial fibulations that are not life threatening but I need to ride at a lower heart rate threshold. I have been told by another cyclist who expereinced about having an Ablation procedure which could probably cure the problem It's very frustraing to have the "bonk' and have to slow and let the heart get back in sync. My heart rate monitor will show a drop of about 50% on the monitor, say 160 to 80. Has anyone expereinced such and what have you done?

Thanks

SlowUnsteady

Hmm, I'll try tag on here as my first post.. I recently noticed that my heart rate is very irregular at rest, seems like Arrythmia or something (internet research by me!). Seeing Cardiologist on Monday but in the meantime has anyone had experience training with heart disorders?

Sad thing is at only age 25 this is freaking me out

Leslie Reed

I was 51 and still found getting arrythmia was sad! I did see a consultant and have a stress test but he couldn't specify the type of arrythmia I had as you need to get a cardiogram recording of the event, and the palpitations chose not to appear when I was rigged up.

However, the frequency that I am getting arrythmia has fallen dramatically over the past year (last one in February) so I must be doing something right. Chose from (all picked up from the web):

1. Increasing my time spent on the bike (four times a week minimum using the HRM for Cyclists as the main training guide)
2. Cutting back on coffee (down to de-caffeinated expresso)
3. Cutting back on wine (four glasses a week, no more than two in a day)
4. Eating no processed high carb. crap, even nice high carb. crap
5. Taking Cod Liver Oil daily
6. Losing 14 lbs. (due to all of the above)
7. Trying to get less stressed at work (quite a few attacks were in meetings)

I have found my at rest heart rate has fallen significantly from high 60s to low/mid 50s, and I feel pretty good. I'm certainly enjoying the cycling.

I don't think all arrythmias can be dealt with like this, but at least nothing in that list can do you anything but good - except losing 14 lbs. if you are already a skinny cyclist.

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Les Reed

SlowUnsteady

1. Increasing my time spent on the bike (four times a week minimum using the HRM for Cyclists as the main training guide)
2. Cutting back on coffee (down to de-caffeinated expresso)
3. Cutting back on wine (four glasses a week, no more than two in a day)
4. Eating no processed high carb. crap, even nice high carb. crap
5. Taking Cod Liver Oil daily
6. Losing 14 lbs. (due to all of the above)
7. Trying to get less stressed at work (quite a few attacks were in meetings)


Hmm, maybe Mine isn't arrythmia.. haven't found out for sure yet, but it seems to be irregular beats (ectopic beats from what I can see).. I like all the above stuff though, just want the specialist to tell me its ok to push. I'm a naturally competitive person and I'd hate someone to tell me I can't push to over 80% heart rate or something!

Oh, was meant to say I like all above stuff other than the wine and weight.. Wine because collecting it is my hobby (could limit myself to red I guess!) and weight because I couldn't really afford to lose 14 LB's (as you said!)...

Worried it could be stress though, have a supposedly high stress job which I've never considered stressful.. Would be horrible to think its affecting me!

Thanks though!

Racer882

HAving gotten back into cycling after a 12 year lay off I experienced Ectopic Atrial Tachychardia (EAT). I had started riding around 1 1/2 -2 hours every other day. Very hilly area. It was common for my heart rate to hit 177 - 180 regularly quite a few times during my rides. Anyway, After a two month period woke up one morning with my heart rate screaming around 220 BPM, and very irregular. A trip too the emergency room with me hooked up too a 12 lead machine "showed" an "extra" sinus node. The sinus node is what triggers the heart beat; with two of them my heart was going nuts. I saw a heart specialist and determined that the renegade node was very close to the original node, and an ablation was a risky procedure. Since the meeting with the Specialist I have cut out all caffieneted products. Never was a big candy/chip eater, just bubble gum. I Don't/hardly ever drink/drank any alcohol, maybe two beers in a sixth month period. I stopped the ice cream habit ARGGHHH. Knock wood but my heart rate has been Normal. No more episodes. I will occasionally have a glass of iced tea when me n the missus go out to eat. I detest soda. My family Dr. says this is temporary... Well that is kind of a bummer. But I figure to keep on keepin' on. BTW, I am 42 and about 184 lbs. Was pushing 195, would love to get down to 170... But i like to eat. :>)

I reckon the point to this tale is no caffiene worked wonders for me. The headache from "withdrawal" was a drag. And if I drink too much tea during a day, the headache will come back. But I don't miss the caffieneted coffee or tea now-a-days. Sorry for the length.

Good Luck,
Raymond

Leslie Reed

Looking at the Internet it seems that caffeine, alcohol and stress are all triggers for arrythmia. Recent research also gives Omega 3 oil a big score in preventing heart irregularities.

A lot of doctors (mine included) don't seem to look outside of drug and surgical procedures for solutions but as long as the arrythmia stays away we both have cause to celebrate!

Keep well.

Les

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Les Reed

darnok

I am 53, 6' and around 168 lbs. I consider myself very fit compared to most of my working collegues, even many considerably younger ones. I have experienced several incidents of tachycardia while riding, where my heartrate would suddenly go up to 220 BPM as happened to you. Trip to the emergency room exactly as per your description. My condition has been diagnosed as non threatening, however to be on the safe side I now ride with a minimal dose of a betablocker keeping my heartrate slightly lower. I am supposed to take this medication regularly, but have decided to take it only when I ride, because I have never experienced tachycardia during "normal" activity. Strange that you should experience it while resting.
As some internet research will show, coffee, alcohol and stress are all factors that can contribute to cause tachycardia. Extremely hot weather conditions, possible dehydration and stress / fatigue like riding after an full day of work were constants in the episodes I experienced.
IMHO a heartrate of 177-180 that you mention is too high. Since you are a recreational rider (correct me if I'm wrong) I don't see any reason for pushing that hard. I suggest you do not go above 160.

Generally speaking, I feel that many people in this forum are too concerned about performance and work too hard. Unless you are an ambitious racer, what's the use? When you ride up a big mountain pass, take pride in getting to the top, not in your climbing speed...

Racer882

Well, I was a cat 4 way back when... Kinda wanting too get my license and race masters. Re: the heart rate. If I was to try too keep my HR around 160 I'd have to walk the bike up the hill... I ain't walking.:>) Besides I am getting fitter and the ol' heart is not having too work as hard on the hills.

I was prescribed a beta blocker as well... However seeing as my Resting HR was/is around 43 on a rested/relaxed day the Doc suggests only taking one pill when having an "episode". I have taken a whole pill, and the dadgum thing slowed me down too much... So I tried half a pill, no bueno, took to long to kick in. So I had made up my mind to have the ablation procedure. But, lately haven't had any occurences of the EAT soooo, hopefully the "diet"; and me becoming a little more fit, will keep the EAT at bay.

Thanks,
rtp

darnok

Resting heart rate same as yours. If I took a whole pill, my heart would probably go into hibernation or stop altogether. I take a quarter pill befor going on a ride, takes about two hours to kick in. I suppose I could probably stop taking the stuff, but since I don't feel it slows me down too much, I like the reassurance it gives me. I have an other medication I take along which I am supposed to take incase of an "episode". No way I'm going to have the ablation unless I really have to, what with people getting all kinds of infections from going to hospitals and having surgeons mess around with them...

::dom::

Just reading this thread is giving me palpitations.....

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:: Dom ::



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darnok

I hope it does, having this kind of problems is not really fun, you know...

oztrev

I also had a similar problem whereby my heart would skip beats, but only really when I was at rest ie: not exercising. I went to the doctor, and he gave me a monitor to wear for 24 hours, and every time my heart went funny, I pushed a button to record on tape where my heart skipped. I pushed this button 37 times in 24 hours. The diagnosis was that the condition was harmless (I don't remember exactly what he called it - eptopic something or other).

Anyway, that was back in February. Last month I started dieting strictly (Atkins diet), and have lost 19.8 lbs. Since my change of diet, my heart has skipped maybe 3 times. I also ride around 10km per day, and when the weather becomes more decent, I will be riding further.

pculberson

I had this problem as well and the diagnosis wound up being Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs). According to eMedicine, PVCs are the most common form of arrhythmias in the US and for young, healthy patients without underlying structural heart disease PVCs "are not associated with any increased rate of mortality". I guess that's reassuring.

To stop the PVCs, I essentially eliminated caffeine and stopped taking pseudoephedrine (the decongestant found in just about ALL cold and sinus medications). After a few weeks, they completely went away.

rfctx

I had palpitations that bothered me primarily when I was resting. I’m 50 and overweight @ 260#s, however I wore a size 50 sport jacket in High school when I had no fat (big chest). Went to the doctor took the usual battery of tests … checked out ok. The Doc attributed it to a high stress career, and the like. So I just started watching all the stuff I was eating, drinking, and taking. I found that ibuprofen was a contributor. Stopped using (I was using mass quantities!) ibuprofen medicines and I seem to not have the issue any more.

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