Q I am a 32-year-old woman, and for as long as I can remember, I have had a very fast resting heart rate. When I was in my late teens and early 20s, it was around 80 beats per minute. Now it's not uncommon for it to be 100 to 140 beats per minute. I am overweight and take multiple medications for bipolar and anxiety. I understand all of these meds can increase a heart rate. I've asked a doctor about it, and he said that some people are just "wired high." Should I be worried about the long-term effects of a fast heart rate? Could this contri-bute to hyperhidrosis?
A The normal resting heart rate ranges between 60 and 100, although there are healthy people on both sides of that range. There are many causes of a fast heart rate, and you have mentioned several of them. Being overweight, being anxious, being bipolar and taking medications, including some used to treat those conditions, may cause an elevated heart rate.
An elevated heart rate by itself is not dangerous, although there are conditions that cause a fast heart rate that are dangerous, such as uncontrolled high thyroid levels. It's reasonable to check this at least once a year, using a blood test and an EKG.
I don't think the fast heart rate is causing hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating); rather, it seems likely that something is causing both. Anxiety is a common cause. There are many rare causes, such as the thyroid issue I mentioned, and also an extremely rare cause, a pheochromocytoma, a tumor that secretes adrenaline.
Assuming you don't have any of the rare causes, some regular exercise, such as daily walking, can bring your heart rate down.
Q I have heard conflicting reports about flaxseed oil. Some experts recommend consuming it, but others do not. I thought flaxseed oil was a good source of omega-3, but now I don't know if I should throw out my capsules. Has flaxseed oil fallen from grace?
A Flaxseed oil does contain large amount of ALA, a type of omega-3 fatty acid. There is some good evidence that this oil may reduce the risk of heart disease by acting favorably on cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
However, ground flaxseeds contain both the ALA and fiber and lignans. Fiber helps with bowel regularity, and lignans have estrogenlike properties and are purported to have anticancer properties, as yet unproven in humans.
The estrogen effect of ground flaxseed is not enough to help with hot flashes, but it may be enough to cause problems in pregnant women or those with a history of breast cancer.
The article you sent recommended using ground flaxseed instead of flaxseed oil. Ground flaxseed has the advantages of the fiber, and the mixed effects of the lignans.
Both ground flaxseed and flaxseed oil can go rancid unless stored in sealed containers or refrigerated.
Send questions to Dr. Roach at ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu.