HomeAnswersCardiologyheart attackI am 23 with a high heart rate. Should I be concerned?

My resting heart rate is increased. Am I at the risk for a heart attack?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. K. Shobana

Published At June 7, 2017
Reviewed AtFebruary 20, 2024

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I am a 23 year old male, who is fit and active. I do not drink alcohol or take illegal drugs. I smoke about 15 cigarettes a day and drink some coffee and tea, about two or three cups a day. I do not like energy drinks, so I never take them. I am not on any medication. About three weeks ago, I started a new job. As one of the requirements of the job is to get a medical test done, I failed in it as my heart rate was 140 bpm at rest. My doctor checked it thrice to ensure it was right. He checked my heart rate again over the next week and looked at my blood test results too. The lowest my heart went to was 85 bpm but mostly it stayed at 100 to 95 bpm. He said he could hear a heart murmur. I did not have this previously.

I do not know if this is related, but I was told I sometimes wake up at night gasping for air, in a sudden manner. I do not have any nightmares as much as I can remember. Other than that I feel sick often. I do get stomach cramps about two to three times a week. My doctor sent a letter to the hospital for more tests. He does not know the reason for high heart rate. I might have to wait for a long time to get the tests done. Is there anything I could do while I wait? Also, my father had a heart attack when he was 45. Could this be a sign that a heart attack is waiting in later years? Should I even be worried or is this just normal routine checks? Would love to hear from you. Thank you for reading this.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Your main concern seems to be an increase in resting heart rate and the presence of heart murmurs. Tea, tobacco, and caffeine together increase the heart rate. The fact that your father suffered a heart attack seems to be troubling your mind, causing persistent stress and anxiety. What I do suggest as a precautionary measure is, to stop all the four risk factors. This will bring your heart rate to normal. You can get the following tests done such as Free T4 (thyroxine), T3 (triiodothyronine) and TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone), echocardiography, treadmill test (TMT) and lipid profile. It is also important to make some lifestyle modifications such as include whole grain foods, fresh fruits, green vegetables, legumes and fish in your diet, opt for low-fat milk, avoid fried food, walk for at least half an hour every day, and do breathing exercises for 10 minutes every day.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Amiya Kumar Chattopadhyay
Dr. Amiya Kumar Chattopadhyay

Cardiology

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