Causes and Treatment for High Heart Rate After Surgery

Causes and Treatment for an Elevated Heart Rate After Surgery

It's common for your heart rate to be higher than normal in the days and weeks after having surgery. The physical stress of the operation, anesthesia effects, pain medications, and other factors can all impact your heart rate during recovery. But when is an elevated heartbeat something to be concerned about versus a normal side effect? Here's an in-depth look at why your heart may be beating fast after surgery along with tips to help get it back to normal.

Normal Causes of High Heart Rate After Surgery

There are several common reasons your heart rate might be faster than usual for the first few weeks following a surgical procedure:

The Body's Stress Response

Any type of surgery triggers an inflammatory and stress response in the body that can raise your heart rate. Your cardiovascular system works harder in response to the trauma.

Anesthesia Wearing Off

Anesthesia medications and gases often used for surgery can linger in your system and elevate your heart rate after the procedure as the effects dissipate.

Post-Op Pain and Pain Medications

Dealing with surgical pain and taking prescription opioid pain relievers also commonly accelerate your heart rate during postsurgical recovery.

Low Blood Volume

Blood loss during surgery or intravenous fluids being interrupted can sometimes leave you with temporarily low blood volume after the operation, forcing the heart to beat faster to compensate.

Anemia

Some blood loss related to the surgery may lead to post-op anemia, a lower red blood cell count, which can also increase heart rate as the body tries to get enough oxygen.

Blood Clots

Deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism blood clots are risks after surgery that can severely increase heart rate by blocking blood flow through the arteries in the legs or lungs.

So in most cases, an elevated heart rate in the days or weeks after surgery is normal and resolves on its own as your body recovers. But be on the lookout for any symptoms that may indicate a blood clot or other concern. Contact your doctor if you have chest pain, leg swelling, or shortness of breath.

When to Seek Emergency Care for Heart Rate After Surgery

In some cases, an accelerated heart rate after surgery can be indicative of more worrisome complications that require prompt medical treatment. Seek emergency care if you experience:

• Heart rate over 120 bpm persisting for hours or days
• Racing, pounding heartbeat sensations in your chest
• Lightheadedness, confusion, extreme fatigue or weakness
• Chest pain that worsens with deep breaths
• Sudden, severe shortness of breath or rapid breathing
• Coughing up blood or bloody sputum
• Pain, swelling, warmth, or discoloration in the legs or arms

These signs may indicate potential complications like an arrhythmia, pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, or side effects of medications that require rapid treatment. So whether it has been days or weeks since your procedure, always contact your doctor or an emergency room right away if your heart rate after surgery doesnt improve or you experience any alarming symptoms.

Tips to Get Your Heart Rate Back to Normal After Surgery

If your heart rate remains moderately elevated but you feel relatively fine, try these tips to help return it to pre-surgery levels:

Move Around Gradually

Getting up and slowly walking around for 5-10 minutes a few times a day can help. But take it easy to avoid falls or bleeding.

Practice Relaxation Techniques

Try calm breathing, meditation, or soothing music to activate your parasympathetic nervous system and reduce your heart rate.

Stay Well Hydrated

Drink plenty of water, broth, herbal tea, and electrolyte drinks to prevent dehydration from accelerating your heartbeat.

Eat Small, Nutrient-Dense Meals

Fuel your recovery with small, frequent meals full of anti-inflammatory foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, yogurt, fish, and lean protein.

Take Medications as Directed

Stay on top of prescribed antibiotics to prevent infection as well as stool softeners, blood thinners, iron, and other meds as recommended by your doctor.

Use Cold Therapy

Applying cold compresses to your chest, neck, or wrists may help slow down your heart rate.

Practice Good Sleep Hygiene

Get extra rest after surgery but avoid sleeping too much during the day. Limit naps to 30 minutes.

Modify Pain Medication if Needed

Talk to your doctor about adjusting post-op pain meds if they are accelerating your heart rate.

Wear Compression Stockings

Gradient compression stockings help prevent blood clots and improve circulation to return heart rate to normal.

In most cases, these at-home remedies can help regulate your heart rate within the first 1-2 weeks after surgery. But call your doctor if palpitations or tachycardia persist.

When to Follow Up With Your Doctor

You should follow up with your doctor or surgical care team if your elevated heart rate after surgery lasts longer than 2 weeks or if you notice any of the following:

• Heart rate consistently 100 bpm or higher
• Heart palpitations more than 2 weeks post-op
• Lightheadedness when standing up
• Fatigue, weakness that persists
• Swelling in your legs or arms
• Shortness of breath with exertion
• Chest pain especially with deep breathing

Your doctor can check for potential complications through exams, blood tests, EKGs, chest X-rays, CT angiograms, or other imaging. Based on the results, medications or interventions may be prescribed to get your heart rate back to healthier levels.

Medications to Treat Elevated Heart Rate After Surgery

If lifestyle measures don't resolve an accelerated heart rate after surgery, your doctor may prescribe medications such as:

Beta-Blockers

Beta-blockers like propranolol slow down your heart rate by reducing the effects of adrenaline. They are often used short-term after surgery.

Blood Thinners

Anticoagulant medications like lovenox or heparin help prevent blood clots that could be accelerating your heart rate.

Anti-Arrhythmics

Medications like amiodarone may help get heart rhythms back to normal if an arrhythmia is causing tachycardia after surgery.

Diuretics

Diuretics or "water pills" like furosemide promote urination to reduce excess fluid that could be raising heart rate.

Always take prescribed post-surgical medications exactly as directed and alert your doctor of any side effects. Avoid non-prescription drugs that could interact with other meds or supplements without medical guidance.

When to See a Cardiologist for Post-Op Tachycardia

If your rapid heart rate after surgery doesn't improve with treatment from your surgeon or primary doctor, they may recommend you visit a cardiologist, heart specialist for additional testing and care. See a cardiologist if you have:

• Ongoing palpitations longer than 4 weeks after surgery
• Heart rate over 100 bpm at rest persisting over 2 weeks
• Significant chest pain or shortness of breath
• Abnormal EKG heart rhythm test results
• A history of heart disorders like tachycardia or arrhythmias

A cardiologist can order advanced cardiac testing like echocardiograms, stress tests, CT scans, cardiac MRIs, and heart monitors to check for issues like blood clots, blockages, heart failure, or arrhythmias that may be causing a rapid heart rate after your procedure. If a treatable problem is found, medications, surgery, implanted devices, or cardiac ablations can help restore normal heart rhythms.

When to Call 911 for Heart Rate After Surgery

In severe cases of extremely rapid, irregular heart rate after surgery along with alarming symptoms like passing out or chest pain, call 911 or go straight to the emergency room. Warning signs include:

• Sudden onset of racing, pounding heartbeat
• Feeling your heart is skipping beats
• Fainting or nearly passing out
• Severe shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Coughing up frothy, bloody sputum
• Chest pain, especially if it radiates to the arm, neck or jaw
• Feeling confused, clammy sweaty

These symptoms may indicate you are experiencing a serious heart arrhythmia, heart attack, pulmonary embolism or other emergency that requires instant medical treatment. Don't try to tough it out or drive yourself to the ER. Call for an ambulance to get lifesaving care right away.

When to Ask Your Doctor About Wearable Heart Monitors

To keep an easy eye on your heart rate after surgery and alert your doctor of any concerning patterns, you may want to ask about using mobile EKG monitors like:

Mobile EKG Devices

Wearable mobile EKG devices like Apple Watch, KardiaMobile, and Omron let you check heart rhythms at home to share with your doctor via an app.

Implantable Loop Recorders

Small implantable cardiac monitors like Medtronic's Reveal Linq automatically record heart data 24/7 that gets sent to your doctor for evaluation.

Cardiac Event Monitors

Non-invasive mobile cardiac telemetry monitors like CardioNet can be worn at home for extended time periods to monitor heart activity.

This emerging technology makes it easy to stay on top of your heart health from home while recovering from surgery. Talk to your doctor to see if a wearable EKG monitor would be helpful in your situation.

Lifestyle Changes to Help Heart Health After Surgery

Along with medical treatment, the following lifestyle measures can aid healing and help get your heart rate back to normal:

Follow Post-Op Exercise Guidelines

Slowly increase physical activity as your doctor recommends to improve conditioning without overtaxing your heart.

Keep Follow-Up Appointments

Don't skip recommended follow-up exams to monitor your heart rate and catch any potential issues promptly.

Eat a Heart-Healthy Diet

Focus on anti-inflammatory whole foods low in salt and sugar but high in nutrients to nourish your heart.

Aim for Healthy Sleep Habits

Get at least 7-8 hours per night and avoid erratic sleep schedules to help your body heal.

Quit Smoking

Stop smoking as soon as possible to improve your heart's health and reduce surgery complications.

Limit Alcohol Intake

Heavy alcohol consumption can interfere with many medications. Follow your doctor's advice on alcohol use after surgery.

Reduce Stress

Make time for relaxing activities to activate the parasympathetic nervous system. Try meditating, journaling, yoga, or spending time outdoors.

With your doctor's guidance, these lifestyle measures can help ensure your heart rate returns to its healthy baseline in the weeks after your surgical procedure.

What to Expect Long-Term After Surgery-Related Tachycardia

In most cases, it's normal for your heart rate to gradually improve and stabilize around 4-6 weeks after surgery, as long as any underlying complications are effectively treated. But some people may experience:

• Ongoing management of arrhythmias
• Adjustments to heart medications
• Following cardio exercise guidelines
• Wearing compression garments
• Limiting certain activities temporarily
• Monitoring for blood clot recurrence

Stay in close contact with your doctors and report any new symptoms or changes in your condition. With prompt treatment guided by cardiac testing, most people fully recover within 2-3 months after surgery-related tachycardia.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.