What could cause heart palpitations and the simultaneous opening of my sinus passages?
Posted by NoChubbyHubby on March 2, 2010
GET 5 Euro FREE FOR INTERNATIONAL CALLS!I have hay fever so it is not unusual for me to be congested, but the heart palpitations are a more recent phenomenon.
I didn’t take any medications.
The last two times I was just driving a car.
lizzie_4321 said,
If you take a decongestant, that could very well be the reason you have the simultaneous symptoms. Some of the migraine medications can also cause both. Both act to constrict blood vessels, so it takes away the sinus pressure but at the same time, it causes constriction of all the vessels, including those surrounding the heart.
Rachel A said,
Are you taking decongestants? These have the ability to stimulate increased heart rate and blood pressure because of their actions on blood vessels (constriction) and heart rate receptors (tachycardia -fast heart rate)
Anything with pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) or topical nasal spray decongestants can cause the release of norepinephrine which causes nasal blood vessel constriction but norepinephrine will also stimulate your heart rate to increase as well because it acts on beta 1 adrenergic receptors.
Be careful if you are taking these drugs. They can have side effects and nasal sprays can be addictive with rebound congestion if used more than 4 days. You can also develop supraventricular tachycardia or atrial flutter with these drugs. Older individuals are more susceptible to these reactions.
Good luck, hope this helps.
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