Heart rate is crazy high

(Rebecca Vaughan) #1

I am using Keto to treat a fairly severe health condition that renders me housebound and unable to exercise. It’s called ME/CFS, some sufferers have had success with a keto diet, because it changes how the body uses energy and the theory is people with ME can’t use glucose for energy properly.

I used to be an athlete but now I can hardly get off the sofa.

My normal resting HR is 58 BMP, and I have low blood pressure already. Since going keto its about 78 BPM, standing it goes to 110, walking 120, climbing stairs 140, it went to 150 after doing some laundry and climbing the basement stairs!

I have no other signs of dehydration, I take 300mg of magneisum a day and I drink potassium salt in lemon water, I put lots of salt on my food and eat salty food, I cant drink salt in water as it gives me terrible reflux. this has been going on for 3 weeks.

Will this increased HR subside? If my heart is under stress what can I do about it, people have recommended drinking 100oz of water a day which seems ridiculous especially as I have no other symptoms of dehydration, and apart from this crazy high heart rate I feel pretty great.

(Ethan) #2

How is your salt intake? That is, if you are putting in lots of potassium and magnesium, is the sodium also enough

(Brian) #3

Be cautious about over-drinking. With the expelling of water, you’ll also be expelling minerals which will make the problem of hanging on to your minerals harder.

My gut feeling is that the increased HR will subside over time as your body adjusts to it’s new fuel sources and develops it’s new equilibrium. But I’m not a doctor, do not play one on TV and am only relaying a gut feeling that may be total rubbish.

(Rebecca Vaughan) #4

i think my salt is ok, I only just stopped taking it in water as i realised it was giving me relfux, MFP says i’m taking around 2500mg though food and then I add salt on top of that.

(Rebecca Vaughan) #5

I don’t think i’m over-drinking, i totally agree that drinking 100oz is crazy, I’m trying to drink 64oz but only get in about 48, I don’t think that this would cause my heart to race though, and I think my heart is stressed because of the new energy source as you say, but it’s a little worrying that my heart is stressed! I don’t have the typical symptoms of dehydration, ie my urine is pale, i’m not constipated, I don’t have dry mouth or dry skin. I REALLY need this diet to work as i can already feel that its positively affecting my energy levels, but I cant have a permanently raised HR!

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #6

Just watched a video of Stephen Phinney taking about salt and saying that the lastest research seems to be indicating that we need at least 5 g of sodium a day, which translates to somewhere around 10 g of table salt.

(Rebecca Vaughan) #7

holy shit! I cant eat that much! I was taking about 3-4g of salt a day before I realised that it was giving me reflux but since reducing it my HR hasn’t got worse. I guess i’m gonna have to eat more bacon! :wink:

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #8

Eating more bacon is always a good thing!

Don’t forget that there is such a thing as salt tablets. . . .

Dr. Phinney explains it so much better than I can. Let me see if I remembered to bookmark the video. If I did, then I’ll post the link.

#9

What kind of salt are you using? Cheap salt gives me heartburn sometimes but good pink salt never does. I’d try other kinds and see how you do, 10 grams per day is a lot but it can be necessary at times. My heart races when I’m low on salt.

#10

I’m sorry, but with a “severe health condition,” isn’t this something you should be discussing with your doctor?

Ketosis isn’t a panacea, and without medical expertise, I doubt anyone can advice you about its effects, given your specific situation.

(Rebecca Vaughan) #11

Unforutnately my doctor knows nothing about it, there is no medical support for my condition nearby and I’m a 12 hour drive from the nearest specialist and on a 2 year waiting to get in there, i have to take my health into my own hands. and if that means taking risks, so be it. No one else can help.

(Rebecca Vaughan) #13

(oops i deleted my post be mistake) I’m using Celtic sea salt, it’s better than most pink salts.

(Linda Culbreth) #14

My doc tells me too much potassium can stress the heart and cause it to race. I know I was having some chest pains and within 24 hours of stopping the potassium supplements, the pain went totally away and my heart rate slowed back to normal. On lowering the heart rate, you take several deep breaths and slowly let them out. That also helps. Helps this helps somewhat. And, welcome here.

(Rebecca Vaughan) #15

Hi thanks! I’m wondering if its too much potassium but I hardly take the RDA, how much were you taking when it was affecting you?

(Linda Culbreth) #16

595 mg of potassium gluconate daily (1 caplet) at breakfast

(Rebecca Vaughan) #17

interesting, i’m taking about that much too, maybe a little less. Today i didn’t actually take any but still the same affect. Am going to see doc tomorrow, i hope to get my electrolytes checked then.

(Linda Culbreth) #18

Good idea.Ttoo much of any is bad just like too little of any is bad.

(Sjur Gjøstein Karevoll) #19

I don’t know if your health condition could cause this, maybe that’s the case. That’s something you should talk to your doctor about or read up on yourself though. If you don’t think that could affect it and the high heart rate persists more than a day or two without some other symptoms (flu, stomachache etc.) I would 1) eat some carbs to see if that makes a difference (at least 150g per day, make them healthy and stay away from flour. Steamed potatoes are great) and 2) see your doctor about it.

78 BPM resting isn’t too worrisome, but if it consistently jumps to 110 just by standing but otherwise not doing much then that’s quite a bit high. Also, getting 140 just from climbing one set of stairs is really strange. The strange thing is how large the difference is between now and before, and if you think keto is the difference maker there I think it’s worth experimenting with. Again, I don’t know how your health condition would affect this, but it seems like it could since you say it’s basically knocked you out.

(Rebecca Vaughan) #20

Thanks for your detailed and helpful reply, my health condition can cause low blood pressure and low blood volume, with ketogenic diet being a diuretic diet then yes the two combined could cause this. If I ate those carbs like you said, would it kick me out of ketosis? I was thinking to increase my net carbs from 20-25, and see if that helped, maybe I can get away with more carbs? The frustrating thing is that apart from this crazy heart rate i actually feel much better than I have in a long while with lots more energy. I am going to see doc tomorrow, but as i said in an earlier post he knows nothing about ME/CFS or Ketogenic diet, I presume he knows how it acts like a diuretic though! Do you know how it’s possible to experiment with your carb intake? I don’t want to keep going in and out of ketosis, is it best just gradually increase each day?

I have also heard that whilst adapting to fat your body can be under a lot of stress and that this is a normal side effect that will pass. (i’ve seen on athletic forums people complaining of increased heart rate and loss of performance)

Thanks

#21

Rebecca, I haven’t read most of the posts and am in a rush right now but wanted to send a quick note that potassium supplementation gives me heart palpitations. Once I figured that out, I stopped except when I’m fasting and then I cut a tablet in fourths and take two of those hours apart during the day. I can look up the dose but I won’t be home until later in the week.