Running on betablocker. Tachyicardia

[ittiandro]

I am 79, on beta blocker for occasional arrhythmia and AF in the past, but otherwise in excellent health . I windsurf and run about 4-5 km, 3 x week. My doctor said I can, indeed I must continue to exercise.

As expected, the first effect of the beta blocker is that it depresses the resting h.r. which is now down to 50-55 bpm, from 70-75 before going on medication. Before going on beta blocker, my hr was 125-130 bpm while training at 70% of my age-adjusted maximum. Now it is around 100 bpm for the same effort intensity.

I am a bit confused, because now, for the last few weeks, my pulse races very high, to 160-165 bpm, but with absolutely no discomfort or strain on the heart. I notice it only by looking at the cardio watch, but I keep running with no problems.

I’ll speak to my cardiologist, but I’d like to understand from the heart physiology standpoint if it is safe to continue running with tachycardia, if there are no symptoms or untoward effects.

I wonder if anybody can comment on this.
Thanks

Ittiandro

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[physiobob]

Maybe the signal to your watch is playing up? Record it on your device if that is possible and see if it is a temporary glitch or in fact the HR jumping. I think it unlikely to jump like that on the Beta Blocker but you should check that with the cardiologist.

[ittiandro]

Thanks for the input.
I don't know what you mean by recording the data. My data are recorded every sessions for later review and comparison with the Polar software.
The Polar cardio watch is a high-tech product. I think he HR readings are accurate, but a condition like arrhythmia and/or AF may not yield a realistic interpretation of the nominal data.
The machine calculates the calories expenditure based on the nominal HR, without being able to tell whether the HR is due to the real load on the heart under effort or to the tachycardia. This makes a difference. A 250 KC expenditure because of tachycardia while sitting idle on a chair, is not the same as 250 kc while running.
In fact, yesterday, while running with the heart racing because of tachycardia the reading was a whopping 500 kc, while in a normal session it is 250 kc for the same duration and effort intensity.

The same calories expenditure, in one case may benefit me while in the other case will have no effect.

I'll speak to my doctor anyway

Ittiandro