[inkblot]

With my history of chest pains and palpitations and that I am running low on propranolol tabs that I take for the problem, I bought a simple heart rate monitor from WalMart today. I've been pushing myself a little too hard at the gym the past few days, too, and noticed more heart rate fluctuations on the machines. I bought this to test myself and the accuracy of the machines. My rate was reasonable before in the upper 80's, but since about a half-hour after eating half a can of soup it has been steady at 128--only once going in the mid to upper 130's--and all I am doing is sitting here at the computer. I can feel my heart because the change in blood sugar does that to me when I don't eat very much or very often, as is the case recently. It's still kind of freaky seeing this "evidence" knowing my past of taking OTC's to lose weight, being dehydrated, etc. And then there is my very strong family history of heart disease problems. Makes a person think. I'll have to watch this and take note of everything.

do keep a journal on this, inkie........take care, pat

[(JD)]

but keep track also of what you eat, drink etc... (soup is very high in msg, sodium etc) Also, how neat to have a monitor, now you can do calming techniques and see how slow a rate you can create too!

[inkblot]

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now you can do calming techniques and see how slow a rate you can create too!

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Yes, I was thinking about that! I've done experiments with my blood pressure before that turned out great. I can't wait to try using this at the gym tomorrow! Walking down the stairs here at the libary earlier sent my rate up to 224! It came back down to normal at the bottom. The sudden change in activity would have made such a increase like that. Glad it came back down!

[(JD)]

I think (and someone will correct me if I'm wrong) that it's your heartrate after 3 minutes that is important. If you recover quickly, I think it's ok???

[inkblot]

Yes, quick recovery is what's important. I have medical training, but cardiac stuff isn't my specialty. I'm mostly know the medical basics and some pharmacological stuff.

[Miss_A]

Have you been your GP you know a doctor. Do check your heart rate and suggest what to do?

[eskielover]

I have found that with a low weight, my blood pressure is way low & with that, the heart rate is high.....this is especially true when I am dehydrated. The ER usually hooks me up to the monitor & as the fluid goes in by the IV, the heart rate slows down a little.....it still doesn't make the blood pressure go up however & I keep passing out even after I seem to be rehydrated. Low weight, blood pressure, heart rate, blood test results.....all related & kinda scarry to see what is going on internally.

Take care of yourself & glad you are monitoring it yourself....It is good to monitor & see how much you can influence the results by yourself.

Debbie