What is a Dangerous Heart Rate

Your heart beats thousands of times daily but ever wondered what is a dangerous heart rate? Your heart rate can be slow or fast sometimes in a single day which is completely normal. Naturally your heart rate changes due to daily activities like exercise, sleep stress and even caffeine. The problem occurs when your heart rate drops unusually low or rises abnormally. It often happens with some symptoms pointing towards severe stress/anxiety, fever or even specific medical conditions like anemia. Today, in this guide we’ll help you understand the abnormal heart rate, is it really dangerous, what are the causes and when to seek medical help. We at ProMeds UK are trying to provide people with accurate solutions and medication for their relevant medical conditions. By filling the gap with accurate medicine knowledge, we are trying to prevent UK citizens from taking wrong medications for their condition.

What Actually a Dangerous Heart Rate is?

Check your smartwatch after taking the stairs or a cup of coffee and there it is; the increased pulse rate. The average resting heart rate for adults is between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm). But what happens when that number spikes or drops to a dangerous level? When your heart beats abnormally, it is called an arrhythmia, meaning your heart is beating too fast or too slow because of faulty electrical signals. This can happen due to any reasons like stress, anxiety, illness, dehydration, lifestyles habits or a medical condition. Thyroid Issues, anemia and heart arrhythmias are among those common conditions. 

Should You Seek Medical Attention?

A minor spike or drop in the heart rate is completely normal, it can even happen during furniture setting, after coffee or even when you sleep. But if you feel your heart rate is way above or below the range of 60 to 100 bpm, seek medical attention. Here the common symptoms that comes with abnormal heart rate and indicates you need to see a GP:

• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Chest pain (heavy chest or painful feeling)
• Fainting
• Confusion (trouble concentrating)
• Heart Palpatation

Can You Treat a High Heart Rate at Home?

You can treat or manage a normal heart rate spike at home with some techniques and lifestyle changes. If you feel your heart rate is spiking, you need to stop any physical activities and sit or lie down to rest. Drink a glass of cold water as dehydration shrinks your blood volume and forces the heart to work harder. You can follow these techniques which acts as a natural brake for your rising heart rate:

• Cold Water Shock: Splash ice-cold water onto your face rapidly. Place a cold towel or ice pack over your eyes and forehead for 30 seconds. Taking a cold shower instantly is also recommended. This stimulates the “mammalian dive reflex”, which instantly lowers the heart rate.
• Deep Breathing: Inhale deeply through your nose for 4 seconds, hold it for the same duration and then very slowly exhale through your mouth. Repeating this a few times will calm your nervous system and heart rate too.
• Try Valsalva Maneuver: Pinch your nose and close your mouth tightly. Then try to bear down or push air out gently, as if you are trying to have a bowel movement or pop your ears. Hold the pressure for 10 to 15 seconds and release to breathe normally. This will trigger a reflex that slows down the heart.
• Eliminate Stimulants: Stop or limit the intake of caffeine, nicotine and alcohol as they artificially spike adrenaline and cause heart palpitations.
• Cardio: Start moderate daily exercises like brisk walking, cycling or swimming to keep your heart healthy.
• Diet & Sleep: Include potassium and magnesium rich foods into your diet like bananas, leafy greens and avocados steady heart electrical impulses. Also, fix your sleep pattern, poor sleep can raise stress hormones and keep your resting pulse elevated.

Can Anxiety Cause Dangerous Heart Rate?

Yes, anxiety can increase the heart rate due to the body’s natural fight-or-flight response which releases stress hormones like adrenaline that makes your heart beat faster. If a person has a healthy heart this temporary increase in the heart due to anxiety is not dangerous. In case of serious heart issues, anxiety can put extra strain on the heart and increase the pulse to a dangerous level. The symptoms of both conditions can overlap, making it difficult to tell the difference on your own. That’s why consult a healthcare expert to get proper treatment.

How Doctors Treat Abnormal Heart Rates?

Doctors treat abnormal heart rates based on whether your heart beats too fast, too slow or irregularly. In the UK, doctors often prescribe beta-blockers like metoprolol, Anti-arrhythmics, blood thinners and calcium channel blockers to slow a fast heartbeat. But if you have severe anxiety which often causes spikes in your heart rate then the treatment might be a little different. They might prescribe you some strong anxiety medicines like benzodiazepines which are only used for short-term. In rare cases doctors prescribe both but under strict medical supervision but often one is enough. Patients are advised to not start taking them on their own, get your symptoms checked first, they are only for severe anxiety patients. The top anxiety tablets you can find in the UK are: 

• Pregabalin 300mg UK

• Ksalol Alprazolam 1mg

• Bensedin Diazepam 10mg

• Lorazepam 2.5mg

• Clonazepam 2mg UK

Final Words

We hope that now you know what is a dangerous heart rate? Normal spike or drop in the pulse is very common which can happen even after caffeine intake. But if your heart rate spikes or drops below the normal range then it’s serious and life-threatening. To treat the abnormal heart rate, doctors often prescribe medications and advise lifestyle changes. If you are going through anxiety and often experience sudden spikes in the heart rate then you need to be extra cautious. Doctors might prescribe you some strong anti-anxiety pills to stop the anxiousness and control the heart rate. It is advised to use them with proper care as they carry addiction risks. Do not increase the dose on your own and never take them with other medicines like sleeping pills, strong painkillers and nootropics etc. If you are looking for a trusted platform to buy anxiety medicines online in the UK then ProMeds UK is the right choice. We are offering 100% genuine medicines in the UK at highly competitive prices so you don’t have to wait in long queues at pharmacies. You can get your medicine delivered right at your doorstep in secure and discreet packaging. We also offer overnight delivery options for emergency needs.

FAQs

Q: Is anxiety and high heart rate related to each other?
A: Yes, anxiety and a high heart rate are closely related because anxiety triggers your body’s natural response of fight-or-flight that releases stress hormones and it makes your heart beat faster.

Q: Can I treat low heart rate at home?
A: You can manage minor drops in heart rate at home by resting and drinking plenty of water but if it’s well below the baseline then you have to seek medical attention. This might be an alarming sign of a specific medical condition.

Q: What is the dangerous pulse rate?
A: A dangerous resting heart rate for an adult is generally above 100 beats per minute (bpm) or below 60 bpm (especially under 40 bpm) and they often come with severe symptoms like dizziness, fatigue and chest pain.