AF & Bradycardia

[Flippy1]

Hi everyone,

I am wondering if you can help me,

I have AF which I am in permanent and have and 31% ventricular fraction,

I am waiting for a date for a cardio version with Barts,

I brought a Kardia mobile, and I have been monitoring my heart rate as bpm since February,

The bpms have been fluctuating from 88-130 mostly and the device has been saying I am in AF, but yesterday when I checked it was 45 bpm and has continued being around 40 bpm today and the device is saying I have Bradycardia,

I wanted to know if this is common with people in AF, is it something I should be concerned about and if it will affect the cardioversion?,

Any advice or shared experiences would be much appreciated,

many thanks,

[JudiHalf]

I don’t know how common it is but it used to happen to me especially after an afib episode, my heart rate would go as low as 32bpm, and I had a pacemaker fitted, now my heart rate doesn’t go below 60bpm.

Unfortunately it doesn’t stop afib episodes but I have had only 2 in 9 months.

The Kardia is great for monitoring heart rate and this is how I could show how low mine was going and got the pacemaker fitted.

[CDreamer]

It can be common, especially if you take some medications such as antiarrythmics and beta blockers. If your HR (bpm) is staying at 40 please see your doctor as soon as possible. The usual solution is stopping or reducing drugs and/or pacemaker. Can you contact Bart’s and ask for advice?

[TopBiscuit]

There is a thread just posted that has information about this:

healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

[ruskin10]

I too have low heart rate rarely above 50. Was taken off flecainide because if this, just have it as pip now. More episodes though.

[Ppiman]

Are you taking a beta blocker or similar? That will reduce your resting heart rate to below 50pm, which the Kardia counts as bradycardia, I believe, like the Apple Watch. I was told that as long as this is without symptoms, it is not unhealthy.

Steve

[wischo]

I am a bit older but I am on bisoprolol for my afib and my heartrate is usually in the 50s although it can drop to the mid 40s for a few hours when I am resting watching tv etc. i was told to reduce the bisoprolol from 2.5mg to 1.25mg but found I was getting more ectopics so as I had no symptoms with my low heart rate went back on the 2.5mg dose. Cleared this with mr cardiologist who said whatever dose makes you feel better will work. If you have no real symptoms with bradycardia I believe your heart is working fine as the first symptoms would be lightheadedness.

[Flippy1]

Thanks everyone for your feedback, its so useful and reassuring, I am on 1.25mg bisoprolol, been on it for the last 3 months and a load of others, spoke to my gp who is suggesting I stop taking bisoprolol for the time being