I have AF, it doesn't worry me much. I have a very low heart rate of 44bpm, when relaxing. I can , mostly, control my AF with relaxing. Deep breathing, counting in and out, along with the relax on my watch!! But I am slower, I have less energy and can no longer keep up.
My husband is 84, and much fitter than me. I am 76.
I am also waiting for my eyes to be operated on, I have Fuchs Dystrophy, and need to have new lens on both eyes, which come from a donor. I do have an ebike, but haven't ridden it for ages. Not sure I could just now. I need to get my energy back. All suggestions will be considered.!!
Written by
Irish_Maid
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
This has happened in the past with blood pressure meds which had to be reduced so I'm hoping its medication related and not PAFI have PAF and since being prescribed flecanide 5--00 mg twice a day my pulse has dropped below 45 beats per minute, it was usually around 48 bpm when resting. I have to keep moving when it falls or I doze off to sleep, I'm waiting to discuss this with cardiologist to try to change medication as its affecting my quality of life.
The side effects of medication is very significant. In my case beta blockers did the job of reducing heart rate but reduced the heart's ability to respond to exercise. I found that moderate exercise caused a lot of puffing and panting but pulse rate was very reluctant to rise and get oxygen into the circulation. Things are much better on minimum dose beta blockers with little difference in heart rate. Someone I know was deemed unfit to have a kidney transplant having failed the cardio pulmonary exercise test. Subsequently beta blockers were stopped for other reasons and another test was much improved and a successful kidney transplant was carried out.
Beta blockers can induce symptoms similar to those of heart failure. It's always a balance between benefits and side effects.
I had the same experience. I added more juice to my diet rather than so much water and it seems to keep a better balance of electrolytes. so far so good because I took myself off the meds and my heart rate is good, BP is good and so far no AF. This has been about 5 months now and counting.
The heart is a muscle that needs strengthening like any muscle so how can controlling the rate be any good? I understand it controls the rate if in AF, but what is the damage if not in AF and especially if having AF is not that often due to change in diet?
Hi IrishMaid. Loss of energy and breathlessness were my worst symptoms when in persistent AF. It was getting the medication right that helped in the end - in my case that was digoxin which made the heart muscle beat stronger as well as keeping the rate from going too high. We’re all different and need to explore a bit to find the meds that work for us. My GP would never have put me on that drug, it took the confidence and knowledge of my EP to know what was right. And to see him for any sensible amount of time I had to pay privately. They took me off digoxin after my ablation and I kind of miss it!
I was exactly like you and my heart rate so low. Then medics decided to insert a pacemaker and now steady 61 bpm. I am still on 1.25 bisoprolol and lowest dose flecainide twice a day for the afib/tachycardia, , but I feel so much better
I do sometimes feel “heavy” but that is because for so long being lethargic snd a really bad back I have put on weight which I need to sort out snd find will power
I am 79 so older than you. Take care and you will feel better soon I hope
Hi, heart rate seems low for someone your age, have you had your heart checked. My low heart I thought was cos I was reasonably fit, but it was caused by leaking mitral valve. I now have pacemaker. Other thing you don't mention is medication, bisoprolol will slow heart and make you tired. Good luck.
I agree with the white bread reduction and any bread with wheat gluten and any products with wheat gluten. I am off all of that junk food and that is exactly what it is. but we need good carbs despite what many gurus are saying. I tried a couple of the diets out there especially intermittent fasting, and low carb. I lost weight but it came at a cost and I think that is why my AF kicked up, I was stressing my own body, so if an outside stressor came along I had no energy supply to combat it. my blood sugar would drop and AF would rear up. Adding good carbs in the way of fruits and veggies had made a big difference. We all need to experiment with what works for ourselves.
I done intermittent a few years back and i got afib free for longer intervals, i keep meaning to get back to it , it made me feel the best i had felt in years.
As older and a woman level increased to 700-800 Level. Don't concern yourself when the Dr ticks it at 180! That's the normal but at the bottom of normal.
Solgar (Gold Top) Sublingual 1000ug a nugget taken under the tongue dissolving.
I took 1 daily for 6 weeks and I went from 150 Level to 900. Then we watched it go down smartly. I upkeep it at 3 days week and I get it checked yearly.
Try that.
I found 51 too low on Diltiazem 180mg changed down to 120mg. Just right now in 60s. H/Rate day. Always 47bpm avge Night. FOR CONTROLLING H/Rate.
Bisoprolol 2.5 mg separated at night FOR CONTROLLING BP.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
76 years old with A F
apixaban and hematuria 
shortness of breath
3% Afib burden and proposed medication
