AFib

[smo48]

I am a 61 year old whose work is high stress and whose family is high stress.  I have Factor V Leiden and, in 2008, had a transcatheter closure of a PFO (following an ischemic stroke that left no permanent physical or mental damage).  I exercise regularly and intensely.  Today, I was in spinning class, my heart rate monitor showed a rate mostly in the 160's, but occasionally reached the mid-170's--a bit higher than usual.  However, then the monitor began to fluctuate dramatically, showing 200, then 140, then 180, etc.  We tried a different monitor and a different cycle, but the fluctuations continued.  Best estimate is that the fluctuations lasted from 1/2 hour to 1 and 1/2 hours.  I felt no physical symptoms outside the norm in spinning class either before, during or after spinning.  When my BPM became regular, it was higher than usual--dropping slowly from about 95 to 80 over the next 8 hours.  My resting BPM typically ranges from 58 to 62.  I have just moved to a new state and have not yet firmed up new medical care providers.  Should I go to an Emergency Room soon or may I safely wait for my first appointment with my new PCP in three weeks?

[allaflutter1213]

thanks Jerry, I was very confused.

[Jerry_NJ]

While reading I saw a lot of assumption on the part of the poster that everyone here knows all the medical and physical fitness jargon/terminology.

I'm sure he is not talking about making cloth, spinning.

In my experience the there "Spinning" is used by the physical training gang to refer to a stationary bike made specifically for peddling (spinning) real fast.  The little of it I've done was done with an instructor, leader who pushes the rate.  Most in the class I was in, I was 67 at the time, could pump so fast I made my head spin just to watch.

Sounds like AFib to me, and any sustained HR > 150 sounds like ER time to me.  I'd also think a HR limit of 150 good for anyone over 60... albeit I was still working at 150 when 67.

[itdood]

your max heart training rate should be about <140

http://exercise.about.com/cs/fitnesstools/l/bl_THR.htm

If you notice any chest pain, shortness of breath, or irregular rates you should head over to the ER and see what's happening on a 12 lead.

I recently went through something similar and was training in a zone I've been doing since i was 20.  I was surprised to learn that my recommended training zone was 142.  I was pushing 170 all the time.  I has a short episode of something and i actually was so freaked by it that I went to the ER in an ambulance.  They couldn't find anything wrong and I'm still reeling by what happened.

I'm only 42 and in good shape.

I read somewhere that endurance athletes are 5x more likely to develop an arrhythmia than the general population.

[allaflutter1213]

I have to ask.
What is spinning class?

[BobRBob]

Sounds like you are in great shape but training rates in the 160s at your age sound a little excessive to me. Your symptoms sound exactly like mine did when my afib started. I first noted my heart rate would occasionally skyrocket during my workouts and I couldn't find my pulse. Turned out it was the onset of paroxysmal afib and it progressed from there. Training at high levels has been associated with atrial fib in some studies so you may want to dial it back a bit. Medical advice on this is important but I can't see much point in visiting the ER unless you have a recurrence as they probably won't find anything wrong with you and will send you on your way.

Good luck!