Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
I have a severe doctor phobia. I am unable to go in for care, but I need to understand something happening better and if it is normal for my health. I had an episode of something a couple of months ago. I got extremely sick, started vomiting and sweating horribly, has chills and massively severe pain in both breasts. That was so bad and could not even let my arms brush against them. It lasted a couple of hours and then I fell asleep. I was concerned at that time that it may have been a heart attack, but I was afraid to go for a check-up.
I am a 45 year old female. I am overweight around 270 lbs and have not been active for a while. I have started having my heart rate spike to 120 or 140 when I stand up and move. If I move much or fast, it goes to 150 or 160. I know my overall health is not good and I am trying to change that. I am trying to fix this by improving my lifestyle. Is it something serious to be worried about? My resting heart rate has been in the 80s if sitting calmly but can get into the low 70s if I am resting or sleeping.
Even moving in bed, increases my heart rate to 100s or 110s. I began using an oximeter to monitor the pulse rate and try to get data to understand and try to fix it. But, I realized that it keeps saying my oxygen is dropping. I have a picture of the readings from the oximeter information. I am drinking vegetable juices and taking supplements to thin the blood and help the heart to try to help. But, it has been several weeks, and it is not improving. I have been taking Hawthorn, omega 3, turmeric, cayenne, magnesium or potassium aspartate, and Aspirin for the last week.
Please help.
Hi,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
First of all, there is no need to worry and relieve your anxiety. In all probabilities, you are having obstructive sleep apnea as all your data fits into it. Do you have any symptoms like snoring, interrupted sleep, unrefreshing sleep, morning headaches, daytime sleepiness, etc.? If yes, then it further supports the diagnosis. Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition characterized by obstruction of the upper airway especially during sleep due to lax airway and narrowing of the airway due to obesity. Obstruction of the upper airway leads to temporary stoppage of respiration, increased sympathetic drive, and increased pulse rate. Also, another reason for a pulse rate rise is deconditioning as you are accustomed to activities.
The investigation I suggest includes an ENT examination if you have any symptoms of nasal stuffiness, or recurrent tonsillitis to rule out nasal causes of obstruction, a thyroid function test, lipid profile, sugar, HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin), and vitamin D. I also suggest polysomnography, which is sleep study to confirm the diagnosis and extent of disease and pressure of CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) needed. In treatment, the first thing is weight loss. You need to have a low-fat and low-calorie diet to lose weight as a cure for this is weight loss. Secondly, CPAP, which is a mask and device that pressures of inspiration and expiration during sleep to keep your airways patent and avoid this from happening. Also, regular exercise is very important. Chest physiotherapy and yoga will be helpful. Visit a nearby sleep specialist or pulmonologist and get the above investigations done.
I hope this helps.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I do have very mild sleep apnea, for which, I use an auto-CPAP machine. I have been keeping data on, and I only have AVG two small apneas. My greatest fear is the level of heart rate spikes when I move. I started recorded monitoring a couple of days ago and nighttime is very calm unless I change positions and then jump over 100 for a few seconds. The moment I stand up it spikes to 130s and if I walk much or carry anything it increases. It is that the heart rate increases with exertion that is worrying me.
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
Listening to your conversation, history, and age, it does not appear to be a serious condition. It does not look like a heart attack at all. But, we cannot be sure unless a direct doctor visit and examination are done. You can visit a doctor, keeping in mind that nothing serious will come out. Your concern is about heart rate. So, the first thing is to get an ECG done and then a Holter monitoring which is an ECG monitoring over 24 hours.
This will erase all doubts. You can upload the reports. According to the history, your heart rate increases on exertion, which suggests it is normal. But, an excessive increase in heart rate can occur due to the condition that I mentioned earlier. Also, thyroid and hemoglobin test has to be done. Have a healthy lifestyle and do daily exercises. Do you have any symptoms associated with an increase in heart rate? Do not worry about your heart rate increase. Remember one thing, considering your age, the likelihood of anything serious is very low.
I hope this helps.
Thank you.
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Answered byDr. Sagar Ramesh Makode
Medically reviewed byDr. K. Shobana
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