AboutDavid Richardson Expertise Adult heart function and disease. Not very good about children lesss than 12. Hypertension is o.k. Heart rhythm a special interest.
Experience Certified in cardiology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Was chairman of division of cardiology at the Medical College of Virginia. Am now mostly retired.
Organizations Fellow of American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology and member of American Physiological Society..
Publications Circulation, American Heart Journal, Hypertension.
Education/Credentials M.D. from Harvard Medical School. Residency training at Yale Uhniversity School of Medicine and Medical College of Virginia.
Awards and Honors Gold Heartt Award from American Heart Association in 1995.
Question QUESTION: I am a woman of 74 years of age, height 5'3" and weight 170 lbs. Blood pressure around 140/75, pulse 72
I have had trouble with this for sometime now but not as often as I once had. My heart beat races and usually I can control it by laying down, talking to myself, running cold water over my wrists, trying to stay calm.
This morning at 4:30 I woke up with it and could not get it together so at 5:30 I went to the hospital. I had an EKG and some blood work done. The Dr. said my EKG was fine. What I want to know is:
l) Is it caused by anxiety?
2. Why is it when I wash walls or windows or do something that requires my hands over my head, that it may start?
3. Can alcohol start it.
4. Is is life threatening?
5. I am worried about it.
Since I came home from the hospital I feel drained and weak. Why?
I thank you for any help you may give me.
ANSWER: Dear Darline,
How fast does your heart race? Does it start to race gradually and subside gradually: if so it is normal sinus tachycardia. Was your heart racing when the EKG was done? Anxiety seems likely. Hands over head makes everyone's heart beat faster. Alcohol doesn't make the heart beat faster in most people. Doesn't seem life threatening. Drained and weak after little sleep and a day in the hospital is normal too. You should feel o.k. after a good sleep.
Please write back with the answers to those questions and with any other questions that have occurred.
David Richardson
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you David. My heart rate was l07 when I first went in to the hospital. It slowed gradually and was around 82 when I had my EKG. The nurse said when I came in my pulse was thready, irregular and weak. No pain with it. I guess it is anxiety but I wonder what I am anxious about.
This a.m. my home monitor reads l29/82 with pulse rate of 72. Seems normal, doesn't it. It is now 7:30 am and am having coffee. Could caffeine be bad for it. Normally I do not worry about this as it happens rarely but when it does it is upsetting. I try to keep busy so I am not so lonely. Live alone. Read alot so that is a blessing. Thanking you again for your guidance. Darline
Answer Darline, it all seems normal. 107 is certainly a normal heart rate for someone going to an ER. Any rate less than 140 is fine. Coffee does speed the heart a little, but any rate below 140 is fine. Anxiety isn't necessary to explain heart rates up to 110 at least.
Please write back if this note doesn't really address your concerns.
