Rapid pulse

Dear Ask The Doctor: My blood pressure is 174 98 and my pulse is 127 pulse has been spiking from 90-140 for 2 days no apparent reason i have been sitting and relaxing what could be causing this?

Dear John: Spiking in heart rate at rest could be caused by a rhythm disturbance within the heart. I would advise that you attend your local Emergency Room to have an electrocardiogram (ECG) performed, to check the underlying heart rhythm. You may require a 24 hour Holter (heart) monitor, as an in-patient or an out-patient depending on the results of the above ECG.