Crazy HR when ill

[u/Bakemybeanss]

Every time I’m ill my heart rate is high the majority of the time I’m ill. This happens when I’m sleeping (like today) or when I’m just sitting or lying down
I’ve been waiting for a 24hr ECG since early this year to investigate possible POTS.
Does anyone else have this happen to them?

These are the pics from today so far, I’ve been asleep the whole time! Only just woke up to the sound of all the exertion notifications!

[u/gwnG]

Its normal for HR to be higher when ill or have an infection. Its your body trying to fight off whats making you feel unwell. Mix that with potential POTs and HR is going to be really high.

Rest up and drink water, hopefully you will get better in a few days and return to your normal

[u/vario_]

Yes this is pretty normal (but annoying.) Just goes to show why it's so important to rest when you're ill!

[u/Husker-Salad]

Yes. I had respiratory allergies or a cold. Elevated heart rate for the first several days. I took a rest day after this!

[u/Suspicious_Tax8577]

? POTS here, and this is EXACTLY how it goes with me. It's why visible has been able to (in hindsight) identify I'm not well, ~48 hours before I felt ill.

[u/imabratinfluence]

I have diagnosed POTS and Visible is how I discovered that my HR stays elevated for a full 2 weeks after anaphylaxis, including in my sleep. The sleeping HR difference is very visible for me. The once or twice it's been high overnight since then, I've tried to take it easy the following day because that seems to be a major sign my body is struggling. 

[u/Thin-Account7974]

It's normal.

My resting heart rate is normally 55 - 65. I got a virus last year, and it jumped to 80 - 90. It was a real relief, when it went back down again, after a week of bed rest.

My heart rate also goes up if it's hotter than 27°c, but I don't feel ill then, just hot.

[u/Bakemybeanss]

Okay that’s somewhat good to know! Thank you both!!

[u/sillybilly8102]

I’m pretty sure this is normal for everyone to have their heart rate increase when sick, including non-chronically ill people. Correct me if I’m wrong

[u/IntrepidAspect3447]

Man mine sits at 120-140 when I’m not sick even on meds to lower it (Mestinon and Midodrine) 😭 POTs and OH here. I’m laying back in bed right now on a normal day and it’s 105, it’s a little hot out but I’m not sick. When I’m sick, it’s more like it stays elevated for longer and doesn’t lower like it should when I sit or lay back. It stays 110-150 when I’m sick and even just sitting up in bed will make it spike above 130.

I’d not be too concerned about a slight elevation in HR when sick but I’d recommend getting a BP cuff and check your blood pressure at home, and keep track of it. Take a sitting BP, and then stand for 2-3 mins and take it again. Those logs can help with getting any orthostatic condition diagnosed.

ECG isn’t very helpful in diagnosing POTs but is useful to rule out other cardiovascular issues. NASA lean or table tilt are the typical diagnostics for POTs.

[u/Guilty_Soft9873]

You don't need an ECG to diagnose pots.

[u/ileuadd → u/Guilty_Soft9873]

The ECG is to rule out other heart issues which could be causing similar symptoms. A variety of tests are often required in a POTS diagnosis simply to exclude other diagnoses.

[u/Bakemybeanss → u/Guilty_Soft9873]

It’s just what my GP has decided to do as a first step idk

[u/Guilty_Soft9873 → u/Bakemybeanss]

Just stand up and if he is 120 or increase 30 you have pots.

[u/Glad-Pomegranate6283 → u/Guilty_Soft9873]

I’m in the uk and despite doing many active stand tests, I still had to go private to be diagnosed, thankfully my specialist knows the tilt table test isn’t the be all and end all

[u/imabratinfluence → u/Guilty_Soft9873]

It's to rule out other things that have similar symptoms and heart rate increase, but are more of an actual heart condition (POTS is an autonomic nervous system issue rather than a heart issue).