Why is my heart rate always above 100?

[TinaS101]

I am a 31 yr old female. I have Lupus but other than that I am pretty much healthy, except for the fact that my heart rate is consistently above 100 bpm. 105 bpm is the lowest my heart rate has been recorded at in years. I have been prescribed Metoprolol 100mg (2 pills x 2 times a day) and that has worked in the past ( 105 bpm is low for me since average is 124-130), but the medicine makes me dizzy and I have passed out on multiple occasions. That along with the fact that I feel weird when I take the medicine, I admit I don't always take the Metoprolol but I have had the rapid rate so long I don't even notice it anymore, unless it gets really fast (about 180 bpm). Ihave tried other medications (Atenolol for example) with no relief. Any ideas of what may be causing this and suggestions for treatment are greatly appreciated. Thank you  

[wmac]

yes it was for you.. I hope they checked all three of them tsh, T3 and T4

[stand_by]

if that comment was for me..yes multiple of times...everything came out fine..

[wmac]

Have your thyroid checked.

[stand_by]

tina I have fast HR too but have not tried any med. Since I am trying to avoid it. Did you go through event monitor, holter etc? My Resting HR is between 85-100 while sitting and above 100 while standing and walking.

What are your stats before med? Was it 124 sitting, walking?

[anonymous4488]

Lupus could cause your tachycardia as it has been associated with it.  Here is a journal article which states:

"In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), sinus tachycardia, atrial fibrillation and atrial ectopic beats are the major cardiac arrhythmias. In some cases, sinus tachycardia may be the only manifestation of cardiac involvement."

http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/content/45/suppl_4/iv39.full

I would talk to your Dr about meds though as there are other options besides a beta blocker.  I also can't tolerate a beta blocker as it drops my BP into the 70's and makes me lethargic and dizzy.  I've had some success with a calcium channel blocker and also with flecainide.  Sometimes medicine is trial and error until you figure out what works best for you!  Also make sure you are staying well hydrated and drinking plenty of water as dehydration will make the tachycardia worse.

[gothic_beauty]

I agree with itdood that in our world of advanced medical technology, there is no reason to suffer. I can't say for certain why your heart rate is so high, though I wouldn't be surprised if it had something to do with lupus. Any kind of medical condition, even if it originates outside the heart, has the ability to make our heart work harder by tiring out the body. However, like Michelle says, you may also have a thyroid issue. Alternately, you may have another imbalance in your blood. Have you had blood work done recently? Most doctors will start with a blood test, as well as determining if there are any structural abnormalities in your heart. Have you had any sort of heart tests done, such as an ultrasound? If not, I think it is important to investigate the condition further.

Even if there is no clear cause, a prolonged heart rate of over 100 bpm can be taxing to the heart, so a beta blocker or calcium channel blocker does seem like something you should persist with trying. As itdood also says, it can take time to find the right amount of the right medication for you, but it is time well spent in order to keep your heart healthy. Again, heart rhythm medicine is more advanced than it's ever been, and it's well worth taking advantage of the modern age.

Best of luck to you, and keep us posted!!

[itdood]

There are many meds to choose from, either beta blockers or calcium channel blockers or a combination.  Trial and error, find one that works best for you via your doctor.  They all have trad-offs.  Finding the one with least negative consequences and most positive results is hard work.  We're lucky today because there are so many to choose from.

[MichelleP_3811]

Only a doctor can really determine why your heart rate is elevated all the time.  You could have any number of reasons for it but sinus tachycardia and even inappropriate sinus tachycardia is usually caused by things outside the heart.  I am not too familiar with lupus but the illness may be stressing out your body thus causing your heart to work harder.  Have you had your thyroid checked?  Hyperthyroidism can be a cause of an elevated heart rate.  Ultimately though it can be very hard to pin down why you have an elevated heart rate so the best you can do is try to find lifestyle changes that help.  If you heart is unconditioned it can lead to some tachycardia issues so you may want to get some cardio in and see if that helps.  As well make sure you drink lots of water.  Even doing something like yoga to help your body relax can help.  If you haven't been to see a cardiologist it might be prudent to see one to make sure the health of your heart is good but other than that keep up with your GP to see if there are any outside influences that may be contributing to your elevated rate.  Well hang in there and do keep us posted on how you are doing.