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What Causes Increased Heart Rate And Headaches?

Posted on Mon, 9 Jan 2017

Question: I have been having increased heart rate which became severe last night after getting out of bed. My pulse went up to 135. I've been having sleep disturbances that start just as I am about to fall asleep. It's like my brain can't shut off and when I close my eyes I can see light spots and my heart increases and jolts me awake. I get warm flush feelings from my pelvis to my chest. It feels like when you're injected with contrast XXXXXXX for a CT scan. Today, since my heart rate has increased, I can feel the veins on the sides of my temples. I've never been able to feel them before, even with tension headaches or migraines. Could I be having seizures that are affecting my heart? I've previously seen a cardiologist who says I only have a mitral valve prolapse. I'm not sure if this could be due to an infection, or connected to some issues I've had regarding my liver and kidneys function test.

Answered by Dr. Dr Sameer Maheshwari (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
The symptoms you are telling seems more like anxiety

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
This is Dr Sameer, cardiologist from Fortis Hospital.
The symptoms you have reported looks like anxiety disorder.
Coming to Mitral valve prolapse. It is a congenital condition and not related to any infection. In this one of the valve of our heart (mitral valve) is abnormal & protrudes into 1 chamber of the heart. The patients having this condition can also have increased heart rate in the form of Supraventricular tachycardia, which is a abnormal condition in which your heart rate increases to very high level (sometimes around 200/min).
Getting a ECG done at the time of high heart rate is very important & diagnostic. So at these time try to go to a nearby hospital & get a ECG done.

But the symptoms you have mentioned seems more like anxiety. You must be taking too much stress and sleep must be less. Try taking some antianxiety medicine like alprazolam 0.25mg at night which will help you in sleeping too. Avoid stress, avoid smoking, alcohol & too much coffee.
Rest dont worry you will be absolutely fine.
Wishing you good health
Dr Sameer Maheshwari

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar

Follow up: Dr. Dr Sameer Maheshwari (31 minutes later)

Anxiety has already been ruled out considering the orthostatic intolerance and I was given Ativan and it didn't lower my heart rate or calm me. I don't drink caffeine, alcohol, or smoke. I had been told it might be mitral valve prolapse syndrome, but would that come on suddenly after having the mvp for so long? I was prescribed metoprolol, but sometimes my BP is very low already.

Answered by Dr. Dr Sameer Maheshwari (50 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Refer to detailed answer

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for the detail
As i told you earlier, mitral valve prolapse patients are prone to supraventricular tachycardia.
To get the exact diagnosis, getting a ECG at time of tachycardia is important.
If the tachycardia episodes are short lasting than we prescribe a holter monitoring, which is 24 hr ECG monitoring by wearing a device.
Metoprolol is the drug of choice in such condition. Can you please tell the exact dosage you are taking and how much low does your bp goes with it. If it is causing low bp persistently than we reduce the dosage, 12.5mg of metoprolol tartarate is a very low dose & will not much alter you bp & will keep heart rate in control
Thanks
Dr Sameer Maheshwari

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar

Follow up: Dr. Dr Sameer Maheshwari (2 hours later)

I was given 25mg and told this was the lowest dosage. I took it the first time while I was in the hospital and I had some strange side effects. My head felt dizzy and people sounded very loud when talking to me. I could also hear my own voice echoing in my head when I spoke. I declined the medication after this. During my stay, my blood pressure was pretty low on its own. It went as low as 80/58.

Answered by Dr. Dr Sameer Maheshwari (9 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
At this bp with symptoms metoprolol should be withholded

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Metoprolol comes minimum in 25mg. If bp remains low and their is associated symptoms like you said we generally hold metoprolol or give it half tablet per day(12.5mg).
12.5mg per day generally does not alter the bp much.
Still get a holter done to know the exact diagnosis.
Still you will need metoprolol because of mitral valve prolapse
Thanks
Dr Sameer Maheshwari

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar

Follow up: Dr. Dr Sameer Maheshwari (15 minutes later)

I had a 24hr holter done a couple weeks ago, before my symptoms were this severe. I was told I had an occasional skip beat and that's it. I then had an echo done where my mvp was reconfirmed, but my heart rate was only in the 70's.

Answered by Dr. Dr Sameer Maheshwari (8 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Refer to detailed answer

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Skip beats can be normal. But frequent skip beats can cause symptoms.
So now, do one thing. Keep metoprolol with you and whenever your heart rate increase take half tablet(12.5mg). Don't worry it won't decease your bp.
As your body gets adapted to metoprolol, regular medicine with usual dose can be started.

Thanks
Dr Sameer Maheshwari

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar