Forums >Health and Nutrition>Palpitations while running.
I know palpitations are a common subject on many running forums, but I couldn't quite find anything relating to my situation so here goes. Ever since I was very young I have been in incredible shape. In my young teens up to about age 20 I would run several miles a day, bike, play basketball and lift weights. Well, come college I kind of stopped with the intense cardio workouts and started smoking cigarettes (anywhere from 15 a day to 15 a week, Just depended.) and drinking a lot of beer. I still would run occasionally, just not with the same intensity or regularity. About a month ago I decided to quit smoking and picked up running again and it's been great. I was surprised at how fast my health came back. At the beginning I could barely run 2 miles and now I am doing an easy 6 mile jog regularly and am training for a marathon in April. Here's the problem: my RHR is low, it's always been, anywhere from 38-45 bpm when I am completely at rest (my sophomore year of high school my doctor during a physical showed surprise at my RHR and said I definitely had a runner's heart). I can't remember this ever happening before when I was in shape, but now whenever I go for a run I will have palpitations: anywhere from 1 to 5. It doesn't really happen that often when I am not running, occasionally, but not often, but it almost always happens when I am. I was wondering if this could be a result of just not being in great shape and pushing my body hard. I still seem to have good cardiovascular health from being so active in my youth. It's just my overall strength, stamina, lung capacity and body weight ( I packed on a little gut) have taken a bad hit with all the smoking and drinking and overall sedentary lifestyle.
I almost didn't mention this, but I will. About two years ago I went to the doctor's and had an EKG, ECHO, Halter, blood tests, the works. Everything came back normal and fine. However, my doctor was sort of a jaded old man and had a horrible reputation. He diagnosed someone at my work with pneumonia when she had lung cancer, that kind of thing. So, maybe you can understand why I am a little hesitant about his diagnosis. I guess to sum up the overall question, should I be training so hard with a low RHR and palpitations during exercise? I've never paid attention to my RHR before and I can't remember having palpitations in the past so this is all new to me and am just seeking the advice of seasoned experts.
Also, I am 25 years old.
Feeling the growl again
The appropriate seasoned expert would be another doctor, one with a good reputation that you trust.
When a family member had palpitations while running I also encouraged her....strongly...to get it checked out. She did, reduced her caffeine intake to near zero, and they went away.
"If you want to be a bad a$s, then do what a bad a$s does. There's your pep talk for today. Go Run." -- Slo_Hand
I am spaniel - Crusher of Treadmills
Any heart symptoms need to be tested/diagnosed by a doctor. If a ECG doesn't show anything, you might want to schedule a stress test.
be curious; not judgmental
not bad for mile 25
What ^ they said, and two more things occur to me: