My fitbit showed very fast HR while walking
Posted , 2 users are following.
Hi, i`m 44 male with GAD and health anxiety, today I went for a walk after lunch and decided to check my fitbit HR (I have a fear of a heart attack and check multiple times daily) while walking, it showed 167bpm, my physical pulse didnt feel that fast but suddenly my fear kicked in and I took the fitbit off and started back home. As I neared home I rang my neighbour in panic (he is a retired GP), he sat me down asked me questions, at this point my mind was racing as I thought I was dying, he took my pulse and said it was fast, about 140 which made me feel more anxious. After a few minutes chatting he took it again and he said it had dropped to about 100bpm, this made me relax a little but cant help feeling scared. I rang my own GP, made an appointment for telephone consultation, she rang and suggested it was likely anxiety related (no chest pain/faint feeling) to rule anything else out she is arranging a 24hr ECG monitor, which now worries me. I am fairly fit, play tennis, badminton and football, I also walk a fair bit.
I know I have to wait but just felt I needed to share, try and get some of the fear out by writing and hopefully hear some of peoples experiences with similar situations.
0 likes, 2 replies
jan34534 m75570
Edited
I am so sorry you’re going through this. Keep in mind that anxiety can actually raise the heart rate to your level and sometimes even higher.
when I exercise I know that my heart rate is pretty high when I feel anxious. However, I just slow down a little bit when I feel it racing. I’m not concerned about a heart attack because there’s other factors involved for that to be a risk.
Don’t be concerned that an ECG was ordered because doctors order testing to cover themselves. They want to be sure that everything‘s OK which is great!
i’m thinking that your ECG will be normal.
anxiety can instill fear into our minds that is not based on fact. So try to relax your mind about this.
i’ve had anxiety for many years and something that I learned brings down the heart rate is the mindfulness breathing exercise for anxiety. It truly relaxes you and your heart rate! You can find many of these right on YouTube. you can also find meditations for anxiety and over thinking! They are so soothing.
i’m really glad you shared this because even just venting can help relax you.
try not to overthink this because you’re going to be OK! Rapid heart rate due to anxiety is caused by release of adrenaline because of anxiety and it eventually wears off.
hope this helps a little bit at least!❤
m75570 jan34534
Posted
Thank you Jan34534 for your positive encouraging reply, it has given me a sense of ease. I was fixating on the reasons for my heart racing to that level when all I was doing was walking, I wasnt feeling the rapid heart rate and just checked as matter of habit then freaked out when it was at that level (not for one second stopping to factor in the fitbit could be completely wrong in that moment). When i`m in a rational calm state I know my heart is healthy but that horrible "what if" drops in to throw me many alternatives, very frustrating, I have been told my heart attack risk score is 2.4% chance.
Im looking forward to the ECG testing to try and get a more detailed picture of how my heart performs and hopefully give me more positive feedback to being perfectly healthy.