A normal resting heart rate is anywhere between 60 and 100 beats per minute, according to the Mayo Clinic. But during a heart attack, that rate is altered due to disrupted blood flow. An abnormal heart rhythm, also known as an arrhythmia, is a common symptom of a heart attack.
According to Cedars-Sinai, more than 90 percent of people who have a heart attack experience arrhythmia as a symptom. Heart rates during a heart attack can vary from too slow or too fast to palpitations and even skipped beats.
If you believe you are experiencing a heart attack, call 911 immediately.
Types of Arrhythmia
There are three types of arrhythmias that can affect the speed or regularity of your heartbeat, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI):
- Tachycardia: faster than 100 beats per minute (bpm)
- Bradycardia: slower than 60 bpm
- Premature (extra) heartbeat: the signal for the heart to beat comes too early
A premature heartbeat creates a pause that is followed by a stronger beat after your heart rhythm goes back to normal. This may create the sensation that your heart skipped a beat.
Heart Blocks
According to the Cleveland Clinic, a heartbeat problem called a heart block can also happen with a heart attack. A heart block is when the electrical signals don’t get from the upper chambers to the lower chambers of your heart as well as they need to. That causes your heart to skip beats or beat slowly.
Your risk of dying of a heart attack may be greater if your heart rate during the event is either lower or higher than normal, according to research.
How to Check Your Pulse
If you’re unsure of how fast or slow your heart is beating, the NHLBI says you can check by doing the following:
- Place your index and middle finger tips below the base of your thumb against the inside of your wrist.
- Press lightly, just enough to feel the blood pulsing under your fingers.
- Using a clock or watch with a second hand, count the number of beats you feel for one minute.
- Instead of counting for a full minute, you can also count for 30 seconds and multiply your results by two.
If you wear a smartwatch or other monitoring device, it may be able to check your heart rate for you.
When to See a Doctor
Arrhythmia is not the only sign of a heart attack. According to Cedars-Sinai, roughly two out of three people who have heart attacks experience chest pain, shortness of breath, or tiredness in the days or weeks leading up to the heart attack.
You may feel heart attack pain in the middle of your chest, which can spread to your back, arms, or jaw. But Cedars-Sinai points out that about one out of every three people who experience a heart attack don’t feel any pain in their chest.
Seek medical attention if you’re experiencing an abnormal heart rate that’s accompanied by any of the following symptoms:
- Pain in your chest, back, jaw, arms, or stomach
- Feeling faint
- Nausea
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating
- Pounding heartbeat
- Restlessness, anxiousness, and a sense of impending doom
- Bluish lips, feet, or hands
Among older people, shortness of breath is an especially strong indicator of a possible heart attack. They may also experience stroke-like symptoms and disorientation.
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