Hope everyone is well! Bottom line this thread tells us all that nicotine really screws with your heart rate. Maybe temporary or maybe permanent. We all just need to realize that and stop killing ourselves. I also chew tobacco and experience faster than normal heart rates and palpitations. Sigh......going today to get some nicotine gum to try and quit. Good luck everyone!
I also chew tobacco. I've only done it for 3 months daily. It was off and on for a while. I'm an athlete and am in good shape for my age. I am sixteen and am in many sports. When I dip especially my heart rate definitely goes up to the point where my fingers shake. Actually I'm dipping right now as I am typing this and I can definitely feel and see my fingers shake and my heart pound. Anyway I didn't chew for a week when I was on vacation with my parents and my heart rate went back to normal. I honestly think your heart rate issues are resulted in your athletic ability and not really that you quit. I am a daily dipper but only actually go through a can maybe every 2-3 days. I chew Skoal straight.
It turns out I had a carcinoid tumor. I had surgery in April 2010, 1 year later a small tumor has reappeared and I may have another surgery next month.
I'm still kicking!
Thanks Zach!
That's really cool of you.
I have been doing research and found information that suggests coQ10 and L-Carnitine are helpful.
I am including a link to the information I read regarding this.
http://www.*************.com/heart-disease/c/45112/66645/supplement?ic=6046
Hopefully this helps anyone that experiences the same tachycardia and rapid heart rate while showering like I/We have and the other similar symptoms I listed in my original post.
Bry
Glad that we could help set your mind at ease. I don't exercise. I know I should, and used to a lot when I was younger. I'm still an active person though. I have a labor intensive career.
Hang in there, and always check back on us when you need a bit of reading to ease the anxiety. I'll always be here.
Zach
You all have given me renewed hope in Woman/Mankind.
Thank you all SO MUCH for sharing your experiences with me and your encouragement. I really mean encouragement in the literal sense, you are all so brave. I'd like to update you all by letting you know that I have started close to a no cholesterol daily diet where the most cholesterol I have in any given day is less than 5 mg. You know, you have seen the FDA percentages on the foods we buy. Like canned/evaporated milk, the fat free type where it says on the can "<5 mg" meaning less than 5 mg...
I also have completely cut out caffiene, no alchohol, as little sugar as possible in the less than 1800 calories per day I intake and less than 10 grams of fat per day.I have also started on these little bottles of plant sterols called "Supershots" by the maker or under the brand name "Promise" which suggests it helps remove cholesterol.
One bottle a day since my cholesterol was 242 and my LDL was 170.
My red blood cell count(RBC) was also 5.89, my hemoglobin 17.8 and my hematocrit 51.0.
Since going on this diet and exercising everday on the treadmill(I started out slowly and gradually worked my way up to 2 miles per day, my blood count has gone back within limits, I have lost 14 pounds, my constant raise in my heartrate blasting into the 140-150-160's has just about stopped completely(2 times since dieting and working out in the last month and over a half) and my heartrate doesn't seem to be so wild any more(Don't get me wrong, it's not right yet!!!!), but it still feels erratic at times throughout the day. Like right now, just like dancingheart said above, I am going to check it with the blood pressure monitor to see if I am just thinking it is erratic or if it actually is.
Well, I just really want to thank those of you who have written so far and tell you all that what I am doing as far as exercise and dieting seems to at least be helping so far. Fat free and low/no cholesterol, relatively small amounts of fat, no caffiene/tobacco and low sugar seems to be lowering the incidences of my heart rate spikes and my blood pressure has DRASTICALLY been reduced along with those occurences of rapid beating in the shower and bending over to pick things up. I am still going to the cardiologist and having every/any test imaginable to find out all I can about just what my heart thinks it is trying to do!!!!
It may be a coincidence, but after two days of being on the plant sterols my heart rate and beat seem to be at more of a level pace.
I will share any other experiences with all of you and any methods that work to bring a steady beat and pressure.
THANK YOU ALL AGAIN AND MANY BLESSINGS ! : )
Hello,
I too suffer from such irregular heart rhythms...My heartrate swings from 41-175 bpm constantly, and it seems that nothing causes it to happen. My pulse and BP is much like yours when I exercise. My heart races when I roll over in bed...I wake up all sweaty and a high heartrate 130-170's in the night. Bending down to pick up something off the floor makes my BP soar and leaving me feeling like passing out. I can have a high BP while resting 159/100 and a low one while up 90/55 or visa-versa.... same with the pulse. Eating first thing in the morning sets off palpitations. And I can forget about the hot or even a warm shower! I usually start off warm and then slow my rate down by turning it to cold just before I get out.
I have had so many tests done by multiple cardiologist...countless times, but they say my heart is strong and healthy. They all say I have inappropriate sinus rhythm, with sinus tachycardia, and bouts of supraventricular tachycardia/paroxysmal atrial tachycardia. I have a very, very, very sensitive atrial node...the slightest stress sets it off and I am a type A, high strung anxious personality type person.
I do not smoke...never have. I am active...exercise on my treadmill everyday (2.5-4 mph...no incline)...yoga and aerobics on alternating days. I don't drink and haven't had a drink in over 16 years. I stay away from all caffeine...and I am easy on the sugar. I am not over weight in the least...I am mostly vegetarian. I take my multi-vitamins regularly. I never could quite figure out how I got to suffer so bad with the heart stuff...when I don't abuse my body at all....hmmm.... Oh, and my teeth are perfect... so I don't think anything that you have or have not done causes the things your heart is doing. You do need to work closely with a cardiologist that you can trust. Don't forget anything... including telling him how you feel emotionally and the stressors in your life.... as anxiety has a lot to play...and certainly do not hesitate to go along with all the tests that he or see recommends...they will help calm your nerves to know exactly what is or is not going on....a strong heart can handle a lot...an echo and stress test will tell you just how strong your heart is. A holter monitor and event/loop monitor will help determine exactly when you feel these things and what the stressors on you and your heart are...and which part of the heart is starting those irregular rhythm problems (very important to know if it is atrial or ventricular.) Those 4 tests where the most important tests that have helped me.
I was put on Toprol XL 25 mg in am and 100 mg in pm. Hasn't fixed much and .5 mg of Klonopin taken 3 times a day and 100 mg of Zoloft...to slow me and my anxiety down...this has helped some....most of all I had to quit worrying about my heart and stop taking my BP and pulse multiple times over. I had to learn to let it be whatever it wants to be (high low, and everything in between...whether it seems normal or not to me)...even if it is uncomfortable...this has smoothed things out a bit. But a lot is easier said than done and each day seems a struggle to me.
Hang in there, and keep us posted...you are not alone...
Hey Bryan.
You and I have some very similar symptoms relating to heart health anxiety. Obviously you are very concerned about your heart and its ability to perform.
A hot shower is sometimes very hard for me to endure because of the high heart rate. This often occurs if I'm late or something and hop in the shower from only a few minutes from waking up in the morning. I also smoked cigarettes from age 14 to 31, and chewed kodiak from age 18-31 as well as a supplement of nicotine If I couldn't smoke, or if I wanted to take a break from smoking because having difficulty breathing. I'm been nicotine free for 110+ days now, cold turkey. I was getting really upset with my heart beating very strange, skipping beats, beating hard in the evenings after dinner trying to relax, etc. I still have episodes even after quiting nicotine, but I do not experience the long bouts of tachycardia that I noticed more often with abusing nicotine quite often. The cigarettes and smokeless tobacco really put me in a vicious cycle. Since I would put a large quanity of smokeless in, I would get much more nicotine if I were just to smoke 1 cigarette. Then when going back to smoking, I would smoke almost 2 packs in one day, until it calmed down to about 1 pack a day. Nicotine is really crappy, and more crappier if you like caffeine/soda/coffee. I guess your body can metabolize twice the amout of caffeine when there is nicotine present in your body at the same time. Knowning this really helped me quit both caffeine and nicotine. I have though, howerever, introduced small amounts of caffeine once or twice weekly back into my diet, just to help my bouts of fatigue.
As far as rolling over in bed and noticing your heart begining to race for 10 seconds and then calm back down again, I do notice the same thing. It also happens when I have a long stretch, that is the worst. I have noticed then less frequently though since I've been nicotine free for 110+ days or so. However, I do still drink alcohol quite frequently. I do not drink at home, but I do go out 3-4 times a week to the local pub and drink excessively sometimes. Hangovers really kick my butt when it comes to heart health anxiety. My heart pounds all day, sometimes skips. I'm on the couch for at least 8-10 hours the next day trying to recover. Hope this helps ease your mind. Zach
I understand your fears and your concerns....we all do...don't worry about your "ranting"...it's easy to do, especially like you said, when questions come to mind, I do the same...but I wish I could be of more help to you...but when thing I can say is...document, document whenever you feel something and right it down, even if it's as soon as you wake up in the morning, keep a note pad at your bedside...that's what I was advised to do....I feel like I should be on "Mystery Diagnosis"...lol...but I understand, mine has been happening since I was 13yrs old....as I've gotten older, it's gotten worse, I too WANT to exercise but to scared to....there's this extra 20lbs I'd LOVE to take off...
I'd have your cardiologist check your thyroid, do a BMP, checking all your blood levels, ask about the Parkinsons, ask about Orthostatic Hypertension....
I'm not sure what else....wish I could be of more help.....sorry
Many Blessings....and Happy Easter!
Julie