Hi everyone.

[line]

I am a 72 year old female in generally good health. I have a concern about my pulse rate.. On sat. I was carrying containers of xmas things from the basement up the stairs. After several trips I was getting winded, like I was breathing too fast so I sat down, I took my B/P it was fine  but my pulse rate was 144, in no more than 8 minuets  it was 78, later during the day I checked it again and t was 58, my normal range is 55-70.. Is this anything serious or did I give myself a stress test. We live in a one floor house so rarely do steps into the basement.

I had no chest pain  but I did flare my back into fibro spasms.

meds:
5 mgs lisinopril ( 1 daily)
1000 iu's vit. d
81 mgs  ecotrin
18 mgs oxazepam( anti-anxity med, prn)

I see a cardio yearly and my G/P  every 4 months for a general checkup.


Thanks for any input.

[line]

Thank you so much for taking the time to post to me.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season.

Linda

[updownleftright]

The max heart rate for someone your age is 226 - Age, so for you that would = 154. Doesn't sound out of the question for your heart to be racing after  after climbing stairs especially if you're carrying things. Also your heart rate came back down right away which is a very good sign. I wouldn't say there's anything alarming with what your described.

[gothic_beauty]

Hey there!

Nothing in your post sounds out of the ordinary to me either. It is very possible and healthy for a heart to reach a rate of 144 when climbing stairs, especially if you were carrying things and had been sedentary for some time before. Stairs will take a lot out of you; I have felt my heart beating a lot faster than yours while puffing and panting my way up a few flights. Besides, your heart rate was normal for the rest of the day, which is also a good sign. Unless it starts acting up again, I would relax and let it get on with its job as you get on with your life! Take care :)

[tom_h]

Hi there.  I would say that based on your information, it's certainly not out of the question that you could elevate your heart rate up into the 140's climbing and descending steps that you're not use to taking.  Steps are a great workout too!  I do a 7 story staircase here in work at lunch when winter weather prohibits outdoor walking.  Bound up and down them a few times, and you feel it!