Increased Pulse

[Makinamess]

For the past few months I have noticed that everytime I eat a lot of raw vegetables, my pulse rate increases to really rapid (like 80 beats per minute) when it's normally around 60.

This was lunch:-
A small slice of leek, mushroom, courgette & cheese flan, a tbsp of homemade potato salad (potatoes, onion, low cal mayo and parsley), a tbsp of pasta salad (w/w pasta with tomato pasta sauce), a tbsp of grated carrot, 1 chopped tomato,a shredded lettuce leaf and 1" slice of cucumber. To drink I just had plain water.

I only seem to get this problem when I've eaten "salad" stuff and I am wondering if it's possible to have developed an allergy for something in my lunch. Btw this is normal food for me.

Any ideas ?

[matt66]

after eating any type of food the digestive process would increase the pulse rate as a matter of course. You state that this happens only after eating vegetables. Never heard of this, would be as keen to know as you. I find my pulse rate shoots up from 65-70 to 100 after just one cup of coffee.

[$~Jeep~$]

I purchased a wrist bp monitor (needed for hubby). The instructions are very strict about when it should be used.

Not just after having eaten, drinking tea/coffee or any form of exercise, even walking.

Patient must be relaxed, and pulse/bp taken ideally at heart level.

When taken by GP at the surgery, it is given the term "white coat syndrome" because the patient has only just sat down, possibly walked to surgery, is agitated regarding their visit to the doctor!

I tested this myself, by walking about, taking my bp/pulse then relaxing for 10 mins, taking reading again - and there is a marked difference.

So don't be undully alarmed at this as eating is a contributory factor.

(Dr) Jeep Lol :o)

[jiggy-gb]

Raw veggies make the metabolism work really hard to digest them, one reason they're so good for anyone trying to lose weight. This, like exercise will increase your pulse rate. Have you increased the amount of raw veggies in the passed couple of months? By eating the right foods you can actually use up most of their calories in just digesting them, raw veggies are great, don't worry too much about it!

[Makinamess]

Thanks folks. I know about the BP stuff, what was baffling me was that there was such an increase (like 33%) which I could really feel as a strong pulse throughout my body (very strange sensation) and why it had only just started happening in the past few months.

[Makinamess]

Sorry jiggy - cross post there. No, I've not increased the amount of raw food I eat - as I've said above, all this sort of food is normal for me (I've been veggie virtually all my life) and nothing else has changed.

[$~Jeep~$]

Sorry Makinamess, should have said that the monitor is also for pulse, and that is why I mentioned the increase after food and tea/coffee.

[jiggy-gb]

Perhaps you have developed an allergy to one thing in particular then? It would seem over indulgence can bring about allergy in some people. Either that or your metabolism has changed for some other reason, ie, your age and fertility, if you've increased or decreased exercise lately, illness or medication etc?
How long does your pulse stay raised for and is it uncomfortable or just noticible?

[Makinamess]

Ahhhhhh Jiggy - you may may have solved the mystery - I wasn't thinking in terms of metabolism at all, just thinking "food and increased pulse" exclusively. I was prescribed another medication a few months ago for hypertension and it definitely affected my energy levels - I became so tired taking a beta blocker (Atenolol) that I had to stop taking it (obviously gradually). I was only on it for a week or so and had forgotten about that !

The raised pulse lasts for about an hour after food and is "disturbing" in that I can feel it throughout my body. Not painful or uncomfortable, just odd.

[jiggy-gb]

That could well be what's upset you then, the metabolism is easily upset and then difficult to sort out. When I gave up smoking (18mths ago) my metabolism crashed drastically and is only just back to what it used to be. It just takes time Makinamess, but if it does worry you then go see your GP just to be on the safe side? If it's stressing you then that won't help and hypertension for a start! Good luck hun x

[Makinamess]

Thanks Jiggy and I'm due to see my GP in a few weeks anyway to check out the hypertension anyway. It wasn't stressing me at all (I'm generally so far laid back that I'm horizontal) and I have a good relationship with my GP, so no worries there. I just thought it was a bit odd and wondered if I'd developed an allergy.

Well done on packing in the fags btw - that is no mean feat !

Thanks to other respondents too :)