Heart Palpitations on the trail
Wondering if anyone has ever had heart palpitations while hiking on the trail?
I got one while on the AT over the weekend. I have never had one before and I collapsed on my hiking polkes for about 1 second, losing consciousness for a split second before catching my balance again.
It was absoltuelt terrifying - especially the brief pounding in my head.
Right afterward I was fine, though.
I am going to see my cardiologist this week, but was wondering if anyone else has ever been hit by one?
FWIW, it was quite warm out this weekend with no leaves to offer shelter from the sun, even though I drank 2.5 liters of water I was still feeling dehydrated.
Thanks
I'm no doctor, but.......
Quote:
MOWGLI16-"My fingers & hands swelled up pretty badly. It got to the [point] where it was difficult to make a fist. Seriously!"
Obviously this isn't to be construed as medical advice and there can be multiple causes that produce the same symptoms, but it has happened to me (and others) as well. I've found this occurs earlier in a long hike until your body adjusts to its new routine. Check here and here for some more info. Try some of the suggestions in the first reference and see if they help. If not, just tell everyone you had a swell hike. :D
Heart Papittaions and Arrhythmia
Jan Curran is the author of two books on the Appalachian trail. He has several experiences with heart palpitations that turned into arrhythmia. Maybe these are the books that Rain Man is thinking of. The Books are; The Appalachian Trail, A Journey Of Discovery" and "Onward to Katahdin". They are available at the ATC store at Harpers Ferry. There seemed to be a lot of info in those books. Hope this helps.
Pack straps lead to false heart attack fears on AT
I hiked with Red Hat for a couple of days in the Smokies two weeks ago. I don't think she'd mind me borrowing these posts of hers from TrailJournals, as they are so apropos to the discussion in this forum.
http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=93871
Sunday April 17
Word of the Day: scared
In case you have not noticed, the sound of my last two entries has been a little melancholy. I decided yesterday that I was feeling sad because I was exhausted, so I would cut back to fewer miles and hours. Today would be a short, easy 10 mile day. Rocky and I even talked about having lunch at the diner down from the road crossing about 2.4 miles. Shortly before I got to the road crossing, my left arm went numb. I couldn't hold my hiking stick. So I switched and carried both in my right arm. Then I started to have pains in my upper left chest. I was scared! I decided that I would slowly get to the road crossing and get a ride into town.
When Sowega came up behind me, I told him that I was going to town. He asked what was wrong and I told him. He took off! By the time I got down to the road, he had knocked on a door, gotten a phone, and called Miss Janet's to arrange a ride. I felt better as soon as I took off my pack and sat down. But I went to Miss Janet's and promised to see a doctor tomorrow.
Monday April 18
Word of the Day: Normal
Went to the doctor and then to the hospital for a chest xray and EKG. Results: normal! It seems that my Golite pack was too heavy (should be about 25 and was pushing 30) so I had a nerve pinched in my shoulder. That was what caused my problems. The doctor said I was good to go!
Wednesday April 20
Word of the Day: backpack
Since my Golite Gust packed too full was giving me a pinched nerve (which we thought might be heart symptoms), I purchased a new pack. I now own four backpacks. First, I have my good old REI internal frame. It weighs over 5 lbs. Second, I have my Mountainsmith Chimera. This is a first class pack, but unfortunately, it never fit properly and was uncomfortable. I discovered in being fit for a pack this week, that I am a short torso. I am tall, but it is all in my legs! So, for this hike I purchased my third pack, the Golite Gust. It has no frame and should carry up to 30 lbs. I found that over 25 it was uncomfortable. With five or six days food, I am pushing 30. Off to the outfitters in Johnson City, TN we went to find the perfect pack for me. I wanted the beautiful purple Osprey Ariel (remember, I am a Red Hat!), but alas, it was too big. After trying five or six different kinds of packs, I settled on a grey Osprey Atmos 50. It has air vents on the back to keep my back cool. It is tight and I have to carry my tent and pad on the outside. But it fits well and should solve my problem. My hike today was very comfortable with my new pack.