I do not think so Petunia because athletes and people like myself who exercise often and hard raise our heart rate a lot. Mine I run over 180 bpm I normally have a pulse rate of 60. When you have this can you take your pulse? Also as far as how HARD it beats that can OVER A LONG TIME cause some damage because it is high blood pressure. But we ARE speaking long times not 20 minutes or so. I am sorry you are having this. I hate when I get it out of the blue