Is it common to have an "irregular heartbeat" during/right after resistance excercise

[worktheday]

Is it common to have an "irregular heartbeat" during/right after resistance excercise

A quick note to begin, I posted a thread that was very similair to this, but not identical, a few weeks ago. I'm looking for some updated info....for any of you out there who may have come across both and are wondering why I might be asking what seems to be the same question. Little different.

Just what the title reads...Is it common to have an "irregular heartbeat" during/right after resistance excercise/anerobic excercise? I am 4 years post AVR. Let me be clear, the "irregular heartbeat" I'm speaking of is an icon I'm receiving on my Omron BP machine, not something from a halter monitor or ekg.

I have been tested thoroughly (EKG, echo, cath) as recently as a few weeks ago. I received a huge thumbs up. Heart looks great, valve is great with a great EF! "Go work out and live your life" is what I was told. I have been working out about 4-5 days a week (exclusively resistance training, eg: push ups, crunches, curls - no real aerobic right now). I let myself get terribly out of shape and have lost over 35 pounds in the last 8 weeks through a complete overhaul in my diet and this type of excercise, which i eased my way into around week 4 of these 8 weeks. Still have about 15 more pounds to go.

But I own an Omron BP machine, as mentioned. I use it to take my BP regularly. When I take it immediately after finishing a set (I dont always do this, take the BP immediately upon finishing a set) I will sometimes get a reading on the machine that it is picking up an irregular heartbeat. If i wait 3-5 minutes the indication is no longer there, without fail. If i take my BP at any other given time (no working out) i NEVER get this "irregular heartbeat" response on the machine.

I have contacted my cardio about it. He knows I additionally deal with a regular anxiety issue. His response to me was in a almost joking manner "Dont use that machine while your working out". Meaning to me, the heart is a funny thing and to not read anything into it. If I feel fine, I'm fine (my words, not his)

I guess I'm wondering what different peoples experiences have been out there who may or may not have dealt/deal with something similair. Anyone found this with themselves? I'm taking it from my cardios response he has no concern at all. Has anyone found this to be "normal", or "normal for some people, not for others", or "abnormal in general"?

Any responses at all, even opinions are wlcome! Thank you!

Jay

 

[Lynlw]

If you'r concerned, have you considered asking for a holter monitor? have you had one lately?

 

[ken taylor]

If they are pvc they are very common - and are not anything to wory about, with me coffee is no prob. But any soft drinks make them a lot worse, and if you are trying to always pay attention to your heart rythim . For me it makes them seem worse, today i dont even pay attention to them.

 

[Bina]

The phrase "irregular heartbeat" can indicate-- nothing to be concerned about, or it can indicate-- get to the ER.
Most of us can distinguish the difference just from our own experiences. It sounds like you are having PVCs or
PACs. Those will mess with most home BP monitors because your heart is producing 2 beats very close together, then
a few regular beats, followed by 2 more beats together. They are typically benign. I definitely get them after I've
done anything too physical, or become over tired, or am having feelings of stress or anxiety.
After wearing a Holter monitor a few times, my doc hasn't found anything worrisome, but I know that these
weird rhythms are very nerve wracking and it can become a vicious circle.
Taking Metoprolol has helped curb them into something that I can deal with for the most part.
Best wishes.

 

[worktheday]

Thank you for your responses. In a way I wish my doctor contributed more than "stop using that machine while working out". Without knowing him it sounds like hes being short and uncompassionate. But we have a great relationship, he's very highly renowned, and again he knows my issues with anxiety. Knowing that he fully believes it is of no concern after just having run these tests recently on me is somewhat comforting. But whatever the machine is picking up does affect me, even if only in an anxiety type of way.

I do have to say, I've never had PVC's pre-surgery, or with it now being 4 years, post-surgery (to the best of my knowledge). I understand what they are and have done extensive reading (probably too extensive for my own good) on PVC's, all types of arrythmias, etc. Even now, as you here mention them and knowing what I have read about how people feel having them, I dont feel like I have felt any, even during excercise. It's again my wandering mind that sees that "irregular heartbeat" sign come up when taking my BP while working out sometimes that throws me into a tizzy.

Not sure exactly what to do. Part of the issue is I'm also uninsured at this very moment. If that wasnt the case I would walk into the office tomorrow and demand a holter monitor, for at the very least my own piece of mind, or to find out what, if anything is going on. I'd document my exact work out times, etc. But obviously thats not an option right now. I'd also want a stress test. As mentioned, I've had multiple EKG's, an ultrasound/echo of my heart, and even a cath and was given an all clear. But to the best of my knowledge none of those tests would show if i had an electrical pulse issue (besides the EKG of course, but it is so limited time wise I dont consider that to be a true indication) Also, I havent had any of these tests while exerting myself, eg: a stress test or holter monitor during my workout.

Not sure exactly what to do. Again feel as though there may be something there...it may be benign and nothing to be concerned with.....but still there and i'd like to know if its in my head, or if this machine just might do this sometimes when taking readings immediately upon excercising and to not pay attention or whatever.

 

[JeffM]

Hi jay,

I thought I responded this morning, but I see my response must have disappeared into bizaro cyber land. Here's the problem with those machines. Granted, I'm n ot familiar with your particular model, but BP devices are very sensitive because they are designed to be BP measuring tools first. The pulse measurement is a bonus because you can't get the pressure without the pulse so they might as well give you a read out. However, if you're lifting, doing resistance work, pumping up, you're jacking up your BP, in fact, you're spiking it. When you have that much oxygenated blood pulsing through your muscles and you're breathing heavily and rapidly, you're bound to get false "pulses" on your BP device. I believe on most of the electronic ones, even if you move around just a little, you'll get false or missed pulses. Have you ever noticed what the medical professionals use when the do stress tests? They're the good ole fashioned manual ones. I don't know if this explains what you're seeing, but you might try just feeling your carotid pulse with your fingers and see if you detect any skips or extras. At this point, you should have a pretty good idea how your BP responds to the type of exercises you're doing so I agree with the Doc. Put that damn thing in a drawer as far as possible from where you workout and start "enjoying" your workout sessions.

 

[drivetopless]

Be sure you are drinking plenty of water when you work out. I get "skippy" if I get dehydrated.

 

[Nupur]

I have been told (by competent but not quite compassionate doctors) that "Everybody gets skipped beats" and I am more sensitive to it because I am always "looking for it". Sometimes I feel like telling the doctors "you would too if it was your heart" : ) But I do agree that BP machines are not reliable for skipped beats. If you are concerned, demand a holter. And as I have been told "listen to your body", well, I get scared if I listen to my body closely, so now I just ignore many symptoms.

 

[neil]

funnily enough was at the docs yesterday with irreg heartbeat,had an ecg and he listened to my heart, told me it all sounded and looked ok,like a few have said before it seems us avr people do have irreg heartbeats now and again, they tend to freak me out a bit even after 3 yrs after my surgery, but its nice to hear from the docs that everthing is ok,i suppose its something i got to live with, hope you get some answers yourself.

 

[dick0236]

I also get "skipped beats" every now and then. Usually they last only a few seconds and occur very infrequently. I think we tune into our heart functions more than the average person....for obvious reasons. My wife, who has a normal heart also experiences short irregular heart beats. I they occured frequently and for minutes, I would be sure my doc knew those details.