Exercise induced tachycardia....Get it checked out. Could be nothing but pushing himself too hard or it could be a sign of something bigger. Nonetheless, get it checked out.

BOb

I know that is a symptom of an overactive thyroid gland. A co-worker of mine had it happen a few time just sitting at his desk. Two years later he had a massive heart attack and nearly died. Your buddy needs to go have a once over by a cardiologist and a blood test to check hormone levels.

Cheers,

Dave

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Dave Stark
dreamcatcher@astound.net
USAC & USAT level 2 certified coach

Definitely worth a visit to the doc. There are (relatively) benign causes for things like this, and things that can be very serious if not addressed in short order. I've diagnosed cardiac issues in some of the fittest athletes around (sub-2:30 marathoners), so fitness is not the ultimate protector.

(Dr.) Philbert

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Dr. Philip Skiba
Scientific Training for Endurance Athletes now available on Amazon!

I had the same issue and my Doctor put me on blood pressure pills.

My heart rate will go very high, even when I was running slow. The pills helped.

Thanks, everyone, for your helpful advice. I'll make sure to post what I learn about my friend's condition after he sees a doc.

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Stephen

FYI, he could have this condition (PSVT). I had the same symptons and have been to a specialist and decided not to take any action but he does need to go in and have all a exam by a heart spec. asap.
"Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia is most common among young people and is more unpleasant than dangerous. It may occur during vigorous exercise.[/url]
Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia may be triggered by a premature heartbeat that repeatedly activates the heart at a fast rate. This repeated, rapid activation may be caused by several abnormalities. There may be two electrical pathways in the atrioventricular node (an arrhythmia called atrioventricular nodal reentrant supraventricular tachycardia). There may be an abnormal electrical pathway between the atria and the ventricles (an arrhythmia called atrioventricular reciprocating supraventricular tachycardi"

I was competing in an Adventure Race and we stopped to plot our next direction and I (and my teammate that was standing about 10 feet away) heard my heart before I realized it was my heart beating extremely loug and fast for about 10 beats then returned to normal. I had no symptoms but decided I should probably stop the race. I got checked out by a Cardiologist, did a TM stress test and echo and all was normal. It happened again about 4 months later on a very laid back mtn bike ride - strange but my friends and I thought we heard thunder but it was my heart beating. That was 1 1/2 years ago and I haven't had a problem since. I was taking two forms of histamines at the time, Singulair and Zyrtec. That's the only thing I can think of that would even remotely cause it. It was really scary.

I was taking two forms of histamines at the time, Singulair and Zyrtec. That's the only thing I can think of that would even remotely cause it.
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I've been on Singular for years, no problems here.

PS: I take my Singular at bed time.

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Train safe & smart
Bob

Singulair is NOT and antihistamine or histamine. It is a leukotriene receptor antagonist. Probably not the cause.

Zyrtec is an antihistamine and could effect blood pressure and heart rate in a few people.

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_________________
Dick

Take everything I say with a grain of salt. I know nothing.

I have been having this issue as well & it is so annoying. It only happens when I am racing or exercising, even in Z2-3. I wore a holter monitor for a month and it happened a few times so they recorded it. The cardiologist said that it was SVT with no evidence of a-fib and that if it started happening more often to do an ablation (sounds so scary!!!). It is so annoying during a race since you have to slow down and try to "break" the cycle by coughing or doing valsalva. I don't even do long races anymore since I can't imagine having to walk an entire marathon. It is so strange b/c I can tell exactly when the cycle is broken and then I can go back to racing until the next one. Are there dietary things that I can do to help? I tried eliminating caffeine and it didn't seem to make a difference.

Try a good electrolyte replacement and recovery-POWERBAR makes an excellent one. All things stressful can cause this-not enuf sleep, job, kids, overtraining. You are right-caffinine is the 1st to get rid of-so coffee, tea, chocolate. Sometimes red wine-shit, what kind of life would that be;-((

Also-make sure you see a cardioligst who runs or/and deals with high level runners. Their take on things can be quite different. good luck and do everything you can before you consider surgery.

when this started with me, i went to 0 caffeine. after 3 months that way, there was no change in episodes. what works best for me is to actually take some easier days now and then and get more sleep. having fewer this year with 10% reduction in training time. havent found any dietary triggers.

i tried an ablation, but after 3 hours on the table with no success isolating one area/node, nothing was done. just jumped around too much and yes i remember most of it. considered a second try last year but decided not to do it.

as a cyclist only, i tend not to do much in the way of crits or RR anymore and just focus on TTs. dont have to worry about pack riding away while i reset myself. i do on occasion try one of those. not sure i would want to be swimming when one happened.

yes, i can tell exactly when they start and know exactly when they end. in 2012 i did state tt and had a 6min episode during race. before i knew how to reset myself. i no longer where an hr monitor to tell me/verify the episodes. when you know, you know

mine dont just happen when riding either. have had in my sleep(holter verification) as well as just sitting on the couch. the only benefit the holter gave me back in 2012 was my sleeping HR, which was 4 beats lower than what i measure when awake

I was out running. Got home. HRM said 240 or something odd. So i literally walked in to ER across street. Went up to counter and they said name......whats the problem. Me; i think my HR is a bit high. Roll eyes as i am in running gear. How high....240......let me see

You have never ever seen anyone move so fast. I was through the queue, backstage and everyone and their brother was there and i was explaining it had been happening for a few weeks

Anyway ot literally stopped - precipitous drop.

Saw pcp monday after. Holter on wednesday. Results friday. Ablation 2 weeks or so latet i think

It was psvt