I'm a 20-year-old male and have experienced exercise intolerance since 2018. When lifting weights or exercising, my heart rate rises rapidly, and I experience shortness of breath, sometimes so intense that I feel like I'm going to die.

However, exercise isn't the only trigger. These symptoms also occur without physical activity and can persist for weeks, sometimes disappearing for months before returning.

I've had three ECGs, two echocardiograms and blood tests, all reportedly normal except for one ECG showing sinus tachycardia. My heart rate during the ECGs was around 140–160 bpm. A cardiologist and a general physician reassured me that my heart was normal, and one suggested generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

I understand anxiety can cause physical symptoms, but can it really explain long-term exercise intolerance and episodes of tachycardia and shortness of breath that last for weeks? Can underlying problems still exist despite normal ECGs and echocardiograms?

I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who's experienced something similar.

Hi !
23F with a history of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT).
I was previously taking verapamil, but I’ve recently been switched to bisoprolol (a low dose, although I don’t remember the exact dosage).
Since starting bisoprolol, I’ve noticed a significant difference in my heart rate during exercise.
For example, I went on a 6 km walk today at an average pace of around 11:00/11:30 min/km. My heart rate was around 98–116 bpm during parts of the walk, whereas before bisoprolol, I would typically be around 130–150 bpm at a similar pace.
What concerns me is how awful I feel physically despite my lower heart rate.

During the walk, I experienced:
Significant muscle fatigue and heavy legs
Generalized weakness
Shortness of breath
Excessive sweating
A feeling that my body couldn’t keep up with the effort

These symptoms have become significantly worse since starting bisoprolol. I didn’t experience this level of exercise intolerance while taking verapamil.
I recovered after stopping the exercise.

My questions are:
Is this degree of heart rate reduction during exercise expected with bisoprolol, even at a low dose?
Could beta-blockers cause this kind of exercise intolerance by limiting the normal heart rate response to physical activity?
And is this something that usually improves as the body adjusts to the medication?
I am tired

Hi everyone.

I have been dealing with problems my entire life of passing out or feeling faint when exercising, high heat, showering, or standing from being sat. I finally was able to get into the cardiologist who recently diagnosed me with SVT via 2 week heart monitor.

I felt happy I got an answer but conflicted also because I’ve always felt like I had POTS. I asked the doctor if he recommended further testing and he said no, and prescribed me with Propanolol that give me a crazy migraine so I quit after two days of taking 10mg.

The reason I felt I had POTS because stairs are hard for me, I have to sit in weird positions with my knees to my chest to be comfortable, I HATE standing still for longer than a minute in a way I can’t describe but its kinda painful for my body, and I tested with my Apple Watch and when I stood up from laying down my heart rate shot up from around 60-70 to around 110-120 instantly. My vision and hearing goes out for about ten seconds like half the times I stand up from sitting or laying. Bonus info is I think I’m hypermobile as well (elbows and thumbs bend back). (Edit: My ribs feel like they click out of place sometimes if I’m sitting weird, but I’ve never had any joint dislocations.) A lot of mornings I wake up and my back hurts so bad and my body just aches. I used to think it was my kidneys but my doctor said since it’s both sides, it’s my back. (Edit: I also have brain fog every single day and sometimes I forget extremely simple things like what day of the week it is, or what I’ve just been told. Somebody asked me what model my car is and I blanked on it even though I love my car and know all about it. I have to really try to think clearly (21F). I also forgot to add that my main symptom is I’m tired all the time no matter what which sucks. I love to sleep 12 or more hours.) All of this upsets me when it happens and I’ve been after answers getting a bunch of heart testing.

But back to my main point, whenever I pass out (which isn’t super often) it’s painful for me. My vision goes like tv static, my hearing sounds like everything im hearing is far off in the distance and tinnitus, and then my muscles fail. I am too weak to even sit up and I have to lay down unable to really move until I feel like I have the strength to drag myself to bed. It’s like a slow process of me feeling the pain of my body shutting down. Sometimes I lose consciousness and sometimes I don’t and I just lay there and suffer. After it’s over, I have an extremely headache, nausea, and my body just aches for the rest of the day. I’ve told my cardiologist all of this. He says it’s the SVT. One other person I know who experiences passing out (they don’t know the cause), they just go out and come right back with no pain.

Do you all think this is all explained away by the SVT? I had never even heard of SVT before my doctor diagnosed me, so it’s all new to me since I was convinced before that I had POTS.

Do other people with SVT experience this? I may post to the SVT subreddit as well.

Thank you for reading!

Edit: I just wanted to add that my iron levels and bloodwork have been normal when I get it checked. I got it done like two or three times this year.

Had a weird roller coaster of stuff the past two months.

3ish months ago, my pvc's got really bad. Had a full cardiac workup. Echo found a 4.2cm ascending aorta.

Freaked me out but then had a ct.

Findings:

The heart size is normal. There is no aortic aneurysm. The ascending aorta measures 3.4 x 3.5 cm. The mid descending thoracic aorta measures 2.2 x 2.1 cm. At the level of the aortic hiatus, the aorta measures 2.2cm. There is no pericardial effusion. Coronary artery calcifications are present in the left anterior descending artery.

Everything else on the echo was within normal ranges. Stress test was perfect. Holter (my palpitations went away by the time i put it on) all normal a few pvc's but less than 1% burden, no runs of tachycardia etc. 4 or 5 ekg's , all normal. Troponin normal (went to the ER three months ago with the pvc's). Total cholesterol was 189. HDL was 37 , LDL Calc 127, triglycerides 125.

I had to pay for a cardiologist appt out of my pocket. The va cardiology department refused a referral. Good news is my aorta is normal. My pvc's have subsided a little bit but i was freaking out over the calcifications.

I go to the cardiologist, and he basically says "stopping plaque from forming is no longer on the table, we need to manage the plaque". "i am going to put you on statins, and daily baby aspirin". Unfortunately, i looked this up and have read a ton of stuff about it. my mother in law says it causes dementia. I've also read stories that they don't really do anything. Then, i've read stories on people taking them at 50 years old and going strong in their 80's now (or whenever they became mainstream) and swear by them.

I was wondering if someone could clear up the , why it's prescribed in my case, the benefits, any risks, and maybe explain why my cardiologist didn't order any further testing. No calcium score, no cta of the arteries, etc..

Thanks.

This is my father's MRI report.

How bad is the condition? he's had a couple of brain strokes in the past month, can this reoccurr?

Your help is much appreciated.

We will be visiting the cardiologist next week too.

Hello, I’m a 35 y/o male, height 6’3- and I got my echo done recently. I would say I’m a healthy gentleman- I stay active, don’t deal with a lot of stress, & I eat fairly healthy.
This is the result
• Left Ventricle: Left ventricle size is normal. Normal wall thickness. Normal systolic function with an estimated EF of
60 - 65%. Normal diastolic function.
Normal left ventricular filling pressure.
• Right Ventricle: Right ventricle is severely dilated. Normal systolic function.
• Right Atrium: Right atrium is moderately dilated.
• No hemodynamically significant valvular disease.

What can be the cause of the dilation? Is it treatable? Thank you.

Hello,

I have POTS and anxiety. I’m originally from the UK but I’ve been travelling in Vietnam for a few weeks where it is very hot and humid and noticed my Apple Watch was telling me my HR was getting 150bpm+ whenever I was walking about. I also felt super dizzy.

Saw a cardiologist who organised an echo and 24 hr Holter meeting.

When I collected the results he told me I am too stressed and prescribed me metoprolol succinate to take every day. Taking it the first time definitely broke the anxiety-high HR cycle and my max HR came down and stayed down so I haven’t been taking it daily.

However, I’ve just had a look at the Holter meter results and they seem very concerning.

Any advice welcome. Thank you

Let me preface this by saying I have SVT. I have an EP study scheduled for February next year. But outside of my SVT, I’ll have random days where my heart rate is elevated from just simple movements. If I’m sitting, my heart rate will be 70-90. But if I just stand, it can jump up to 120. Going to the bathroom, 120-130. Unloading the dishwasher, 130. Walking around and playing with toddler, 125-130. But it’s not sustained. As soon as I sit down again, it’s 70-90 range again. What’s going on? Why does this happen? And it’s not every single day. Some days my heart rate stays low even when standing and walking. Walking will be 103-105. I’m going to bring it up to my GP, I have an appointment for anxiety in a week. But I’m just at a loss what’s causing this because it’s not my SVT.

Assuming it’s fine since the sensors are under the stickies but if the center this pulled up like this is it fine?

How can I find a doctor that is willing to help me? I’ve been severely suffering from low bp standing and sitting, but when I’m laying down, I’m fine.

I constantly have air hunger and I’m so tired and it feels like my heart is just beating hard and fast.

It’s not anxiety, I started Sertraline at the beginning of August. My anxiety has been at bay. But I’m still getting all these symptoms.

My bp standing and sitting is 80’s over 60’s/70’s.

I’m staying hydrated, getting plenty of electrolytes and salt, eating enough calories, wearing compressions (socks AND tights) but my bp and symptoms won’t budge.

They want to do a TTT even though I was already diagnosed with POTS in 2020. But no one is willing to prescribe any meds to help raise my blood pressure.

I’m over it.

Does it have any abnormalities or t wave inversions ?

I had PVCs diagnosed incidentally at an annual appt with my pcp a year ago when I was 6 months pp. My holter a year ago showed a 34% burden and now it’s 26%. (No dangerous rhythms). I’m now 18 months pp and just finished breastfeeding a week before this most previous holter. My stress test a year ago showed PVCs disappearing with exercise and both of my echos (a year ago and a month ago) were totally normal. I also just got diagnosed with hashimotos. What can I expect moving forward? I’m totally asymptomatic with PVCs and don’t really want to treat them right now, especially since I’ve just finished breastfeeding and trying to figure out my new hashimotos diagnosis. I have an EP appt in a couple months.

i had my first ECG today and i’m honestly so confused about what any of it means. they didn’t make me stay or seem really concerned at the clinic so i assume i have nothing major going on but i am curious. any insight in understandable language is appreciated!
(i’ve tried to block out any personal information, please let me know if i’ve missed anything)

Here You Can see I am getting 2-3 extrasystoles in a row (sometimes only one), but I perfectly feel ALL of them. I also get panic attacks due to lot of stress for about a year and I am on SSRI for a 2 months right now. Still getting some weird feelings that I am feeling unwell, that I might pass out, but these also bother me so much and sometimes they trigger my anxiety/panic attack. I just want to be able to ignore them…

I'm 17F and when I was 14 I had a pericardial effusion that we weren't positive what caused it so they just ruled it as if it was from an infection. Recently I felt like my heart's been palpitating with fairly minor activities like walking up the stairs or very short sprints. When I had the pericardial effusion at 14. I also had a lot more heart palpitations. Today it feels like my chest is a little tight almost like a bit of weight on it (it's not bad at all tho) and I've been lightheaded/dizzy (which i usually always am for a few seconds when I stand). I'm almost positive I've had these symptoms before and they just went away. I didnt sleep much last night maybe about 5 hours, and I haven't been drinking much water, which I'm working on right now.
More info about me:
I'm 5'3, 100lbs, Only medication I'm on is the mini pill (progesterone only because I can't have estrogen because of migraines with aura)

What could this be?

So I have a history of POTS, multiple episodes of vision loss and numbness on the ride of body. Here is my echo results. Should I advocate for a TEE?

I’m a 21 y.o girl and I had an open heart surgery in 2018 nowadays when I get sad or anxious my heart and left arm hurts so bad my heart races so fast I feel like dying I take painkillers every time but I’m concerned about what’s actually happening. Pls help I can’t concentrate on anything I can’t study or read

Hi everyone, I’m 24F. I’ve had random skipped beats my whole life but like once every few months and no other symptoms, I heard these are completely normal. Recently, after an intense work out and my heart rate goes up i get a skipped beat (it’s only one and my heart recovers normally after that and I don’t get any other symptoms). I’ve been stressed a lot recently, and I drink alcohol every weekend. about sure if these are related. Otherwise if i don’t do intense cardio or lifting, everything is fine. I’m not tired, I walk 10-15k steps a day and could dance for hours. I have severe health anxiety too so every time my HR goes up I focus extra hard on it.

Hello all, 50 yo here high blood pressure (controlled via medication and diet) ldl around 100. Recent CCTA shows the following . How concerning is this stenosis? Will a heartflow analysis likely be helpful? I have a follow up with my doctor which is a month from now and was growing very concerned. My EKG, stress test on treadmill etc were done a month ago and were normal.

CALCIUM SCORING:

Left main: 0

Left anterior descending: 0

Left circumflex: 0

Right Coronary: 3

Posterior Descending: 0

TOTAL CAC SCORE: 3

AGE/SEX MATCHED SCORE PERCENTILE: 62% of asymptomatic patients matched for same sex and

age have a lower calcium score.

CT CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY:

LEFT MAIN: The left main coronary artery is patent without stenosis.

LEFT ANTERIOR DESCENDING CORONARY ARTERY: Noncalcified plaques in the proximal LAD

including its ostium results in mild luminal narrowing (25 to 49%, closer to 49% within this range).

The mid and distal LAD are patent without stenosis. The first diagonal branch is patent without

stenosis.

LEFT CIRCUMFLEX CORONARY ARTERY: The circumflex coronary artery and obtuse marginal

branches are patent without stenosis. RIGHT CORONARY ARTERY: The RCA is patent without stenosis. Calcified plaque in the mid RCA

results in no luminal narrowing.

POSTERIOR DESCENDING CORONARY ARTERY: The PDA arises from the right coronary artery. The

vessel is patent without stenosis.

AORTA: The visualized thoracic aorta is normal in caliber.

HEART: The heart size is normal. There is no pericardial effusion.

Non-cardiac findings:

Lungs: The visualized lungs are clear.

Mediastinum: The visualized mediastinum is normal.

IMPRESSION:

1. Mild proximal/ostial LAD stenosis (25 to 49%, closer to 49%).

2. Calcium score of 3.

For context, i’m 17 F, about 5,3 tall and i weigh 135 kg. I just started wegovy today and attempted a walk. I could only walk 1km before getting dizzy and feeling funny. My heart rate was fluctuating between 160bpm-185bpm. What should I do? I’ve been in the hospital before about my heart but they did an ECG and it was fine. Just wanted to see if this was normal as I am obese for my age.

Hello! For a few years now I’ve noticed that my heart seems to skip a beat or take an irregularly long pause fairly frequently when I’m falling asleep. I don’t have any other symptoms other than that, nor does my heart thump particularly hard afterwards, but it is pretty regular. I’ve been researching about PVCs etc and wondering if it could be that, but it seems to exclusively happen when I’m starting to fall asleep - as a test I’ve been lying in the same position when awake multiple times and not experienced it. Just wondering if this is normal?

Hello.

My husband is not feeling well. Got some chest pains when breathing and wanted to rule out something serious.

He is 34, Been active ,Football, Running but in his 20’s. Now he is 34 active as he works as delivery driver for the past 4 years and he walks 8 H daily.

Hs Tropomine 1, and D -dimmers negative, and now we are waiting for about 4h as waiting time is 10h+ ..

Could someone “ease” my mind ? this Ekg looks abnormal for my eye (ofc I am not a doctor)

Is this something you “see” in healthy adults ? the T waves in 2/3 are Huge. Just want an opinion not a diagnosis

Thank you for