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What Causes Heart Palpitations And Lightheadedness During Physical Activity?
Question: Hello, I am looking to see a cardiologist soon. I want to know some info before then though. I have had experiences where after strenuous exercise it seems my heart is racing uncontrollably and I get light headed. This only happens if I really exert myself. Also, I have a medical cannabis card. I vaped some weed the other day and my heart was racing really fast. I measured it around 160 but. I do have anxiety but it didn't feel like that was it, and feels indentical when it happens during strenuous exercise. I measured my heart rate during a jog and I can't read it but the heart waves look abnormal to me. Please helps me out here
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follow:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I carefully passed through your question and would explain that it is quite normal to have an increased heart rate during physical activity or smoking weed.
You should know that weed can increase your heart rate, as well as it can lead to five fold increased risk for cardiac ischemia (myocardial infarction) or cardiac arrhythmia within the first hours after smoking it.
From the other hand it can lead to chronic changes in the blood vessels, similar to atherosclerosis (just like tobacco).
So, in my opinion your reaction is related to weed common adverse effects and not to any specific underlying cardiac disorders. That is why I would recommend avoiding it in the future or at leas reduce the dose (take more rarely and in a lower dose).
Anyway, if the problem persists, consulting with a cardiologist for a careful physical exam and some tests would be necessary to exclude other possible causes:
- a resting ECG and a cardiac ultrasound
- an ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring
- thyroid hormone levels for thyroid dysfunction
- complete blood count for chronic anemia
- blood electrolytes for possible imbalance.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
Feel free to ask me again whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follow:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I carefully passed through your question and would explain that it is quite normal to have an increased heart rate during physical activity or smoking weed.
You should know that weed can increase your heart rate, as well as it can lead to five fold increased risk for cardiac ischemia (myocardial infarction) or cardiac arrhythmia within the first hours after smoking it.
From the other hand it can lead to chronic changes in the blood vessels, similar to atherosclerosis (just like tobacco).
So, in my opinion your reaction is related to weed common adverse effects and not to any specific underlying cardiac disorders. That is why I would recommend avoiding it in the future or at leas reduce the dose (take more rarely and in a lower dose).
Anyway, if the problem persists, consulting with a cardiologist for a careful physical exam and some tests would be necessary to exclude other possible causes:
- a resting ECG and a cardiac ultrasound
- an ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring
- thyroid hormone levels for thyroid dysfunction
- complete blood count for chronic anemia
- blood electrolytes for possible imbalance.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
Feel free to ask me again whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you. I appreciate the answer. Would a heart rate of 150-160 be concerning after smoking weed? Thats what i believe it was. The images attached i took during a jog i took. The jog was at 5mph the first two and last two are all one recording. Please let me know of these reading seem normal. They look abnormal to me but of course im not a medical professional
Brief Answer:
My opinion as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
I carefully reviewed your uploaded images and would explain that your heart rate during these episodes is quite normal for your age during physical effort or smoking weed.
But, I can not judge on your heart rhythm based only on these images, because they seem to be artifacts and are not a true indicator of your heart rhythm.
For this reason, I would recommend performing a resting ECG followed by an ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring, in order to examine your heart rhythm trends for a prolonged periods. These are the only reliable tests which can give exact information on your heart rhythm.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above tests.
Hope to have been helpful!
Wishing all the best,
Dr. Iliri
My opinion as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
I carefully reviewed your uploaded images and would explain that your heart rate during these episodes is quite normal for your age during physical effort or smoking weed.
But, I can not judge on your heart rhythm based only on these images, because they seem to be artifacts and are not a true indicator of your heart rhythm.
For this reason, I would recommend performing a resting ECG followed by an ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring, in order to examine your heart rhythm trends for a prolonged periods. These are the only reliable tests which can give exact information on your heart rhythm.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above tests.
Hope to have been helpful!
Wishing all the best,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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