From the Guidelines
You should consult with a healthcare provider about your elevated heart rate of 100 bpm, as this could be related to multiple factors including your weight gain, sedentary lifestyle, and sleep apnea. Given your history of COVID-19 infection in 2020, it is essential to consider the potential long-term cardiovascular effects of the disease, as suggested by studies such as 1. The cause of your persistent tachycardia may be multifactorial, including:
- Deconditioning from reduced physical activity
- Weight gain putting extra strain on your cardiovascular system
- Sleep apnea causing intermittent oxygen drops that stress your heart
- Post-COVID effects, as some people experience lingering cardiovascular changes after infection, including myocardial injury or cardiac maladaptive structural changes, as noted in 1 and 1.
To address your elevated heart rate, consider the following lifestyle modifications:
- Gradually increase physical activity with 30 minutes of moderate exercise (like brisk walking) 5 days per week
- Focus on losing weight through a balanced diet with reduced calorie intake, as excessive weight gain during the COVID-19 pandemic has been linked to increased risk of obesity and related health issues, as reported in 1
- Ensure consistent use of your CPAP machine for sleep apnea treatment, as untreated sleep apnea can contribute to elevated heart rate and cardiovascular issues
- Stay hydrated, reduce caffeine and alcohol consumption, and practice stress management techniques like deep breathing or meditation Regular monitoring of your heart rate and blood pressure at home would be beneficial while you work on these lifestyle modifications. It is crucial to prioritize your cardiovascular health, given the potential risks associated with your sedentary lifestyle, weight gain, and sleep apnea, as well as the possible long-term effects of COVID-19 on your heart health, as discussed in 1 and 1.
From the Research
Potential Causes of Persistent Tachycardia
- Pre-existing sleep apnea: Studies have shown that sleep apnea can contribute to increased cardiovascular variability and a higher prevalence of arrhythmias 2, 3.
- Sedentary lifestyle and weight gain: A sedentary lifestyle and significant weight gain, such as 45 pounds, can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and exacerbate existing conditions like sleep apnea 3, 4.
- Discontinued weightlifting routine: Stopping a regular weightlifting routine can lead to a decline in cardiovascular health and potentially contribute to tachycardia 3.
- Age: At 48 years and 8 months of age, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and experiencing tachycardia may increase due to natural aging processes 5.
Relationship Between Sleep Apnea and Tachycardia
- Sleep apnea treatment: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy has been shown to reduce blood pressure and improve cardiovascular outcomes in patients with sleep apnea 3, 5, 6.
- Heart rate response: A high heart rate response to sleep apnea may predict a larger reduction in systolic blood pressure after treatment 4.
- Hypoxic burden: Reducing hypoxic burden through treatment can lead to larger reductions in systolic blood pressure 4.
Impact of CPAP Therapy on Tachycardia
- CPAP therapy: CPAP therapy has been associated with a reduction in mean heart rate and modulation of heart rate variability parameters, although the effects may be partial and limited to waking hours 6.
- Arrhythmia reduction: CPAP therapy has been shown to reduce the incidence of certain arrhythmias, such as atrial tachycardia 6.