Should I consult a cardiologist?

Hi! I'm 16 years old and is considered severely overweight.

I was diagnosed with GERD last month and have since been experiencing short stabbing chest pain on both sides and center of my chest. Sometimes , it just aching.I have also experienced muscle pain almost everywhere (not at the same time) in my body.(not exaggerating here) latest one is the bottom of my feet. I felt a sudden tightness that comes and goes on the bottom of feet for two day straight. My heart rate has also been very high for activities like normal and fast walking. I work as a student nurse in a hospital and although it can be a bit stressful, it's unlikely the cause of my fast heart rate because I do not have a stressful responsibility other than assisting patients . Considering I can walk during work , i'm pretty sure I'm not stress.

Anyways, the first time I noticed my heart rate being very fast, was after I used the vital sign machine in the hospital. I was feeling fine , maybe tired but overall fine that day. My heart rate was 139-141bpm. No palpitation or whatsoever symptoms at all. I told my the staff nurse in my cubicle and she was surprised as well. I later had an ECG done but thankfully it came out normal. The doctor told me to monitor my heart rate. And I did monitor my HR.

I noticed that my heart rate will go all the way up to 125-130+ bpm whenever I walk fast. about 110-120 when I walk normally. When I relax and rest it can be between 80-110. But most of the time my heart rate when resting is 90-105.

I am confused and I don't wanna go to a cardiologist with just a feeling I might have a heart problem. After all, it's very expensive.

Can anyone tell me if my problem is serious enough to see a cardiologist? And also suggestions of what I could be experiencing.

Welcome to the forum, Katherine.

Melissuh said it. See a doctor.

That heart rate is too high, as far as I know. But maybe the overweight has something to do with it. I don't know, but we're not doctors on the forum.

Palpitations are different from tachycardia. And tachycardia can be different types and from many different causes. At least your ECG was normal!

It might help your doctor if you keep a journal. Write down everything you do, eat, drink, meds, and heart rate or any other symptoms, along with the date and time.

Best wishes, and keep in touch with your progress.

Alcie said...
Welcome to the forum, Katherine.

Melissuh said it. See a doctor.

That heart rate is too high, as far as I know. But maybe the overweight has something to do with it. I don't know, but we're not doctors on the forum.

Palpitations are different from tachycardia. And tachycardia can be different types and from many different causes. At least your ECG was normal!

It might help your doctor if you keep a journal. Write down everything you do, eat, drink, meds, and heart rate or any other symptoms, along with the date and time.

Best wishes, and keep in touch with your progress.

Hi thanks for the reply! I feel paranoid now since I do not now what's wrong with me. Just this morning I woke up with my left arm aching and suddenly I felt like I needed to take a breath . A huge one. Then boom! I had a short episode of mild shortness of breath. I checked my heart rate and it was 153bpm! I really felt my heart beating super fast. I woke up my mom and I begged her to go to the clinic because I was afraid it is not what I think it is. Causing us to waste money if I go to A&E. But my heart rate went back down to 90-105bpm shortly after. My mom got angry because she lost sleep for a something that is not an emergency. I tried to relax but I still feel heart palpitations until now. It's been almost 1 and half hour after my so called attack.

I've gone for numerous check ups and ECG, x-Ray and even blood test. All normal besides the hunch of the doctor that I might have an inflammation somewhere. But everything is fine he said.

My heart rate reached 130bpm just 30min ago and has gone back to normal again. I'm losing sleep since I can still feel heart palpitTion until now.

I am gonna go ahead and check with the doctor if my symtoms persist . However I am not sure my clinic will have a holter monitor. Is there anything else I could try if there is no holter monitor? I live in singapore and there is this place called polyclinic where you can have a check up for a subsidized fee.

I'd definitely go to the clinic, get everything checked out!