Deanna, If you could provide more info on yourself, such as, treatments, meds, etc, we might possibly be able to offer some advice. Right now, if you have not been treated, etc, I would recommend seeing your doc.
When should I worry about my heart rate? sometimes I take my pulse and its racing at 110-130 when just idle and not exicising and I get a heavy feeling on my chest. The beats arn’t always regular either with the occasional skipping of a beat. At what point should I get worried and go to a DR?
Now is good. The occasional skipping of a beat can be caused by the Vegas nerve, but an irregular rhythm is a serious matter. Get someone to check it out.
Hi Dawna, I don’t really know much about your history other than you say that you have a fast heart rate and the occasional skipped beat. I assume that you know that you have Graves disease or else you wouldn’t have posted on the board. As you may know a fast heart rate (called tacchycardia in mecial parlance) is very common for people who are hyperthyroid and this symptom can be controlled with medications that are called beta-blockers. Although people with hyperthyroidism have increased heart rates, usually the the rhythm is normal (called a sinus tacchycardia). Occasionally, hyperthyroid patients will develop an abnormal rhythm called atrial fibrillation that is usually described as “irregularly irregular”. Occasional skipped beats are also common (in hyperthyroid patients and normal people). In fact, that was a very prominent part of my hyperthyroid stage. They are usually harmless. If you are being treated for hyperthyroidism and taking a beta-blocker I don’t think that there is anything else the doctors can do to control your heart rate. It will come down once your hyperthyroidism is under control. If you are not being treated I would see a doctor. If you ever feel like your heart rhythm becomes abnormal in any way (irregular) or takes off suddenly at a very high rate (160 beats per minute or more) and it is sustained and/or associated with chest pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath I would seek immediate medical attention. Otherwise, hold tight and wait for your hyperthyroidism to be controlled. Best of luck, george.
