Effect on heart rate when walking

Posted , 4 users are following.

My GP has prescribed me 10mg propanolol "when I need it" so mostly I take one in the morning and it is a relief not to feel my heart pounding away – till it wears off at lunchtime. I am always anxious so there's hardly a day when I don't feel I need it.

My question is: I do love walking holidays and I'm about to go up to the Yorkshire moors – what will happen when I exert myself ie climbing steep gradients? My heart rate would normally increase hugely, obviously – what happens on a beta blocker, can your slowed-down heart cope with extra exertion?

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Posted

    Of course it can.  All a beta blocker does is makes you heart beat stronger and maintains your heart rate so whatever you are doing whether it be walking or exercising your beta blocker will control your heart rate depending on the activity you are doing.  If you get worried about this ask a pharmacist they will be knowledgable on this matter but i am positive that your slowed down heart will be able to cope.  It doesn't slow it down to a dangerous level it just controls and makes it become slower so you don't get that racing heart feeling.  If your heart is healthy the beta blocker reducing your heart rate will not effect your hearts ability to cope even if your cardiac output is decreased as i exercise every day at a high intensity.  
    • Posted

      That's good to hear, Olivia, most reassuring, thank you.
  • Posted

    Hi

    My blood pressure has been over 200/100 not pleasant. I have been taken off propanolol I was on 5 mg, now on a water tablet great.

    Stress anxiety etc we ALL get it at some times I am surprises that you GP has let you decide when you take the tablet , you said ( when you need it ).

    • Posted

      I have had chronic generalised anxiety for about 15 years – counselling has helped a great deal but I still get stressed most days, and this can cause palpitations and missed heart beats which winds me up further as I am terrified of ending up in A&E with SVT (which happened last time). So... my GP quite clearly said I could take propanolol when I felt I needed it, which is most mornings. It is bliss not to be able to feel my heart beat. For example, we are going away on holiday tomorrow and already I am anxious and my heart going like crazy, which frightens me, so I took one 10 mg pill and fantastic, a couple of hours later my heart is behaving itself. What a relief, and how comforting to know I have these little pills which really help when I need them.

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.