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Is Rapid Heart Rate Of 100-120 Bpm A Cause For Concern?
Question: I'm a 49 year old woman with history of heart palpitations. Many tests thru the years have come back normal. Lately a rapid heartbeat (100-120 bpm) seems to happen when lying down or when i wake during the night. Should i be concerned?
Brief Answer:
heart unlikely since occurring at rest
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
It is understandable to be worried about an increase in heart rate, most persons would be , but if it is occurring at rest (lying down or at night) , then it is unlikely the heart unless you have severe heart disease that has progressed.
The heart works more when a person is active and less when sitting or lying down.
Heart disease therefore tends to present when a person is active and stop when they stop or slow down in most cases.
Persons with severe heart disease would have started with symptoms occurring when active and progressed to occurring with rest.
If you are still not sure if related to the heart and do not have a recent EKG, then one should be done.
Other common causes are thyroid disease, anemia or anxiety.
Blood tests may have been done to check the thyroid and also to rule out anemia. If this is not the case, then they should be done.
If there are no obvious heart or other problems found by tests, then it is possible that the your symptoms may be related to stress or anxiety which is also very common as well
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
heart unlikely since occurring at rest
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
It is understandable to be worried about an increase in heart rate, most persons would be , but if it is occurring at rest (lying down or at night) , then it is unlikely the heart unless you have severe heart disease that has progressed.
The heart works more when a person is active and less when sitting or lying down.
Heart disease therefore tends to present when a person is active and stop when they stop or slow down in most cases.
Persons with severe heart disease would have started with symptoms occurring when active and progressed to occurring with rest.
If you are still not sure if related to the heart and do not have a recent EKG, then one should be done.
Other common causes are thyroid disease, anemia or anxiety.
Blood tests may have been done to check the thyroid and also to rule out anemia. If this is not the case, then they should be done.
If there are no obvious heart or other problems found by tests, then it is possible that the your symptoms may be related to stress or anxiety which is also very common as well
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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