After surgery, your heart rate may increase. The condition is called postoperative tachycardia, in which heart rates are higher than 100 beats per minute.
According to the American Heart Association, a normal resting heart rate for adults ranges between 60-100 beats per minute, although it varies from person to person and is affected by certain factors such as
- Age: Children have a higher resting heart rate than adults.
- Exercise: Temporary increases in heart rate may occur during physical activity.
- Emotions: Extreme emotions, stress, and anxiety can affect heart rate for a short period of time (physiological tachycardia).
- Weather: Heart rate may be slightly elevated in higher temperatures and humidity levels.
- Weight: Obese people tend to have a higher heart rate.
- Medications: Beta-blockers tend to slow down heart rate, whereas thyroid medications can increase the heart rate.
- Substance use: Tea, coffee, and tobacco can increase heart rate.
What are different types of tachycardia?
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.
What causes tachycardia after surgery?
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
What are the symptoms of tachycardia?
Symptoms of tachycardia include:
- Lightheadedness
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Palpitations (fast, pounding, or fluttering heartbeat)
IMAGES
Heart Illustration Browse through our medical image collection to see illustrations of human anatomy and physiology See ImagesHow can you prevent increased heart rate after surgery?
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.
Is postoperative tachycardia normal?
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
Health News
- CDC Warns of Potentially Fatal Bacterial Illness on U.S. Gulf Coast
- Helping Others as Volunteers Helps Kids 'Flourish': Study
- FDA Approves Pfizer's RSV Shot for Older Adults
- What to Do When Tough-to-Treat Lymphoma Strikes During Pregnancy
- Rate of Pregnant U.S. Women Who Have Diabetes Keeps Rising
More Health News »
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Medically Reviewed on 1/11/2022
References
Image Source: iStock Images
James Beckerman. Your Heart Rate. WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/heart-failure/watching-rate-monitor
Rakesh Gopinathannair. Management of tachycardia. NIH: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4447058/
James Beckerman. Tachycardia: Causes, Types, and Symptoms: https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/atrial-fibrillation/what-are-the-types-of-tachycardia
Pulse & Heart Rate. Cleveland Clinic: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/17402-pulse--heart-rate
James Beckerman. Your Heart Rate. WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/heart-failure/watching-rate-monitor
Rakesh Gopinathannair. Management of tachycardia. NIH: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4447058/
James Beckerman. Tachycardia: Causes, Types, and Symptoms: https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/atrial-fibrillation/what-are-the-types-of-tachycardia
Pulse & Heart Rate. Cleveland Clinic: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/17402-pulse--heart-rate
Complete List
Top Does Heart Rate Increase When Healing From Surgery Related Articles
adenosine
Adenosine is an antidysrhythmic drug used to treat a type of irregular heart rhythm disorder known as paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). Common side effects of adenosine include flushing, chest pressure and discomfort, shortness of breath (dyspnea), headache, throat, neck and jaw discomfort, gastrointestinal discomfort, lightheadedness, dizziness, upper extremity discomfort, electrical disturbances in the heart, abnormal ECG readings, low blood pressure (hypotension), numbness and tingling (paresthesia), irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmia), and nausea. Consult your doctor before taking if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Angina: Signs, Symptoms, and What It Feels Like
Angina is chest pain due to inadequate blood supply to the heart. Angina symptoms may include chest tightness, burning, squeezing, and aching. Coronary artery disease is the main cause of angina but there are other causes. Angina is diagnosed by taking the patient's medical history and performing tests such as an electrocardiogram (EKG), blood test, stress test, echocardiogram, cardiac CT scan, and heart catheterization. Treatment of angina usually includes lifestyle modification, medication, and sometimes, surgery. The risk of angina can be reduced by following a heart healthy lifestyle.
Atrial Fibrillation Quiz
Learn the causes, symptoms, and treatments of the common heart abnormality known as atrial fibrillation (A-fib).
Living With A-Fib
AFib symptoms like heart racing, fluttering, and irregular heart beat may be caused by heart disease, obesity, alcohol use, thyroid disease, and other conditions. AFib medications may include blood thinners, drugs to control heart rate or convert the heart to a normal rhythm. AFib surgery is also a treatment possibility.
Atrial Flutter vs. Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation (AFib) are two types of a heart problem called atrial tachycardia. Both of these conditions involve the heart's electrical activity, but they are not the same disease. Both diseases are serious and need medical treatment.
Common symptoms of these diseases are similar and include:
- Fatigue
- Blurry vision
- Lightheadedness
- Palpitations
- Feeling like you may faint
Serious symptoms of both conditions are similar and include:
- Fainting
- Sweating
- Severe shortness of breath
- Chest pain
Atrial flutter and AFib are heart conditions that require medical diagnosis (ECG) and treatment by a doctor or other medical health-care professional.
Can Atrial Fibrillation Go Away?
Atrial fibrillation is a condition in which the heart beats irregularly and rapidly. Rarely, atrial fibrillation can go away on its own. Atrial fibrillation may be brief, with symptoms that come and go. It is possible to have an atrial fibrillation episode that resolves on its own or the condition may be persistent and require treatment.
Heart Health: What Is a Healthy and Normal Heart Rate for My Age?
Learn normal heart rates by age, for young adults, seniors, and others. What's a good resting heart rate for your age? What is your target and maximum heart rate for men and women by age group? Learn these and more here.
What Is the Highest Heart Rate You Can Have Without Dying?
The heart rate, commonly known as pulse rate, is the number of times your heart beats in a minute. The predicted maximum heart rate for a 50-year-old person is 170 beats per minute.propofol
Propofol is an intravenous anesthetic drug used for general anesthesia and sedation during surgical procedures. Common side effects of propofol include injection site burning, stinging or pain; low blood pressure (hypotension), reduced cardiac output, elevated blood pressure (hypertension), pause in breathing (apnea), lung impairment (respiratory acidosis), impaired movement, high level of emulsified fats in the blood (hyperlipidemia), and high triglyceride level in blood (hypertriglyceridemia). Abuse of propofol can cause death and other injuries.
What Is the Difference Between Sedation and General Anesthesia?
Sedation is medically induced temporary depression of consciousness prior to procedures that cause pain or discomfort to patients. Pain relieving medications (analgesics) are also usually administered as an adjunct to sedation. General anesthesia induces full unconsciousness with a breathing machine necessary.sotalol
Sotalol is a medication used to treat certain heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias), life-threatening rapid heart rate in the ventricles (ventricular tachycardia), and to maintain normal sinus rhythm in patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation. Common side effects of sotalol include shortness of breath (dyspnea), slow heart rate (bradycardia), chest pain, palpitation, new onset or exacerbation of heart rhythm disorders (proarrhythmia), abnormal ECG, low blood pressure (hypotension), congestive heart failure, fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness, and others. Do not take if breastfeeding. Consult your doctor if pregnant.succinylcholine
Succinylcholine is a skeletal muscle relaxant used for medical procedures done under general anesthesia, including tracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, and surgeries. Common side effects of succinylcholine include postoperative muscle pain, jaw rigidity, muscle twitch (fasciculation), respiratory depression, cessation of breathing (apnea), low or high blood pressure (hypotension or hypertension), irregular heart rhythms (cardiac arrhythmias), slow or rapid heartbeat (bradycardia or tachycardia), cardiac arrest, increase in intraocular pressure (IOP), high blood potassium levels (hyperkalemia), severe life-threatening drug reaction with excessively high temperature (malignant hyperthermia), salivary gland enlargement, excessive salivation, rash, hypersensitivity reactions, and others.
Target Heart Rate Zone and Chart
Target heart rate zone is a term used to define a heart rate at which cardio exercises are to be done. Exercising regularly at a target heart rate ensures that there is minimum undue stress on the heart and maximum benefit from the exercises. The American Heart Association recommends people to exercise in their target heart rate zones, which are calculated as a percentage (usually between 50 and 85%) of your maximum (safe) heart rate.
What Heart Rate Is a Heart Attack?
While no one particular heart rate qualifies as a heart attack, a rapid heart rate outside 60 to 100 beats per minute should be monitored closely.
What Heart Rate Is Bradycardia?
Most researchers consider bradycardia to be a heart rate less 60 beats per minute (bpm).What Is a Good Resting Heart Rate by Age and Gender?
Normal resting heart rate (RHR) values can range from anywhere between 60-100 beats per minute (bpm). As cardiovascular fitness increases, the resting heart rate value decreases. Resting heart rate is the number of beats per minute the heart takes while a person is fully rested.
What Is PDA Heart Surgery?
Ductus arteriosus is a normal connection or opening in a fetus between the descending thoracic aorta and the pulmonary artery. In normal development, the ductus arteriosus closes after birth. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure surgery is a procedure to close this connection if it persists (remains patent) after birth.
What Is the Best Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is a type of heart disorder that can cause an abnormally high heart rate. The best type of treatment that is recommended for a patient is based on their symptoms. Treatment options of AFib include lifestyle changes, medications, and procedures such as cardioversion or ablation.
Heart Health: What to Know About Your Heart Rate
Understanding your heart rate and what's healthy for you is an important part of taking care of yourself. Get the facts about heart rates.