Fluctuating heartrate

[Bonnymuir]

I have been on 1.25mg Bisoprolol for about 3 months. This was prescribed due to some eptopic heartbeats. Today I have been very tired and noticed on my watch that my heartrate dropped to 49 and half an hour later goes up to 60. Is it normal for resting heartrate to fluctuate minute to minute. It is now making me anxious.

[BobD Volunteer]

Throw the watch away and relax. Go by how you feel not what some gizmo tells you. 11 bpm is nothing in the way of variation.

[Bonnymuir in reply to BobD]

Thank you. I am fixating on the watch and it is not helping.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Bonnymuir]

Bonny, I too was obsessed with every beat of my heart at one time, just couldn't help it! After 17 years of AF I now know that if I check my pulse it will oblige and go faster, ignore what my heart is doing and I'm so much better.

Never underestimate the power of the mind.

Jean

[Bonnymuir in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank you Jean. I will try to stop checking and be more positive.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Bonnymuir]

At one time if someone told me to stop checking my heart rate, I would feel cross with them and think I'm going to do what I want. I feel quite foolish now about the fuss I made. I remember once when out shopping with a friend, we walked up a long flight of stairs and I looked at the watch on my wrist and my pulse had gone just over a hundred. Oh dear that's not good I said, what do I need to know my worried friend asked me. I replied that I might need to go to hospital if it stayed that way. Well, as I said I'm embarrassed when I think how ridiculous me saying that was. I should think most peoples heart rates go up to 100's when walking up stairs. I could ask her now what she thought, but I think it's better not to bring the subject up - too embarrassing for me.

I think at the start of our AF journey, when we know little about it, we can all behave a little that way - especially if we don't feel too good. 😳🙄

[Ppiman]

My heartrate can do just that and quite regularly. Like you, I take 1.25mg bisoprolol but only on days when I get too much tachycardia (85-130bpm), so not daily. Also like you, I get many ectopic beats, but they don't usually worry me unless they bunch together and last for a long time, which is unusual. When they do, however, they feel just like AF to me, and can make me feel anxious. I was told that ectopic beats are harmless (even though they don't feel it). Were they the only reason you were prescribed bisoprolol?

I somehow doubt that your tiredness would be caused by your heart rate dipping to 49bpm since, unless that is sustained, would likely be considered completely healthy. Mine often seems to go that low during the day but doesn't affect how I feel. When I take bisoprolol, I seem to find it's the next day when the rate drops the lowest, i.e. the day I haven't taken a dose.

In terms of "obsessing" about these things, you will know it you are that kind of person. For me, information is important about my heart, so I am happy to use my excellent Apple Watch as are others I know. I also use a Kardia now and then, if I feel I might have AF or whatever. I find it comforting and useful. But, I suppose there are people who should avoid these things like the plague as they would lead to anxiety, rather than reduce it. As Bob and Jean advise, take care with them in that case.

Steve

[Bonnymuir in reply to Ppiman]

Thank you for your reply. I was put on Bisoprolol as I had one incident when my heart rate went over 130. My GP said do you want to take medication or wait for a 24 hour ECG. My blood pressure was slightly on the high side. This was in October. I had the ECG which showed a small amount of eptopics but nothing to be concerned about. I have never had a review of my medication so really do not know if it is right for me. Recently I became very weak when out walking which was weird. I also get pulsating in my ears ocassionaly especially during the night My blood pressure is now very good. Maybe I am concentrating too much on my health but trying to speak to a GP at the moment is not easy.

[Ppiman in reply to Bonnymuir]

Hi again. The pulsing might more likely be your sinuses or similar amplifying the heart beat or pulse. A full or gassy stomach can do the same by pushing the diaphragm muscle up against the heart, which can also cause harmless palpitations or fluttering feelings.

It is certainly very easy to over-focus on this and worry altogether needlessly. That’s in the nature of any concerns about the heart and, as Bob and Jean advise, it’s too easy to get obsessed by it.

That said, since my troubles began with atrial flutter in 2019, my heart does seem to pump harder and stronger at odd times, too, and have lots more ectopic beats, but if it bothers me enough to check on the Kardia, all shows as normal and it then fades to the back of my mind.

It seems odd to be given bisoprolol for a single case of the heart racing, although it might have been to lower blood pressure, too.

Becoming weak suddenly must have worried you and seems odd but, again, can be caused by over-focusing on health related things bringing on an anxiety reaction. These often hide themselves as other than what they are - harmless but unpleasant anxiety. If you recovered from it quickly and it wasn’t one-sided or in other ways odd, I wouldn’t worry.

Steve

[ATSF]

Both me and my wife take Bisoprolol, we both suffer from constant tiredness. In my case it is extremely bad. I had a conversation with my Doctor 3 weeks ago and the only thing he can say is. “There is nothing that can be done”. I have made an appointment to see the head of the practice next Monday for a second opinion as this has caused me a lot of anxiety.

[Perrylees]

I’d just echo what pretty much everybody else has said. You haven’t been diagnosed with AF ( from what you say) but a change in rate of 11 is tiny and you really don’t need to worry about it. Your bisoprolol dose is also tiny ( it’s the same as I am on) but even that can take some adjustment to. Stressing can also make you feel tired. I have permanent persistent AF and when I was first diagnosed I was so anxious and stressy it really damaged my mental health too. I probably shouldn’t say this but by and large I don’t come on this forum anymore either as I found it made my anxiety worse!

[sarniacherie]

Hello Bonnymuir. It is Bisoprolol's job to lower the heart rate. However, I would agree with others on here that watching gadgets all the time makes us anxious and aware of something that in the normal course of events you would not even notice. It's a natural reaction when you are first diagnosed to what is an unpleasant condition. Try to relax or find something you enjoy and get engrossed in that. Look after yourself.

[Bonnymuir in reply to sarniacherie]

Thank you.