Track infections through resting heart rate

I was diagnosed with tachycardia when I was a child, during a mysterious illness that hospitalized me and that is suspected to have been a cytokine storm. I recently got my heart checked out (about a year ago). They never found the cause. I think it got better since I was a kid, but my resting heart rate still tends to be in the 90s. It does not cause any impact on my life. I exercise a lot, and just feel normal. Then again since I've had it my whole life maybe my 'normal' is actually not normal to people who have a lower heart rate.

I'm still not sure if this puts me at any sort of elevated risk should I get infected with COVID-19. I am self isolating just in case, but my country is not really taking very drastic isolation measures right now and part of me just feels like I am being paranoid with no clear way to know if I am predisposed to any complications or not.

> tachycardia when I was a child

You might have been misdiagnosed based on the information available at that time. Children have different statistics on various body parameters at various age groups. You could compare your reports with recent research to see if you actually had tachycardia

> resting heart rate still tends to be in the 90s

It is within the normal age but on the higher end, but you should get your blood pressure checked. I do not know your age, but it might change once you go above 25 or 28. When Rhr drops with age, it is a sign that your metabolism is slowing and you should start measuring body-fat.

> any sort of elevated risk should I get infected with COVID-19

There is no real correlation or evidence. But in your case if you have mild fever and feel nauseous - that would be the first red flag. It may be just because you ate something, but if it is Covid19 or any flu causing SARS then the other symptoms like dry cough and higher fever may follow in 8-24 hours. You may not even see mild respiratory/breathing problems or severe fatigue or low blood pressure until 48-72 hours. Seeking medical attention and getting good diagnosis and prognosis quickly should be a priority, many people go to the emergency after 120-144 hours and then end up on ventilators in a matter of 4-6 hours. The survival rates on ventilators are not good enough.

Note: I'm not a medical professional. I have known these things out of my curiosity in medicine and accidental experience in hospitals with some talented doctors and intensivists.

Thank you for your input. I am already 31 and when I got this checked out the doctors did say my heart rate was faster than normal, but just didn't find a cause. I'm hoping that it is as you say - still relatively normal! My blood pressure has historically been totally fine.

Unfortunately I don't have reports from when I was a child. This was in a post soviet country in the early 90s and I doubt those medical records are still obtainable. At the time I was experiencing some kind of reaction causing high fever, hives and swelling everywhere, and inability to move due to bone and joint pain. I can't remember how long it lasted, I think it was weeks. The doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong and thought I was dying, but in one of their tests they did pick up on the tachycardia.

I'm a little disappointed because I am a rather fit and athletic person, so I'd expect my resting heart rate to be lower as we see with other athletic adults! When I exercise it almost immediately goes to the very high 100s, and sometimes to 200 after strenuous exercise, but I don't consider that to be worrying like a high heart rate at rest.

I will be sure to watch out for the signs and the progression you mention. But in terms of seeking care early - I'm not quite sure what good that would do. If I don't need a ventilator yet and just have normal cold or flu like symptoms (which I'd usually stay home for) how would they be able to help? It isn't like there's a cure right? I would be concerned with going to the doctor and being turned away as there's nothing they can do, but in the meantime taking up valuable time and resources from people who may be more severely ill.

I read a paper recently on the Chinese outbreak of COVID-19 that found approximately 80% of the positive test results on people without symptoms were false positives.

This is very interesting. Fitbit and such have great opportunity to contribute.