Survival of the Focused: How Tachycardia Pushed Me to Make Heart-Healthy Lifestyle Changes

Willeke Van Eeckhoutte made heart-healthy lifestyle adaptations when tachycardia became a daily nuisance.

Living with several health conditions makes me wonder if Charles Darwin's survival of the fittest theory is meant to apply to people like me.

In Darwin's view, natural selection was not up to who was in the best physical shape with the biggest muscles (though that can help). No, the "fittest" were the ones who could most successfully adapt to changes in their environment and, as such, reproduce the most offspring with the same hardy traits.

I agree with Mr. Darwin in both a positive and negative way.

I don't have big muscles, and I don't live in an environment that requires me to adapt to specific ways of living — at least, not anymore.

My body has never really listened to me

But I've always considered myself physically vulnerable since childhood, as my body would often act out in various ways. Chronic bronchitis, anemia, a love of caressing the floor by tripping and falling, twisted wrists and ankles from dancing. And worst of all, a (now thankfully healed) horrendous allergy with red hives all over. Indeed, I was a fragile girl. 

As an adult, I got several repetitive strain injuries from updating catalogs while working in a library. I still experience pangs of pain from an old ACL knee injury, which I got from jumping off a climbing wall years ago. And, as I currently hug the floor after tripping over my own feet, I dare say that clothes made from bubble wrap may help me not injure myself so much.

Eighteen years ago, I was handed a cluster of diagnoses. Endometriosis. Multiple sclerosis (MS). And, somewhere between those two, the condition that causes me to write this article - irregular heartbeat followed by tachycardia.

Still, I’ve survived it all. And making some Darwin-style adaptations will help me thrive, too.

Tachycardia is keen to insert itself into my daily activities

Tachycardia follows me everywhere. 

Walking up a staircase - tachycardia.

Walking fast to catch a bus - tachycardia.

Taking clothes down from the washing line - tachycardia.

Running to pull the mail from my dog's mouth - tachycardia overload.

Missing a phone call because I can't find my phone in the house - also tachycardia overload.

There's no end to what sets off a fast heartbeat.

I have plenty of incentives to adapt to the challenges I've been handed in a rather Darwinian manner. If I don't change my lifestyle, my list of conditions will only get longer. 

I've already had to say goodbye to my full-time job as MS interfered with my work whenever and however it liked. I've already had to say goodbye to my full-time job as MS interfered with my work whenever and however it wanted. My long list of prescribed treatments had the potential to affect my heart health. And so they did, bringing along a whole host of other side effects.

Tachycardia demands a lot of changes – 3 ways I found heart-healthy compromises for my lifestyle

As time went by, I could almost hear my heart yelling for me to adapt my lifestyle. It was a demand too hard to ignore when I started feeling as if my heart would explode in protest. 

1. I adapted my exercise routine to something heart-healthy but less strenuous

Keeping up my exercise routine was important, but I started by adapting the more vigorous exercises to ones gentler on my cardiac system. Everything is about finding balance. While chest-busting HIIT drills were causing my heart and I to fall out with one another, stripping exercise from my life would do my heart no favors. 

Instead, I focused on a gentle activity that wouldn't strain my heart and would increase my bond with man's (and my) best friend: dog walking!

I moved to Ireland 20 years ago, among other reasons, because of the beautiful landscape. There is no end to the scenic trails, lushly fauna-ed public paths and breathtaking (no pun intended) views.

Before my MS diagnosis, I spent hours walking miles in every weather. Since my MS has progressed, those miles-long walks have gotten slower and less challenging but not less pleasurable. Rambling with my dog in the countryside will never bore me. It also keeps my heart happy without the risk of me keeling over and gasping for breath.

2. I addressed my tachycardia’s toxic relationship with anxiety

The next step was to get a hold of my anxiety. It was a vicious cycle. I'd face a new challenge or stressor, whatever that may be, which would cause my heart to trip into tachycardia mode. Then, I'd get anxious about my heart going into overdrive on top of the worry I already felt. As you can imagine, the double stress never helps my heart achieve a more even pace. 

There are plenty of ways to relieve anxiety. Still, when anxiety takes hold of us, it's easy to forget our tools in the heat of the moment.

If I'm at home and having a bout of anxiety, I put pen to paper. I get everything down that's bothering me, as science proves that writing can help when emotional and mental health hit a bad patch.

I've also learned a meditation technique called “Body Scan," which has a long and a short version. The scan is an excellent way to guide your thoughts in a more positive direction.

3. I discussed my plans and progress with my healthcare team and asked for their advice

Another step was communicating with my doctor. Thankfully, my medical team were quick to do some tests and adapt my treatment plan to something more sustainable for my heart.

This has helped for the most part, though MS has a way of interfering with some medicines. When it does, tachycardia seems to be in on MS's plans and comes back in full force. Everything is a work in progress.

The bottom line

Everything is a work in progress, but I don't let these obstacles define me or sour my plans to sustain my heart health. Life is too short to give in or give up. I won't let go of my joy and happiness. 

Look after your heart health. Because if your heart stops working, so will everything else.

The information presented is solely for educational purposes, not as specific advice for the evaluation, management, or treatment of any condition.

The individual(s) who have written and created the content and whose images appear in this article have been paid by Teva Pharmaceuticals for their contributions. This content represents the opinions of the contributor and does not necessarily reflect those of Teva Pharmaceuticals. Similarly, Teva Pharmaceuticals does not review, control, influence, or endorse any content related to the contributor's websites or social media networks. This content is intended for informational and educational purposes and should not be considered medical advice or recommendations. Consult a qualified medical professional for diagnosis and before beginning or changing any treatment regimen.

NPS-ALL-NP-01205 JUNE 2024