Does Your Heart Rate Increase When Healing From Surgery?

Heart rhythm issues (arrhythmias) that can cause tachycardia include:

• Atrial fibrillation: Most commonly found disorder caused by irregular electrical impulses in the atria (upper chamber of the heart).
• Atrial flutter: Fast heart beats due to abnormal circuit inside the right atrium.
• Supraventricular tachycardia: Fast heart beats in the ventricles (lower chamber of the heart) caused by abnormal electrical circuits.
• Ventricular tachycardia: Arrhythmia caused by abnormal signals in the lower chamber of the heart.

Postoperative tachycardia may be a result of catecholamine release in response to surgical stress and could be related to conditions such as:

• Anemia prior to surgery
• Anxiety and fear of surgery
• Dehydration
• Pain
• Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose level)
• Hypertension
• Severe bleeding during surgery
• Electrolyte imbalance
• Fever or sepsis due to infections

Symptoms of tachycardia include:

• Lightheadedness
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Palpitations (fast, pounding, or fluttering heartbeat)

Here are some tips you can follow before and after the surgery to reduce the likelihood of postoperative tachycardia and other complications:

• Eat a nutritious and well-balanced diet to improve surgical outcomes.
• Exercise moderately 30 minutes a day at least 5 days a week.
• Drink plenty of fluids and stay hydrated.
• Avoid stress during and after the surgery.
• Avoid or quit smoking.
• Avoid or limit alcohol consumption.
• Limit your intake of stimulants such as tea and coffee.
• Get enough sleep.
• Practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques.

Most of the time, postoperative tachycardia lasts for a short period, hours to days.

However, if it lasts longer or is left undiagnosed or untreated, it can affect heart functions and may lead to serious complications such as:

• Stroke (interrupted blood supply to the brain)
• Heart failure
• Cardiac arrest