Does anyone's heart palps get worse or start up when you exercise? Mine do, and that scares me, so therefore I've quit exercising. Sometimes, I can go up and down my stairs and I'm fine, other times I'm way out of breath, heart palping and pounding when I reach the top. I had my heart checked out several times

I got that when I was anemic (and didn't know it) Could you be anemic?
-Mindy

umm.... isn't the point of exercise to raise your heart rate and keep it at a higher level for the time you spend exercising? if i didn't have any heart response while i exercised i would be upping the level of effort in order to get my heart pumping.... or it would be pointless.....

or have i just missed the whole point here?

i might add - i have been going to the gym for the first time in a million years this year in order to gain some level of fitness, and lose some weight. my heart rate is raised and thumping for most of the time i spend in the gym. i am healthier than i have been in quite some time, and am losing weight for the first time in years as well.

When I describe heart palps, I mean the skipped beats, thuds, irregular, ectopic beats, not just pounding heart. Of course our heart rates increase when we exercise, and that's a good thing. (although my heart will also just start pounding when I am sitting still, related to hormone depletion, I believe) But mine will start to quiver, skip beats, etc. when I exert myself physically and sometimes when just sitting still.
I am not anemic, and all tests I've had come come back normal. I sometimes wonder about thyroid function, which I've heard can be an issue even when your tests are in the normal ranges, but I can't seem to find a doc who will even talk about that...not even an endocrinologist.

So here I remain, thudding, quivering and worrying.

Hi GeeGee,
I know exactly what you are talking about. It's more than an increase in your heart rate, it's skipping beat after beat, quivering and other scary things when you exercise. Granted my heart can do those things sitting still, but it really acts up when I exercise. Until you have had the feeling your are going to drop dead in the street when out walking, you can't understand how upsetting it can be. The only solution I have come up with is using a treadmill and glider in my basement. Then if I really get to feeling bad, I just get off and sit down, I'm not out on the street or in a gym feeling scared. I have decreased my exercise too because I am tired of the exercise induced episodes. Hopefully when my hormones get straightened out so will the heart palps.

I get the skipped beats too Gee Gee. Haven't had them when exercising and yes that would freak me out too. When I got the skipped beats my GP did say that exercise could make them worse because the released adrenaline is a stimulant. Even so i didn't exercise until i had the all-clear from the cardio. I specifically asked him if it was OK and he said Yes, in fact it may even reduce them in the long term.

I really sympathise as i would worrry just the same but do try & keep up some sort of exercise (like lots of walking perhaps) as you need to keep your heart healthy. Also I palp worse as the day goes on so morning exercise suits me best of all. Maybe there is a time of day that would suit you?

I also seem to be having some success reducing them after acupuncture though it has taken around 6 sessions before I noticed a difference.

Hi 'GeeGee'

Well, its just past a month since you wrote that email. How are you by now and since I am having the same things happen to me.....but I'm post meno.....just wanted to check on you!

lr3216

Hi to all and thanks for your replies. Been working alot of extra night shifts, so I haven't been posting as much lately.

I did have a visit with a new cardiologist. I liked him alot. He was very understanding, spent an hour just talking with me and my husband. He empathizes with women and feels that we cannot be compared with men concerning heart issues. He does see alot of women my age (52) with palps. He feels that it could homonally based for females, as he also sees alot of adolescent girls with palps. He wishes there was more research being done in that area. And he knows how scarey palps are because he says that he gets them too. And he even describes the little jolt of adrenalin/anxiety that often follows.

He did not hear any murmur or preliminary sign of MVP, but he ordered full cardiac blood workup, and I go back next week for a sonogram/stress test. He also sent me home that day with a 24 hour Holter monitor. Wouldn't you know, I hardly had a palp the whole time! And I TRIED...had Coca Cola, coffee, hot fudge sundae, 2 mile brisk walk, WINE...nothing. What a strange, but FUN day!

Another thing I wondered about was that the whole time I had the monitor on he didn't want me to take my magnesium or Toprol. Within hours of going back on the Toprol the next day, I started palping, and was also anxious and teary. I called him and asked if I could just stop taking the Toprol, said yes, so I have been of it for several weeks now. I have to say that the palps have significantly diminished. And with that, so has the anxiety. Those palps are just so damn scarey!

I will keep you posted on what more the cardio suggests. If nothing else, I hope this check up will bring me peace of mind.

Take Care,
Gayle

Just thought I'd give an update on my cardio workup. Basically all my tests came out fine. I have a slightly leaky valve, but was told that it was nothing to worry about. I will be monitored every 2-5 years with an echo cardiogram to make sure it doesn't change significantly. Anyone else have this??

The most significant issue that my cardiologist wants to address is my high BP, and he says that my LDL cholesterol is on the high side, so he's given me some suggestions on diet and exercise for that.

He had me come off the Toprol, because I was absolutely miserable on it...lethargic, anxious, weepy...I felt like crap. I've been off it for a month now and pretty much feel like my old self again. I still have palps, but magnesium helps them, and I don't have the anxiety with them as I did before. Oh, my potassium level is on the low side, and this can also cause palps, so stock up on your bananas! Anyone out there who is on a diuretic should watch out for falling potassium levels too.

I am so glad I had this cardiac workup done, If nothing else, the peace of mind has been worth it.

Take care Fellow Palpers!
Gayle

Hi, Gayle,

I, too, have had a variety of different heart sensations which have been very disturbing. I had echo and like you, was told had some minor leaky valves but of no significance.

I have since learned that "thumpies" of the heart can be caused by progesterone/progestin or just from peri.

Colleen