Do doctors keep track of their patients' heart rates?

Yes, the doctor’s office should have that information with all your notes from past visits.

Your pulse rate, blood pressure, and temperature should be recorded in your chart every time they take it.

Thanks, guys! I figured that was the case, but I didn’t want to wait a couple more hours to find out.

Hope you feel better soon

You can help your doctor by keeping a record at various times of day over the course of several days (as you seem to be doing—I am just saying KEEP doing it).

Yes they keep records of it. Normal rate is around 70 bpm. Are you taking any medications?

I was just informed that I have two heartbeats. One was traveling at 145 beats per minute, the other at 60. Doctor stated I had AFib. I was sedated and my heart was shocked back into rhythm at around 60 bpm. I reel normal now, but not before the shock.

Yes, doctors do keep a record of your EKG. My EKG, taken last year, did not indicate I had AFib. That EKG was compared to that of today and the difference was obvious.

I was given an ECHOCardiaGram and I could hear both of my heartbeats at one time. I was shocked to hear that sound.

Heart doctors today are really advanced in their knowledge of the human heart. At least, its this way at Vanderbilt Hospital. They truly know their stuff.

Good luck to you.

My roommate is nearly a nurse (all she has left to do is take her NCLEX). She listened to my heart this morning and immediately determined that I needed to go to the ER. The doctor was concerned when I got there because my heart rate was hanging out around 130. It gradually went down and they didn’t find anything wrong with me, so they just sent me home. I’m supposed to get a Holter monitor for 48 hours to see if it detects anything unusual, but my appointment to get it is scheduled for next Wednesday afternoon and I’m moving out of state Wednesday morning. I’m trying to get that worked out.

Thank you all for your help. I’ll continue to keep you updated if you want me to. Just let me know.

@Adirondackwannabe I am not taking any medications. I also don’t use caffeine or drugs.

@bobbinhood I was diagnosed with somewhat high blood pressure years ago and they tried one medication. I noticed I was getting out of breath very easily walking up hills or stairs but didn’t think anything about, just figured I needed to work a little harder at staying in shape. Next doctors visit she took my pulse and I could see her eyes get big. My pilse was over 120 from the meds.

I honestly don’t think I’ve ever had my heart-rate checked, except on occasions when I’ve been in hospital for surgery. They would have no idea what my normal heart rate is (and honestly, neither have I).

@bobbinhood I hope you get it sorted and feel better soon.

@bobbinhood I hope you can get it all figured out so that you can get the monitor and see what’s going on. I’m sorry they didn’t find anything while you were in the ER. Have you had any anxiety or stress lately?

@Seaofclouds I don’t feel stressed, but there is certainly a lot going on in my life. I start finals tomorrow, I’m about to finish my bachelor’s, I’m headed back home Wednesday then moving across the country in a couple weeks, I’m getting married in three weeks, my fiancé and I are buying a mobile home, and I’ll be starting grad school this fall. So…I technically probably am stressed, but I don’t feel that way.

@bobbinhood Do you have any allergies? That could be a stressor.

My only allergy is to bee stings, and I haven’t been stung since last summer.

@bobbinhood Stress/anxiety can cause an elevated heart rate as well. Just something to think about. I’d recommend checking your pulse and then whenever it’s elevated, writing down what you were doing and how you were feeling. Maybe you’ll be able to figure out some kind of pattern. Take all of that information with you when you see the doctor again. Good luck!

@Seaofclouds Thanks! I’m now scheduled to see my primary care physician next Friday. Since I’ll only be in that state for a week, I probably won’t have time to get the heart monitor then, either. We’ll see. Fortunately, I’m feeling normal now.

Hope you are feeling better. Just as an aside, there is a wonderful little app for smart phones that measures your pulse through your finger with the light on the phone’s camera. I keep track of mine as I have some mild atrial fibrillation (irregular heart rhythm), and the app works to show that irregularity. I’m not sure if it is available for Android but Apple has it for iPhones and iPads. Be well!