Heart rate and cardiovascular issues are actually quite common with MS. Here's a breakdown of what can affect heart rate:
- Autonomic nervous system dysfunction – MS can disrupt the system that controls involuntary body functions, including heartbeat regulation
- Cardiac autonomic dysfunction (CAD) – Linked to MS lesions Show Full Answer
Heart rate and cardiovascular issues are actually quite common with MS. Here's a breakdown of what can affect heart rate:
- Autonomic nervous system dysfunction – MS can disrupt the system that controls involuntary body functions, including heartbeat regulation
- Cardiac autonomic dysfunction (CAD) – Linked to MS lesions on the brain stem, spinal cord, or hippocampal region
- Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) – Research suggests MS's effect on the nervous system may contribute to this
- High blood pressure (hypertension) – 25% more common in people with MS than the general population, and can lead to irregular heartbeats
- Inflammation – Chronic MS-related inflammation can lead to plaque buildup in arteries, restricting blood flow MS medications can also play a role. Interferons have been linked to irregular heartbeats, fingolimod (Gilenya) can impact heart rhythm, glatiramer acetate (Copaxone) may increase risk of a racing heartbeat, and high-dose corticosteroids used during flare-ups can cause palpitations or irregular heartbeats.
It's always worth discussing any heart-related symptoms with both a neurologist and a cardiologist to make sure everything is properly monitored.
July 20
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