Low pulse

[trixie100]

I seem to have a low pulse rate like 43 beats per minute.Do others with a f have this?

[Jalia]

If your pulse continues to be this low you should seek medical advice.

I would like to add that although some people may be ok at this rate you should leave it to your medical adviser to decide.

My GP surgery ( always playing on the safe side .....) sent me to A&E with a rate in the 40s as I was also feeling dizzy. I felt a bit of a fraud but was reassured otherwise. After a few hours and blood tests my rate returned to a more respectable 60/70. I was advised by A&E to return there should it drop to 40s again.

[DSTICK1085 in reply to Jalia]

MINE WAS 43 AND I WAS ON METROPOLO 200 MG DOCTOR REDUCED IT TO 100

[jeanjeannie50]

I agree with Jalia, you need to mention this to your GP. He may suggest reducing your medication - that's if you are on any.

Jean

[pottypete1 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Yes I agree Jean. My heart rate is very slow and my EP is aware which is why he stopped my Bisoprolol about 3 years ago despite me also being on Flecainide.

My EP wants me to have a pacemaker but I am trying to continue without for as long as I can.

Pete

[MTBCyclist]

Are you on Bisoprolol? I have a similar resting heart rate, my EP was not concerned as long as I had no I’ll affects.

[trixie100 in reply to MTBCyclist]

Yes i am on bisoprol but only 1.25

[secondtry in reply to trixie100]

My HR was a tad under 60 and my cardio said he would not put me on a BB or CB despite my taking Flecainide as he said it would make me feel unwell. I think a very low HR starts opening the door for AF to get in.

[Ppiman in reply to trixie100]

I would ask your GP about this as I believe it to be common and he or she will have lots of experience of dealing with it. My own resting heart rate is often in the high 40s at some point during the day as measured by my Apple Watch but it is variable. I was told that as long as it causes no important symptoms, it is fine. If you have an iPhone, by the way, you might find the Apple Watch useful as it records your heart beat while it's on your wrist (below is one part of a recent graph from mine). It also picks up AF, too (see below, also from recently). Apart from that, it's a very useful device all-round - but far from cheap (although second-hand are great if the battery is sound).

I also gather that the response to bisoprolol isn't linear, which means that a seemingly low dose (i.e. 1.25 mg) might still produce a significant effect. For me such a dose results in a reduced heart rate for well over 24 hours, for instance (I only take it as needed) - but it still bottoms out at about 48bpm even with bisoprolol.

I think some people are given pacemakers to increase their heart rate if they have symptoms, or, especially, have significant pauses between the beats.

Steve

Apple Watch ECG AF Clip

[Ppiman in reply to Ppiman]

It seems only one image per post is allowed, so here is the heart rate graph from my Apple Watch.

Apple Watch Heart Rate graph

[MWIC in reply to trixie100]

I was the same - was in 2.5mg of Bisoporol and felt like a zombie - checking BP which was fine but wasn’t paying much attention to Heart rate which was low 40’s - called GP and he reduced to 1.25mg but made little difference - aside if this I had a Heart attack a year ago and the hospital queried the Bisoporol and took me off it altogether as my heart rate was too low - without it, it’s still low ish but around 55 now and happy to be off Bisoporol despite AF episodes

[JayDJ]

A point to remember is that if that is your resting rate then it is likely that your sleeping rate will and can drop it even lower. If it drops it lower then it can also start Afib problems off because your HR is going too low.

[Healthy65 in reply to JayDJ]

Hi this is so true my heart rate can drop to 32-34 bmp at night and low 40,s docs don't seem to take account of this but if you drop below 30 bmp then will experience a reflex tachycardia. In the lead up to having an absolute storm of a flutter a fib lasting 6 -8 weeks I was seeing rates of 145bpm in my sleep and 160-180 a flutter then accelerating to 250-270 . Really bad to cope with that Had experiences like a strong mains electric shock across my chest with very dizzy head spin - so had to lie down on a recliner chair and that's while in a hospital setting advised staff but make no difference just told that's your drugs - Sotalol as it was not to be taken without bisoprolol but I didn't know that - could have led to a fatal arrhythmia given 3:1 a flutter block

Always ask what parameters are to be aware of taking precautions I say and don't worry about frosty people they are not experiencing the symptoms you are !

Anyways I'm still alive and hoping to stay that way for a while longer stay calm stay focused don't be fobbed off

Cheers

Healthy 65

[JayDJ in reply to Healthy65]

Yes it was a reason that my Afib happened night after night. I went onto a lower dose blocker which allowed my resting HR to increase and my night time episodes stopped.

[LPE44]

Please, please call your doctor ASAP or go to the ER - rates in the 40's are not good!

[GeorgeGlass in reply to LPE44]

I’ve read that is fine to be in the 40s during sleep at night, if your normal heart rate has been around 50 for your adult life.

[Vanna-C]

Bisoprolol caused my heart rate to drop into the low 40’s, even though I was only taking 1.25. It made me feel as though I was doing everything in slow motion - awful feeling!

[ac4963]

Hi trixie100, I have a resting HR of between 41 and 48 and therefore cannot take any medicines for my paroxysmal Afib apart from Edoxaban. I have had an Echocardiogram and week long monitors . Apart from feeling light headed sometimes I do not have any symptoms and the docs do not seem concerned. There was talk initially of a pacemaker but I have now been advised that it is off the agenda unless symptoms worsen. I think it would be advisable to mention it to your GP as everyone is different.

[OzRob]

I was getting down to 39 beats a minute at about 5am in the morning. My EP said it is fine as it was an over active sympathetic nervous system.

[Healthy65 in reply to OzRob]

That needs careful monitoring and addressed if progresses should be looking at implant loop recorder or similar longer monitoring device Get an Apple watch its going to give you data to present an argument to get something done

I've got an advanced case of same terrible if you let it develop so just dig in and insist on proper monitoring and endocrinologist to investigate the cause it will save you years of delay believe me you don't want to go there !

Regards

Healthy 65

[OzRob in reply to Healthy65]

I should have explained that it drops that low for a very short period of time.

Average HR while in bed last night was 54bpm, dropped to 40bpm at 5:14am for 15 seconds.

I record everything with my heart monitor.

[Spangle14]

My pulse is often on the low side and has dropped below 50 from time to time. I was told that, if I wasn't feeling dizzy, or had any other symptoms, it wasn't anything to worry about. I think, for me, a slow pulse can trigger AF or other arrhythmia. Best get it checked with GP/EP

[stoneyrosed]

I was constantly in the 40s on bisoprolol and was told if I feel ok not to worry. I was very tired but apart from that I was ok.

[Dudtbin]

hi my heart rate was in low 40s when i first went into nsr its gradually gone up to 53ish when resting. The af team weren’t concerned as long as I didn’t feel dizzy, im on a low dose of sotalol 3 times a day .

[doodle68]

Hi Trixie, my pulse is in the 40's most of the time when I am not in P-AF . Unless you experience side effects the doctors don't seem bothered.

I am now in P-AF as much as NSR so have side effects and feel ill all most of the time anyway.

When I spoke to the nurse recently she suggested I might try reducing my Beta blocker , I won't do, that last time I tried it I have even more problems.

I am just getting over another try with Flecainide, it works wonders for some but not for me. It sent my pulse even lower in the 30s and caused awful side effects.

[Ronnieboy]

My HR is in the 40s, sometimes makes the 50s, and has been for years ,I just take a blood thinner for medication,but I feel fine and havnt had a AF attack for years.The powers that b don't seem that concerned.

[TracyAdmin Partner]

Hi there,

It is expected an average heart rhythm should be of a regular beat and within 60-100bpm. Having such a low heart rhythm can lead to unexpected light-headedness or fainting. Please contact your Doctor at your earliest convenience for medical advice. Are you currently taking a beta blocker or similar medication? as this could be impacting on your heart rhythm and the dosage may require some adjustment.

If you would like a chat to discuss further, please contact our Patient Services Team on 01789 867502 or if you prefer via email on [e-mail] or visit our AF Association website: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

poster

[Taz70]

I sometimes have a low HR once at 28bpm and was diagnosed with many things including bradycardia. I was on 1.25mg of bisoprolol then it was increased to 2.5 due to having lvh. Back in April I was told to stop taking it straight away due to being lightheaded and fatigued all the time with two visits to a&e with a pulse of 30. I'm still having episodes with a low HR of 38-42, feel dizzy still while medication free. I still have a irregular fast/slow erratic pulse at times and an implant loop recorder fitted too and they are looking to maybe fit a pacemaker. Like others have said a low HR may be normal for some people without any symptoms while for others it can be problematic. I had an operation a few weeks under local anesthetic the nurse who was doing my obs queried with the doctor over my low and irregular HR and swapped the machine for another one to check it out.....I sat there giggling to myself thinking here we go again the way I look doesn't go with my obs its a continuing story. They both agreed I can have the operation but without any adrenaline, but while in theatre the monitors kept alarming and my HR was going slow and fast and pausing which had 3 of the medical team standing at the monitor looking puzzled. One thing that was mentioned by the doctor was did i have low AF? I thought afib was with a high HR? I'm still waiting for a conclusion to it all. I hope you get some answers soon

Regards

Taz.

A recent low HR reading.

[Cha275rL]

My heart rate was 43 as well, and the doc has stopped my beta blocker. I was feeling breathless, and that’s why I saw the GP, other than that I felt fine. Now I don’t feel fine, and have high heart rate, so have an appointment today to see what she does. Not easy is it. Do you feel ok with your hr though?

[riverside22]

Only at night

[HANDY1]

I am a 60 year old male and my resting heart rate at night is around 45bpm. Due to ectopic heart beats, several years ago I had extensive tests done on my heart. The cardiologist deemed my heart very healthy and structurally sound. He also had ectopic heart beats. The difference was I could feel mine and he couldn’t. I wear a Apple Watch to monitor my heart rate. So in conclusion a low heart rate is ok if your heart is tested and everything is found to be normal and healthy.

[Snowgirl65]

I remember sitting at my desk during my working days unable to function as I was nearly falling asleep. I took my pulse to find it was 41 bpm. I was on Verapamil at the time and as soon as I switched to another med (after switching doctors), my heart rate became normal. It's something to mention to your EP as a switch in meds might be in order.

[BlueINR]

One way I knew when I was having afib was when heartrate was 120+, never had a slow rate, and with a rate that low I would think it would be wise to be seen ASAP.

[Janey1955]

yes I do. Can’t take any medication to control afib because of that. Had loads of tests and they say my heart is healthy and structurally sound. My slow heart beat gives me no symptoms but I do think slow heart beats could be linked to Af. Certainly check it out but it is normal for some of us

Jane