Low heart rate after exercising more

[micwal93]

Hi all,

Haven't posted here for a very long time, hope you are all doing well!

For over a month now I've been keeping myself fit by going out running, sometimes for long distances. On average I probably go running once every two days but there's been some times where I've ran every day or even multiple times in a day.

I've definitely felt myself becoming fitter, but there is something that is some cause for concern.

My resting heart rate has come down quite a lot. Earlier today for example, I measured it at 43bpm, which is pretty low.

I was wondering whether you all thought this was cause for concern at all. I don't have any other symptoms, and I'm not on any regular medication. Anyone else have any similar experiences?

Thanks,

Mike

[Hidden]

I was and to a lesser extent still am a cardio bunny. Before I was on medication my daytime resting heart rate was around 45. Whilst sleeping it would drop to the mid-20s and pause for 2 to 4 seconds. For that reason I couldn't take beta blockers and, a specific medical note had to be made if I was undergoing general anaesthetic as my blood pressure would be low during recovery. I was away from exercise after a stroke a year ago, but I'm introducing cardio again. Given your short history of exercising I wonder whether you are overtraining and your low heart rate is in part a parasympathetic response.

[BobD Volunteer]

Training will reduce heart rate so if you are fit then this is not overly low. I have often come across athletes with lower rates. If you are worried then speak to your doctor.

[Maggimunro in reply to BobD]

Agree Bob. When I was a runner my resting heart rate was mid 40's.

Don't run anymore, but now mid 60's. I couldn't tolerate betablockers because they dropped it down again, and not because I was cardiovascularly fit, just drugged.

Talk to your doc.

[Rellim296]

Does your heart rate bother you physically - dizziness, feeling faint or wobbly - or do you feel fine and are just concerned about the figures you are getting?

[micwal93]

Hi there,

Thank you so much for your detailed response, it's been very helpful.

I think your analysis is pretty spot on. I'm going to try and give myself sufficient rest periods from now on and train more sensibly.

Note that I took the 43bpm hr reading just before bed when I was lying down, and before I started training to the extent I am now, my resting hr was still fairly low in the low to mid 50s, so still a big drop but not as significant as if it were in the 60s or 70s. I've been fit and exercising to varying degrees most of my life.

Thanks,

Mike

[micwal93]

Interesting, I used to train and swim all the time and was in the air cadets for a while so fitness was a big part of my life. Do you think my low heart rate may have something to do with that?

[lacolyn]

You just sound pretty fit! How does it compare with pre AF?

[Hidden]

The r - r interval of your heart beat can be a good indication of whether you should rest or train. The Ithlete App will measure the r - r interval in conjunction with a heart monitor chest strap. The problem is that AF can cause an error flag. In the week before my stroke, Ithlete showed an error every day although my blood pressure monitor (with AF detection) and the pleth display on my oximeter showed nothing untoward. I've just bought a Concept 2 rowing machine and given the 5km row most days, I need to start using Ithlete again and recording resting heart rate and blood pressure.