Heart rate is one of the vital indicators. His deviation from the norm can talk about dangerous conditions, the development of pathologies. Therefore, it is so important to measure your heart rate not only in certain diseases, but also in relatively healthy people. Why is the pulse quickening? In what cases is it normal, and when is it necessary to worry? What to do in case of increased heart rate? How to determine the pathology? In the article we will answer all these questions.
Normal performance
How to understand that everything is in order with your heart? First of all, you need to build on standard indicators:
- Systolic blood pressure: 100-140 mmHg.
- Diastolic blood pressure: 70-80 mmHg.
- Pulse: 60-80 beats per minute.
These indicators are not universal. Each person has his own limits of working pressure and working pulse, at which his body functions normally, even if the measurement values differ from standard ones. Therefore, it is so important to periodically measure blood pressure and heart rate in order to know your individual numbers. There will be cause for concern if your measurement results become noticeably different from the usual ones.
As a rule, blood pressure also changes with the pulse. There are many reasons for this - a change in blood viscosity, the elasticity of the vascular walls and the overall resistance of the vessels. It can also talk about the development of pathological processes in the body.
Non-dangerous causes
Why does the pulse increase at night? The reasons for this may not always be pathological. Do not worry if the pulse is more than 95 beats per minute, and the pressure remains the same. Remember what preceded this.
Non-pathological are the following natural external causes of increased heart rate:
- Physical exercise. The pulse can accelerate even due to slight movement.
- Emotional upheaval. Delight, anger, excitement, joy, sadness, irritation, despair and other strong emotions make our heart beat faster.
- Congenital features. It may be a simple predisposition to heart palpitations. Congenital pathologies of the cardiovascular system also occur.
- Ambient temperature. The hotter it gets outside, the faster our heart beats.
- Total body weight. If a person suffers from excess weight (especially gained in a short period of time), then this may affect his pulse.
- Bad habits. Smoking, addiction to alcohol and drugs can also increase the pulse. Moreover, in some cases, to critical indicators.
- The period of gestation.
- The abuse of caffeinated drinks.
- Fever. The pulse rises if your body temperature is above 38 degrees.
- Physical and psychological strain.
- Lack of sleep.
- Long-term use of potent drugs.
In such cases, the pulse returns to normal on its own as soon as the external or internal factors that caused its increase cease to affect the body.
Problems with the cardiovascular system
Why is the pulse quickening? If you systematically note your heart rate is increased for no apparent reason (more than 90 beats per minute), this is a cause for concern. A similar symptom may indicate the development of the following pathologies of the cardiovascular system:
- Angina pectoris.
- Heart failure.
- Myocarditis.
- Myocardial infarction.
- Cardiomyopathy
- Adhesive pericarditis.
- Endocarditis is infectious.
Other pathological causes
Why does the pulse increase during exercise? This is due to the fact that organ tissues require more oxygen - oxidative processes are accelerated, the body needs more energy. The heart is forced to supply organs with blood more intensively, which is why it contracts more often.
But the pulse can increase for no apparent reason. In addition to diseases of the heart and blood vessels, this may indicate the following pathological conditions:
- Anemia.
- Endocrine diseases.
- Renal colic.
- Vascular insufficiency.
- Neurosis.
- Inflammation, infections (including those with heart complications).
- Intoxication of the body.
- Pneumonia.
- Bronchitis, bronchial asthma.
- Hormonal imbalance in the body.
- Avitaminosis.
- Vegetative-vascular dystonia.
- Chronic diseases of the liver and kidneys.
- Thromboembolism.
How to measure correctly?
The surest indicator is precisely the pulse at rest. This is the minimum number of heart beats in the absence of physical activity. Measurements are best done in the morning, after waking up, when you have not yet got out of bed. Your nervous system at this time is still asleep, not excited by previous events and intense physical activity.
Each person needs to control his pulse for two important reasons:
- The dynamics of the pulse at rest is the surest indicator of your athletic form. As you grow stronger, stronger, your heart rate decreases.
- An increase in heart rate compared to previous measurements is the first sign that something is wrong with the body. But in this case, it is important to focus only on your individual indicators. If your heart rate is more frequent than that of a relative, friend, family member, this is not a cause for concern.
Why does the pulse increase in a calm state? The reason may be a number of factors. Consider them.
Age
Why does the pulse increase during sleep? This does not always indicate the development of pathology. On the contrary, it is a natural process - with age, a person’s pulse speeds up. This is due to the deterioration of physical fitness, wear and tear of the heart muscle.
Fitness level
Normal heart rate fluctuates around 60-80 beats per minute. But if you are constantly engaged in sports, exercise, it is natural that your own normal level will be below these numbers.
Why? A low heart rate in people leading an active life is due to a "athletic heart." The heart muscle under the influence of training changes, the heart itself grows in size. Accordingly, it works more efficiently, in one reduction it ejects more blood than before. Therefore, the body needs to fight less often in order to perform the usual work.
Ambient temperature
Why does the pulse increase when you are not doing anything? The ambient temperature also has an effect. The pulse grows with it, because the body needs cooling.
Under hot conditions, blood vessels expand, blood flow flows closer to the skin surface. This increases the heat transfer, which allows our body to cool. And the heart beats more often at this time in order to accelerate blood circulation and normalize the temperature inside the body.
If it is cold outside or indoors, then your heart rate, on the contrary, decreases. Vessels in this condition narrow, blood circulation (especially in the arms and legs) slows down. Therefore, the pulse decreases.
Dehydration
Why does the pulse increase at rest? This may indicate a rather dangerous condition - dehydration. Lack of fluid in the body contributes to thickening of the blood. The amount of plasma decreases, blood becomes less.
Accordingly, for a full supply of body tissues with oxygen, the heart needs to work more efficiently. It beats more often, causing the pulse to increase.
Stress and state of mind
Why does the pulse increase in the absence of physical activity? This can indicate both physical and psychological stress, which has an exciting effect on the ANS - the autonomic nervous system. Namely, it regulates the work of our internal organs, glands of external and internal secretion, lymphatic and blood vessels. And, of course, hearts.
If a person is in difficult conditions, both physical and psychological, the sympathetic department of this system is activated. It is he who controls the heart, brain and important organs, prepares the body for a meeting with danger. This is the so-called “hit or run” reaction. Not surprisingly, in this condition, the pulse increases.
Any emotions, change of state of mind also affect the pulse. The lowest it is only in a state when you are calm mentally. Why does the pulse increase in a dream? One reason is a dream that made you experience vivid emotions. Therefore, you can sometimes wake up in the middle of the night with a rapid pulse and a pounding heart. To get rid of this state is simple - just calm down, switch your thoughts about sleep to something pleasant and pacifying.
After workout
Why does the pulse increase when running? The body spends more energy, its organs work more actively, calories are burned. To produce a new portion of energy, an enhanced oxidation process is needed. And for him, in turn, an increased rate of oxygen. He comes with blood. Therefore, the heart needs to pump this fluid more actively to deliver the necessary oxygen to tissues and cells. It beats faster, the pulse increases. That’s why the pulse increases when running.
But why doesn't he calm down after training? The fact is that the hormonal background is changing. In particular, adrenaline levels increase. It makes the heart work faster.
We must not forget that after training the body needs time to recover. And this, too, can trigger an increased heart rate for several hours.
Why does the pulse increase after exercise? If it is high for a long time, this indicates overtraining. It is difficult for the body to cope with a given load, it does not have time to recover quickly.
Hereditary predisposition
Why does a pulse increase after eating? Of course, the thing may be that you ate too heavy, unusual, spicy, spicy food. The load on the body in this case causes the pulse to increase.
But the answer may lie in the hereditary factor. Scientists have proven that genes also affect our heart rate. If your parents and close relatives have a pulse higher than normal, the same can be noted with you.
And this is confirmed by research. In people of the same age, the same physical fitness, sometimes the heart rate differs by 20 beats per minute.
Why is a high pulse dangerous?
You already know why the pulse increases during physical exertion. Internal organs need more oxygen for metabolism, energy production. And oxygen comes from the blood that the heart pumps.
In itself, an increase in the pulse is not dangerous, although it can greatly disturb a person. The danger here is that serious symptoms of the vascular, respiratory, endocrine, and nervous systems can sometimes be behind this symptom.
A strong increase in heart rate while maintaining normal blood pressure in some cases can lead to arrhythmic shock, pulmonary edema, loss of consciousness, impaired cerebral circulation, cardiac asthma, dizziness, darkening in the eyes.
Diagnostics
If you have a raised heart rate, you need to make an appointment with a cardiologist or therapist. Since a rapid pulse is only a symptom, the doctor needs to find out the causes of this condition, their pathological nature. The following diagnostic procedures are required for this:
- Visual inspection, patient interview.
- Electrocardiogram removal, ECG monitoring.
- Laboratory blood test.
- Echocardiography (ultrasound examination of an organ).
- Electrophysiological studies.
First aid
Why does the pulse increase when running? The answer is simple: the body needs more oxygen to generate energy. Therefore, both breathing and pulse become more frequent - oxygen is delivered to our organs with blood, which the heart pumps through the body.
But in cases where the pulse has increased for no reason, when you are tormented by other disturbing symptoms, you must call an ambulance. Before the arrival of specialists, you can help yourself:
- Take off your clothing and shoes.
- If possible, lie down.
- Press with your fingertips on the closed upper eyelids, hold for a few seconds.
- Try to even out breathing: 5 seconds - inhale, 5 seconds - exhale.
- Wash with cool water.
- Drink a non-alcoholic non-carbonated drink with ice. It’s better to sweeten it with sugar.
Drug treatment
The treatment regimen is compiled by the doctor individually for each patient. It is based on the results of diagnostic studies. Treatment is prescribed based on the identified causes of a rapid pulse. It is aimed at eliminating the diseases that caused this symptom.
All medications that can be prescribed at a high heart rate can be divided into several main groups:
- Herbal remedies. Valerian extract, tincture of motherwort, hawthorn, peony. Means contribute to the expansion of blood vessels, stabilize the rhythm of the heart. They help eliminate side effects of stress and insomnia. They have a slight antispasmodic effect.
- Membrane stabilizing drugs. These are "Propafenone", "Panangin", "Atropine", "Carbacholine", "Flecainide", "Tatsizin", "Asparkam", "Izadrin". Means help to reduce myocardial excitability, reduce heart rate, slow down conduction in all heart departments.
- Beta blockers. "Praktolol", "Timolol", "Metoprolol", "Atenolol", "Talinolol". They help reduce the effect of the sympathetic nervous system on the heart muscle.
Special diet
If you are periodically disturbed by an increased pulse, then it will not be superfluous to slightly change your usual menu - add products with useful trace elements to it:
- Potatoes. Rich in magnesium and potassium. They help eliminate hypertension, contribute to the leaching of sodium from the body - an element that causes high heart rate.
- Yogurt. The drink is appreciated for the content of calcium and vitamin D, which somewhat contribute to a decrease in heart rate.
- The eggs. Egg whites help lower blood pressure and heart rate, which has been confirmed by scientific studies.
- Broccoli. The vegetable is rich in elements that regulate the blood supply system in our body - calcium, magnesium and potassium.
- Rice, sesame oil. Fatty acids, antioxidants contained in these products help to lower blood pressure.
- Bananas Delicious fruit is valued for its high potassium content.
- Dark chocolate. It is rich in flavonoid antioxidants that make blood vessels more elastic. It is enough to eat about 100 g of sweets per day.
- Garnet. If you drink 300-350 ml of pomegranate juice daily, this will reduce both your heart rate and blood pressure.
Why does a pulse increase after eating? You can eat food, on the contrary, contributing to its increase - salty, spicy.
Problem prevention
So that the increased pulse does not bother you, it is enough to follow simple tips:
- Avoid caffeinated drinks.
- Limit yourself to drinking.
- Make your diet more balanced. Avoid overeating at night, snacks on the go.
- Take daily walks in the fresh air, feasible physical activity.
- Organize the correct mode "work / rest".
- Try to limit yourself from stressful situations.
Rapid pulse has a lot of reasons, both natural and pathological. If he unnecessarily bothers you, manifests itself along with other disturbing symptoms, a visit to the doctor should in no case be postponed.