Hi truebeliever, I'm so sorry you are going through this. I am 50 and have been using inhalers since I was, I think, 5 years old. Also, I was a respiratory therapist (a very long time ago). You are right that inhalers can make the heart race, some more than others. But so can anxiety. I know that I become more anxious when I am wheezing. It's natural to feel that way when you feel like you are suffocating. You didn't say which kind of inhaler your doc wants you to take. I take Flovent for prevention and Atrovent for flareups. Before the Flovent, I took Advair, which started increasing my heart rate. Once my doc switched me to Flovent, I was fine. For various reasons, I can't take true rescue inhalers, but the Atrovent works fairly well.

Here is something to think about: not treating breathing problems can put extra strain on your cardiovascular system. I've found that when i have had the racing heart from inhalers, it doesn't last very long. Long term strain on your CV system, however, can become permanent.

Tell your doctor your fears. Let her/him know if you have side effects. There are several inhalers available. Like all medicine, what works for one person doesn't always work for someone else.

Hope this makes sense. I'm sick right now & kinda out of it.