Need a level headed person to talk me down...

[lawkcrabb]

Okay...just to reiterate, I have heart anxiety.  I have had lots of testing done on my heart and told it is great.  It is still something I struggle with accepting.  So...today I was outside ALL day.  I was working in the garden, finishing the fence...tilling the ground and planting plants.  I am not a very active person...but I was today.  I came it, my heart was POUNDING (we live in TX and it was very warm today).  I took a shower, cooled off...discovered I got a pretty nasty sunburn.  I vowed not to check my heart rate...but we all know how that works.  I checked it a few minutes ago and it was 94 bpm...I have been inside for a couple of hours...shouldn't it be a lot lower than that by now...I am usually in the mid to lower 70s and upper 60s.

It is probably just because I worked hard...right?  Do I need to get it checked??

[jenkyleg]

Hi! So, I'm obviously not a doctor, but have you compared it against your normal resting heart rate? Depending on your level of fitness, your resting heart rate could be anywhere from 60 to 100 bpm. You're also prone to fluctuations depending on your mood. For instance, my heart rate raises when I know anyone's checking it. Same for when I'm stressed. To me, if the doctors have told you your heart is healthy, this doesn't sound like an issue at all. Hope that helps!

[msgb98]

it is probably just the energy you spent working outdoors and all that you were doing.
I would not worry about it (I know easier said than done).
I am normally about 80 so it varies by person.
It is also height and weight that come into play here.
Also what comes into play here is if you had things with salt and how hydrated you are.

I think that you are probably fine.

[stockwiz]

I just yesterday taught myself how to check my heart with a stethoscope. (ADC 615 series from amazon works well) ... no murmurs, clicks, or anything like that. What I did notice and am going to the doctor for this morning is a split S1 (no it's not an S4 or a mitral valve click).. curious to see what she says.

You can check to put your mind at ease. It's not hard to learn to do. You need to google to teach yourself where to test, and what is not normal. You can find sample sounds all over.

[vardnas]

I just yesterday taught myself how to check my heart with a stethoscope. (ADC 615 series from amazon works well) ... no murmurs, clicks, or anything like that. What I did notice and am going to the doctor for this morning is a split S1 (no it's not an S4 or a mitral valve click).. curious to see what she says.

You can check to put your mind at ease. It's not hard to learn to do. You need to google to teach yourself where to test, and what is not normal. You can find sample sounds all over.

NO. I'm sorry, but I have to respectfully intervene here. stockwiz, I don't know if you know how anxiety works, but things like repeated testing and monitoring DO NOT HELP, and I'm disappointed that you would recommend someone actually BUY a stethoscope to monitor their heart more obsessively.

Lawkcrabb, listen. Heart rates are extremely variable and can depend on all sorts of things—exertion and temperature being two factors, also things like hydration levels, foods recently eaten and stress level, naturally. Frankly, it doesn't matter if your heart rate is 94 today when it's usually in the 70s. Clinically there is NO significance in that difference.

And despite what stockwiz, as well meaning as he his, has to suggest, you do not need more testing on your heart. You've HAD testing. Your heart's FINE. Fine. That you have trouble accepting that fact has nothing to do with your heart and everything to do with your anxiety. Are you treating your anxiety in any way? It's great that you were keeping yourself busy today—distraction and hobbies are a great help to getting our minds off health fears but it's gonna take more than that to get you feeling confident about your heart. Please, for your sake, stop monitoring it and taking your pulse. You really do have no need for it.

[lawkcrabb]

Thank you Vardnas!  I read Stockwiz's post and thought "there is no way in hell I am doing that"... I knew it was a recipe for disaster and I do not need to add another way of monitoring.  You are exactly the level head I was looking for.  I know my heart is fine...deep down inside somewhere...and I am trying!  I take Lexapro daily, I have started meditating, I am finding new hobbies, I am working on self-talk and researching CBT.  I am getting there, some days I do have slip ups...thank you again!

[hypomom]

Oh no, no, no, no  Can an admin take the reply from Stockwiz down? This is the worst idea ever and Stockwiz, I hope you STOP this soon too. Maybe your doctor can talk to you about this!

[Ihadcancer]

YIKES! If I were to 'test' myself like that, I WOULD have a heart attack from stress!  Please don't even consider buy a stethoscope!

Off topic slightly, but I can SEE a BP monitor and feel my BP rising.  My doctor did have me test my BP at home a couple of times because it goes really high during an anxiety attack..... which is usually why I'm in his office with some 'disease of the day'.

[LindaRK]

I agree with Vardnas ... also, my heartrate increases when I'm outside working in the heat as well.  Heck, it goes up just being in the heat!