Resting BP low

[Spudly22]

Hello 👋

My husband had a successful CV two weeks ago and we have noticed now that his resting HR when sitting watching TV is around 50/55 and sleeping 46/48

He is on medication for his thyroid and diabetes but nothing for BP.

His BP is low normal range and always has been. But we have never looked at his HR before until he was in AF for the past year while they settled his thyroid. Which is now stable,

Anyone know if this is normal? Tried to get appointment today with GP but they are all full. So can call tomorrow.

In the mean time wanted to ask you guys 👍🏻

Thank you

[rosyG]

pretty much like mine and doctors have not been concerned!

[Ianp66]

I'm not medically trained but, when I was checked a few years back in hospital they weren't concerned at 42bpm while sleeping and some people are fine with a low resting heart rate, others not, so I think it's an individual thing, affects everyone different, doctors are the best to ask this question of.

Ian.

[jeanjeannie50]

Is your husband on medication to keep his heart rate down? If so, now that his heart rate is in normal sinus rhythm, this could now be taking it down too low. The best thing you can do is speak to his GP for advice.

Jean

[mrgwair567]

Mine is about the same.

[Spudly22]

Thanks all He is only on thyroid meds and metformin and statin . Don’t think any of them lower HR

[FancyPants54 in reply to Spudly22]

If his thyroid meds are not optimal (not just in range) then he is still hypo and lower heart rate is a symptom of that. I'd get that checked. Ask for a full thyroid panel, TSH, Ft3 and Ft4, first thing in the morning, nothing to eat or drink beforehand other than water and DON'T take the thyroid meds for the day until after the test. You want a 24hr gap from the last lot.

Most of us need our Ft4 and Ft3 to be at least 2/3rd of the way up the range, often in the top quarter. T3 is the most important number and the last one the GP will look for or understand.

[Spudly22 in reply to FancyPants54]

Thank you. His thyroid bloods are due next week so will take account of your points

[Singwell in reply to FancyPants54]

I'm subclinical hypothyroid. What's important about T3? I've never seen it on my bloods. Last time I was in hospital they did out on my discharge notes I should be checked in 3 months.

[FancyPants54 in reply to Singwell]

T3 is the most important thyroid hormone of them all. It is the active hormone. Levothyroxine is T4, inactive storage hormone. By taking it we rely on our body being about to convert T4 to T3, the hormone all our cells need to function. But if we have low nutrient levels (by low I mean not optimal levels of ferritin, iron, B12, Vitamin D (which is a hormone not a vitamin!) and folate) then we might not convert that Levo very well at all and stay sick even though our TSH looks to be were GP's are obsessed it should be. Or, like me, I have a genetic defect that means I don't produce an enzyme needed to convert T4 to T3 well enough. I have inherited the gene defect from one parent, so it's variable. If you have it from both parents you are in a lot of trouble. That simple tiny enzyme removes the iodine molecule from T4, which turns it into T3. I will never do well on Levothyroxine alone. I have to have some T3 added. The added T3 can help the T4 to convert as well by improving body responses, which helps.

Thyroid treatment, diagnosis and medications in the UK are awful. It's bordering criminal. Most sufferers are middle-aged women. They really don't care. Our usefulness is over! Well, sorry, but I'm not taking that. So I have read books about hypothyroidism, articles, medical reports and clinical trial reports. If you wander through life thinking hypo makes you fat and hyper makes you thin and one TSH test a year will keep you well you are behind the curve. The list of symptoms is huge. And not everyone gets all of them. Most hypos are cold. I'm always too warm. Most hypos have low heart rate. Mine is fast. Mostly atrial fibrillation might be caused by too much thyroid hormone. But it's also likely to be caused by too little. Cardiologists do not understand this. I have heard better things of Electrocardiologists (who specialise in arrhythmia), they do I think understand the connection better.

The Thyroid Patient board of Health Unlocked is a very good place to read and learn about your condition. As is the Canadian site for patients who have a very good section on the link to Afib. But you might need to understand the thyroid condition a bit more before the Afib links they talk about makes any sense. Here's the link anyway because the whole site is full of great information for thyroid patients.

thyroidpatients.ca/2020/09/...

[Singwell in reply to FancyPants54]

Super useful - thank you. My BMI is good and I've no issues with hair loss even though I'm borderline hypo. I read a while ago that hypothyroidism could be a precursor to AF and both my GP and EP poo pooed it. Oddly, when in A and E a while back due to my AF a young female trainee GP said these views were out of date. I shall peruse these links. It could be an important missing link.

[FancyPants54 in reply to Singwell]

Sorry, which views did the trainee say were out of date?

[Singwell in reply to FancyPants54]

That there were no links between hypothyroidism and AF/heart problems.

[FancyPants54 in reply to Singwell]

Well she's right. There are. And in proper medical papers too, not just web sites that might show some bias.

[Vince1001]

Ditto with me. Infact I measured it at 35bpm whilst asleep, using my Oxymeter. I raised the topic with my EP recently who said what matters is "how I feel". As I do feel OK then I've continued as I am.

[Paulbounce]

We are all different and our bodies respond accordingly. For me personally 50 -55 HR is perfect. As soon as it hits 85 at rest I know about it.

60 - 100 is the 'norm'. However (for me) lower seems to work. I don't know how long your husband was in afib for - but it will give his heart time to 'relax' and adjust - this is a good thing IMO.

The lowest I hit was 46 - I was fine with it and felt very good. As I say quite often though - we are all different.

Vince wrote

"I measured it at 35bpm whilst asleep"

Just my opinion Vince but that's a little low. However if your EP was happy with it then I'm sure there is no need for concern. For me though that's a little low.

Paul

[Singwell in reply to Paulbounce]

Same Paul! Though less than 45 - which only happens after deep sleep - I'm.not happy. Happened once due to BP hypo

[Spudly22]

Thank you everyone! Love this site!

[Janey1955]

When I had my hr monitored it was 33bpm in the night. I can climb a flight of stairs it might hit 40bpm. In afib it can get to 100bpm. Both my children also have very low heart rates. My cardiologist and ep have no concerns with the low heart rate. I think it is fine for some people and gives the heart chance to relax. My only problem with it as that it limits the medication they can prescribe to control af.

[DevonHubby1]

Wife had a low resting BPM whilst awake and raised it with GP. They reduced her dose of Bisoprolol which did slightly increase BPM but it still can be in mid 40s in afternoon, and she feels cold. GP has suggested stopping Bisoprolol altogether but as she's had a episode of PAF since the dose reduction she's not considering that as the PAF is far worse than the low BPM.

[SirBeatalot in reply to DevonHubby1]

Hi.I am in the same situation as your wife.

This morning my watch tells me that during the night my resting heartbeat was 38 and as a resting heartbeat I only expect it to rise up to mid forties during the day.I have PAF and take 2.5mg of Bisoporol, which although has been debated by my Doctor and EP due to my slow heartbeat, on balance they considered 2.5mg a low dose and worth taking to help with AF.

[TheProf]

Those figures are just slightly higher than mine. Usually about 42 on waking. When I did lots of exercise it was 39, 2 years ago it was 50 but flecainide dropped it down by about 10 bpm. I have records going back a few years!!

[Tapanac]

Mine since my ablation has been roughly 40-45 during the day (don't know through the night although when I was in hospital it did go down to 25-33 which medics weren't happy about) and although really too low, no medics have panicked or bothered too much. Since my last cardioversion it has gone to 53-54 and I and my GP are quite happy with that (better than the dreaded tachycardia in my view). However my BP has gone strange, very low in the morning, but high in the evening. Hope your husband is well and perhaps you and he shouldn't worry too much. However if you can't stop worrying try to at least message your GP for peace of mind.

[andyk0001]

My partner's heart rate is much the same post CV as your husband's. It has gone back to what it was before the Afib. Cardiologist is very happy with it.Regards.

[Turquoise19]

Hi all, this is something that's happening to me right now HR, down to 30 over night, night before last. Last night normal 55 ish, my normal. N during the day its going down to 35.

I am on a loop recorder, so sent a reading off to St Thomas's n haven't heard back from them. So be interested in people's thoughts here. Thx a lot

[Karendeena]

Hi there, my resting heart rate is between 50/55 and my EP says that's good! Mine goes below in the night and again, unless I feel unwell I have been told not to worry

[Boyatthood]

Mine is high 50s in the morning but can fall into the high 40s sat on the sofa in the evening. I have no problems exercising and run 5-10k regularly. On some occasions I can get very slightly dizzy if I get up quickly. Any ectopic beats I have tend to come if I am tired and my HR falls. My AF incidence is virtually all at night and likely linked to my lowering heart rate. My GP was not bothered at all with my heart rate. Have an appointment with a Cardiologist in April to discuss Bradycardia and PAF but I am pretty confident my heart rate will not concern them unless it affects my ability to work or exercise.