what is a good resting heart rate

[smwdorset]

hi I have been reading recent posts about people who are put on betablockers to reduce their resting heart rate from around 65 to 50 or so

My resting heart rate is 60-65

Is this too high

Should I be asking for medication ?

My heart has just started playing up again after 6 years arrhythmia free following a PVI cryoablation

This time when I get AF it’s at around 75-85 instead of 180-200 which is what it used to be

Do you think this might be valvular AF ( I have moderate aortic valve regurgitation)

I ask because my EP has told my GP to put me on rivaroxaban but this is contraindicated I think for Valvular AF

My GP has written to my valve cardiologist but got no reply

So at the moment I am on nothing

And am quite worried which probably isn’t helping

[BobD Volunteer]

Normal heart rate is anything between 60 and 100. Yours is just fine.

[Kennyb1968 in reply to BobD]

Hey Bob - I read recently that many cardiologists are now saying that 50-100bpm is a normal resting heart rate range. I'm happy at that as mine is 53 😂

[Desanthony in reply to Kennyb1968]

My resting heart rate is around mid 50’s and have low rate permanent AF. Beta blockers constantly put my resting heart rate down to 43 and I just could not cope with that so no longer on beta blockers, calcium channel blockers or any rate control medication - lots of medications and combinations tried within first months of diagnosis but all had same effect. Quite happy now on Apixaban only:

[Jpot34 in reply to Desanthony]

Drugs are poison. No way I take any unless I absolutely have to.

[Pacific in reply to Kennyb1968]

My ‘normal’ resting heart rate is in the mid 40’s and I’m 69 and I’m no athlete. I feel really well

[smwdorset in reply to BobD]

Thank you that’s a relief as I reallyDon’t want anything other than anticoagulants if I can avoid it

On that how do I know if my

AF is valvular or nonvalvular? I do have a defective aortic valve but my previous AF 6 years ago was said to be caused by the pulmonary veins not by the valve

Do you know how they diagnose the difference ?

[BobD Volunteer in reply to smwdorset]

I mentioned for another poster recently that valvular AF has nothing to do with aortic valves. When the mitral valve is weak or allowing lots of regurgitation then the back pressure can cause the left atrium to stretch and that weakens the pathways allowing new rogue ones to form. hence the AF. Sounds like your AF is non valvular. It is not really a diagnosis as such. You have AF is the diagnosis. The vaste majority of people just have AF.

[smwdorset in reply to BobD]

Thank you so much that’s v helpful

[jeanjeannie50]

A heart rate between 60-80 is the usual, someone younger or super fit may have a lower rate than 60. Too low a rate can be just as bad as a high. People with low rates can find themselves passing out and they are the ones who quite often need pacemakers to stop that happening. Your resting rate is absolutely perfect.

[Gumbie_Cat in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I would love a resting rate in the 60s, for the very reasons you mention!Mine is naturally in the 50s - dronedarone took it to mid forties.

I’m very pleased that I’ve just gone back to sinus rhythm in less than a day (I usually take much longer) - after one Bisoprolol plus a magnesium drip.

Less pleased to notice a resting rate of 43 on my watch, and one reading of 39.

The highs yesterday were up at 170, so I shan’t complain!

[smwdorset in reply to Gumbie_Cat]

Thank you and pleased for you Did you do anything to help it revert?

[Gumbie_Cat in reply to smwdorset]

I was in A&E last night. They gave me Bisoprolol and a Magnesium drip. So I don’t know which one worked. I have tried some of the techniques recommended in the forum, but usually it sticks around for a week.I got those in the middle of the night, then at around 10.30am, back home, I suddenly felt strange and dizzy. Then realised I was back in sinus rhythm. Such a relief!

[Buffafly]

I don’t think the intention was for the HR to go down to the 50s, I think that is the result of taking medication to prevent high HR during an episode of AF. My HR goes down into the 50s quite often but that is the trade off for having a rate below 130 in AF. And you aren’t having high rates in AF any more, so lucky you 🍀

[Buffafly in reply to Buffafly]

heart.bmj.com/content/105/1...

All NOACs ok with valvular heart disease but Rivaroxaban most likely to cause major bleeding, Edoxaban least likely.

Sorry, link may not work but I’ve summed up result of research.

[baba in reply to Buffafly]

NOAC's are not recommended for patients with valvular AF

[smwdorset in reply to baba]

On that how do I orMy GP know if myAF is valvular or nonvalvular? I do have a defective aortic valve but my previous AF 6 years ago was said to be caused by the pulmonary veins not by the valve

Do you know how they diagnose the difference ?

[BobD Volunteer in reply to smwdorset]

see my answer to your post above.

[Buffafly in reply to baba]

Not for people with artificial valves!

[CDreamer]

In my opinion a ‘normal’ resting rate depends upon:- age, general health, fitness levels, activities, genetics, treatments and environment. Personally I think there is only a ‘norm’ for you. Elite Athletes would expect a resting rate much, much lower than a couch potatoe so a rate in the 40’s/50’s would not be unusual for them but when my HR goes lower than 50 I feel quite ill so I go very much by how I feel these days, not on the numbers. Personally I notice I get breathless when I exert myself so keep my HR in exercise below 120.

Resting rate in my 40’s/50’s/60’s was normally around 60-65. Now in my 70’s it’s more like 70-75 but that’s only after 2 ablations. I have a Pacemaker which kicks in whenever HR dips below 60 and that only happens during sleep.

Your HR sounds right in the middle range so unless your HR increases to 150+ during AF, in your position I would avoid all and any medication for as long as possible - except for anticoagulants if your CHADSVASC score indicated that it would be beneficial.

Best wishes CD

[smwdorset in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks so much my score is 3 so I think they are a good idea!

[Jpot34]

Don't take any prescribed drugs unless it's life threatening.

[smwdorset in reply to Jpot34]

? Not even blood thinners / there’s quite a high risk of strokes with AF

[NLGA in reply to smwdorset]

I take one to stop clots I wouldn’t not , it can be dangerous to take advice from people that don’t know or are not qualified

[Jpot34]

If you're personally high risk, then yes. But only if life threatening. Most people truly don't understand the poison they are taking every day. They must trust these drug companies. Big mistake!