Recent Resting Heart Rate Increase?

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I already reached out to my PCP about this and he claims its likely stress related or dehydration. Which I can totally believe.. If my heart rate returned to its normal RHR. I had upped my water intake (I'm still not the best at drinking water, but it is a lot more often than I used to). I'm naturally a stressed person so I'm not quite sure what to do about that. But work and life haven't caused me any stress as of late.

Anyways, here's my story. At work about a week ago at this point, I had what I thought was the start of a panic attack. I've had one before so I know the signs. I felt my heart rate increase and even felt what I thought were skipped beats. It was an odd feeling in my lower throat, around the collar bone area. My resting heart rate wasn't the best to begin with, being around 68-75 bpm according to my Fitbit. When I would sit, it would be around 80, and when I would sleep, it would drop as low as 60. Now, sitting my heart rate after the near panic attack (almost instantly after the fact until now) is around 90 and sometimes nears 100. Lying down its about the same. Sleep it can drop down to about 70 at some points but not often. I feel that skipped beat feeling more infrequently than the day the attack happened.

I didn't think stress or anxiety would affect me for this long after I've had that near panic attack. I've been exercising (kickboxing, karate, and recently biking) for about an hour three times a week for well over 8 months consecutively at this point. Biking has been has been a recent addition mostly on days that I don't go to the gym as of this week and part of last.

Here are some demographics that may also be useful: I'm 26 and female; 5'0 and 122 lbs. My job as a scientist has me walking on my feet and standing almost my entire work shift. Heart disease runs in my family (dad's side). All of my blood tests have had no concerns (my workplace requires a health screening via blood draw annually and mine was in February). My physical activity wasn't the best and still could be better. I used to do zero types of exercise and now its more frequent that I go to the gym and do aerobic exercises.

Since I plan on reaching out to my PCP again since I don't feel stressed out any more and generally feel well compared to when I first discovered this, I want to know what I can anticipate. Is this anything to be concerned about? Is it worth contacting him again or would it be fine to wait to discuss this in October during my next physical?

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  • Posted

    Too much of anything is bad for us. Give your body time and space to rest well. There is no problem exercising, but we must get a good night sleep and rest.

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