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Cardiac & Vascular Health
Question #18629
69 days ago
118

increase pulse rate - #18629

Shreya

I am feeling really anxious about something that's been going on with me lately. Like, for the past few weeks, I noticed my pulse rate seems to increase a lot, like scarily fast sometimes! I’ve never thought much about my pulse rate until now, but it feels like it's racing, even when I'm just sitting on the couch or at work. A few days ago, I actually checked it at home and it was like 110 bpm. That’s not normal, right? I mean, I usually don’t have any heart issues, at least not that I know of. I’m trying to think if I’ve changed anything like diet or exercise but honestly, not much has changed besides maybe a lil more stress with work stuff. And sometimes I feel a bit dizzy and I get this weird feeling in my chest. I don’t want to freak out but can stress actually cause this to increase pulse rate? It’s hard to tell if it's just my anxiety, my coffee habit, or something worse. Should I be looking into this more seriously? Like, is there something I should be checking with a doctor or just chill out? Any thoughts would be super helpful!

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Doctors' responses

When a pulse rate consistently increases above normal levels like yours, it’s important to consider a few possibilities and practical steps. An elevated pulse rate, or tachycardia, can indeed be triggered by anxiety, stress, caffeine intake, and other lifestyle factors like smoking or lack of sleep. Stress is a common cause and can lead to increased adrenaline levels which make your heart beat faster. Caffeine too can play a role; it’s a stimulant that can increase heart rate, so reducing intake could help to determine if it’s a contributing factor. Still, it’s crucial to rule out any underlying health issues, especially because you’ve mentioned dizziness and a weird chest feeling. These symptoms can be associated with your heart, so they do merit more investigation just to be safe.

I recommend that you keep a log of your pulse rate, note the times when it feels fast, and any correlating activities or feelings, like stress or coffee consumption. This info can be very useful to share with your healthcare provider. Given the symptoms you described, particularly the chest sensations and dizziness, it would be wise to make an appointment with your doctor. They might want to perform a physical exam and possibly an ECG or other diagnostic tests to rule out any arrhythmias or heart issues. Testing can help establish if your elevated pulse is primarily stress-induced or due to another factor. Additionally, managing stress through techniques such as mindfulness or exercise could be beneficial, assuming your doctor clears you for activity based on their evaluation. It’s important not to delay medical advice in case there is an urgent underlying cause that needs attention.

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