heart rate vs respirations

greetings all:
i have sick sinus syndrome and had my medtronic implanted 12/07 with the rate response on which is great for me. my question is: my respiration rate does not seem to match my heart rate when the rate response activates. that is, with my longstanding bardycardia my respiration rate was low to match the low heart rate. but now that my heart rate is up to normal or a bit above normal, my respiration rate seems to still be low as though it is not recognizing the increased need for more oxygen. it is though the heart rate and respiration rate are not "matched." anyone else notice this?
steve

1 Comments

Heart rate effect on respiration

by ElectricFrank - 2008-03-25 01:03:24

Hi,
Actually, your increased heart rate doesn't necessarily require an increased respiration rate. We tend to connect the two because exercise increases them both. Since it is just the pacemaker increasing your HR there isn't a need to breath faster. Also, you can get increased oxygen by breathing deeper which is generally better.
I have practiced with biofeedback until I can comfortably breath at 3 breaths /minute, but it is very deep breathing. When I feel anxious, I slow and deepen my breathing and it really helps. When I had my problem with skipping several beats in a row, the E.R. doc ask me if I was "short of breath". I told him "no I am long of breath". The monitor was showing about 5 breaths/minute and he was upset about that until he noticed that I was showing 98% on the oxygen monitor.
So, this was my long way of saying relax and don't worry about it unless your breathing stops. Then take advantage of the short time you have left to get in some worrying. (:

cheers,
frank

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The pacer systems are really very reliable. The main problem is the incompetent programming of them. If yours is working well for you, get on with life and enjoy it. You probably are more at risk of problems with a valve job than the pacer.