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.
I've been suffering from tachycardia for 10 years now. It started when I was about 17 (i am 27 now). It started with not being able to exercise as well as I could before and attacks of atrial fibrillation (these attacks have unfortunately never been 'caught' on an ecg). I haven't had such an attack for 2 or 3 years now but I suffer from a constant high hearthrate (90+), palpitations and shortness of breath. At night I also get attacks when I am just about to fall asleep. My hearthrate rises to atleast 120/130. I get shortness of breath and I feel very anxious.
In the morning I wake up with a high hearthrate and I feel very uncomfortable. It takes me atleast half an hour before I am able to somewhat function.
I have visited 3 cardiologists over the years. The last time was a few weeks ago. He couldn't find anything wrong but said I had raised sympathetic tonicity (I hope I translated the right way since I am from the Netherlands)
I used to take a betablocker (sotalol) but it didn't work for me. Now I have a calcium channel blocker called verapamil but I haven't noticed any effect.
I am quite desperate at the moment. My doctor thinks I should just learn to live with it and that I won't die from it but I can't. I can't live with it.
I understand it's hard to say anything about something like this without seeing someone in person but I don't know what else to do anymore. It controls my life at the moment, it's always there.
I hope you can help.
Carla
Answer Dear Carla,
It's called Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia (IST). I'd try another beta blocker, atenolol or metoprolol, since verapamil hasn't helped. Verapamil was a sensible suggestion, worth a try.
Practicing the relaxation response once or twice a day by breathing deeply and rhythmically in a quiet place with eyes closed and muscles relaxed can help cool the hottest blood. Other techniques include meditation, prayer, yoga, self-hypnosis, laughter, taking a midday nap, getting a dog or cat, taking up a hobby and exercising regularly.
Obviously, treatment of IST is poorly understood.k I'm very sorry for your troubles. Please let me know if you find something that helps.
Please write back any time you think I could help.
