You must have noticed your heart rate rising when you work out. But, have you ever felt it rise randomly for no reason at all? In medical terms, a heart rate of over 100 beats per minute is called tachycardia. A fast heart rate may not lead to any complications. However, if not treated, tachycardia over a prolonged period can result in some serious health concerns like stroke and heart failure. A high pulse rate (another name for heart rate) is not really a health condition in itself. However, a myriad of other non-cardiac factors can lead to tachycardia. Some of the reasons behind a high pulse rate include:

1. Stress and Anxiety

Stressful circumstances trigger a chain of events in the human body. During stress, your body produces adrenaline, a hormone that makes your blood pressure rise and your heart rate and breathing speed up. Anxiety disorders make your body overreact to stress and set off an instinctive response in your autonomic nervous system (ANS). ANS controls your heart rate, digestion, and respiration. 

2. Hyperthyroidism

Also referred to as overactive thyroid, hyperthyroidism is a condition that affects your thyroid gland and causes it to produce too much thyroid hormone. Excess production of thyroid hormone speeds up the metabolism of your body, resulting in several symptoms like hand tremors, high pulse rate, and weight loss. 

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3. Anaemia

This type of anaemia occurs when your body does not have enough iron to produce an adequate amount of red blood cells (RBCs). RBCs are responsible for transporting oxygen throughout the body. In severe cases, the hearts of anaemics pump faster to compensate for the lower amount of red blood cells reaching their body tissues, causing a higher heart rate. This helps your body to circulate blood at a faster speed to compensate for the deficiency.  

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4. Excess Consumption of Alcohol and Caffeine

Alcohol is immensely dehydrating. Excess consumption of alcohol can reduce your blood volume and force your heart to work harder, thereby increasing the heart rate. Also, excess intake of caffeine, which is present in beverages like tea, coffee, and energy and soft drinks, stimulates your central nervous system making you more energetic and alert. However, it also temporarily raises your blood pressure and heart rate, which can be dangerous.

5. Smoking

Smoking leads to an acute increase in your blood pressure and accelerates your heart rate. For this reason, smokers have a higher resting heart rate and blood pressure as compared to non-smokers. Further, smoking is a major risk factor for developing cardiac disorders and diseases. There is plenty of evidence that suggests a strong link between smoking cigarettes and developing heart diseases.  

In addition to the factors mentioned above, a high heart rate can be caused by underlying heart conditions, side effects of certain medications, fever, drug use, and electrolyte imbalance. If you experience tachycardia frequently or if your resting heart rate is chronically high, then it’s advisable to consult with a cardiologist to determine if there are any underlying issues that need treatment. 

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Medically reviewed by Dr Sonia Bhatt.