over the last 6 months i have been on full time Metoprolol (10mg) and Flecanide, (20mg) twice daily i've noticed when i check HR history that every week or so there is a reading in the mid to high 30's it appears only for a few seconds once during the day
Once the watch detects the low reading it does checks every 2 minutes and i believe if it picks up 3 sub 40 HR readings in a 10 minute period it sends an alarm notification. I had notification 3 days ago for the first time and another one just now. The odd thing is both at similar times about 2pm approx 30 minutes after lunch and whist i'm quietly working on the computer.... I did send email to cardiology secretary 3 days ago who send she would pass on to Cardiologist but no answer back yet....
I will say when i stand up after the alarm everything back to normal 55-65 HR. Both days i did my normal morning 5km walk and pilates and feel great no issues. I don't wear it at night.
Anyone experience this or know what it might be.
cheers James
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OzJames
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I would say it’s your watch lol I’m sorry but one of the major things my doctor stopped me from doing was checking myself like that. You will make yourself crazy. If you can do the things you just stated although I am not a doctor I feel pretty safe to say you’re doing OK. I don’t think you could do that walk if you were not. I am on Metropol twice a day 50 mg each along with losartan with potassium and six other meds for the morning two of them are diabetic drugs. Two are stress and anxiety medication because everything needs to work together. Your heart rate is constantly changing every time you move maybe even when you’re breathing. If you’re not woozy and don’t hit the floor well talk to your doctor. I also think if he thought what you left a message was serious. You would’ve heard from him or someone . I always got a call back because they knew I didn’t know what I was talking about or experiencing. It took a while for me to learn but the major thing you need to learn is get out of your head and live life. Best of luck it sounds like you’re doing great , but let your doctor tell you that
thanks Dawn what you say makes sense, i actually don't wear it when in bed, it would drive me nuts if alarm notification went off. My concern is not the one off's at 35-40 its when its picked it up 4 times at 2 mins apart and sent notification that during 10 minute period it varied 34-38, but as i said i stood up and back to normal. Appreciate your thoughts!
I have the same thing. I’ve always been pretty fit and (pre AF) would expect my resting heart rate to be in the 40s. For me that’s normal (frankly it feels like it’s racing if I’ve got a fever and it’s 60 or 70!)
The bisoprolol it take in conjunction with flecanide now is a Beta blocker and seems to drop my heart rate by about 10% in all circumstances, so my resting rate is sometimes under 40. If I don’t have a beer it will always go under 40 at night. Like you, if I’m relaxed and doing emails or a spreadsheet I will often get ‘heart rate under 40 for 10 mins’ warnings. Sometimes 3 in a row; so under 40 for 30 mins. I can check my pulse and confirm. I’m absolutely fine with that and feel perfectly normal.
L O L. It works for me and it makes my doctor happy. He is phenomenal. If he did not tell me some of the things he has I would’ve been scared to death. If you ignore everything else and just pay attention to body feelings, you will be convinced that you are ready to kick the bucket. Every twin, I had scared me because I didn’t know what they meant. they mean that I am alive and my heart is working. I think when the doctor told me I am still going to feel my flutter it just will not do any harm, that is what made me realize I had to get out of my head. My pace and ablate Has given me peace of mind, knowing that regardless of what I’m feeling, I am safe. now I still have to remember I can have a heart attack attack, but I am not going to keep wondering if each twin I feel is that. I could also leave the house and get hit by a train and so many other things could happen. I am not going to live my life wrapped around the things that could be, unless it’s going to be, I could win the lottery lol
Big hugs to you. It is good to meet you. FYI, my doctor is very big on mind body and soul connection. I have also been that way and I believe you really need them to all work together as a team.
I’d agree with Dawn - I’ve had alerts which don’t make sense - both high and low and at first was alarmed but now ignore and come to the conclusion they are something to do with the shift in skin contact, mine were mostly during the night. I would now only be worried by prolonged highs and dips. Just a thought to consider.
I agree with Dawn, as your low heart rate only lasts seconds I wouldn't worry about it. Even normal people without AF can have hearts that occasionally miss a beat or two.
I also wonder if it's because you're sitting after eating, concentrating hard on what you are doing and shallow breathing. Then you have your full stomach too, don't laugh but just try undoing your trouser waistband when sat at your computer, in case the band is pressing your full stomach towards your heart.
Just my guesses relating to AF that I've personally learnt over the years.
thanks Jean thats good input, the alerts showed HR recorded 4 times a 10 minute period in the 30's mind you as soon as i stood up it was normal as it is now. A good reason i don't wear it at night the alarm would have me jumping out of bed! 😁
Hi, did you try feeling your pulse while this was going on? I have had a few episodes of slow beats and even pauses and they made me feel as if I was going to pass out. So either your watch is wrong somehow or your body doesn’t mind a very slow beat for a while. Either way, relax ⛱️
Thanks for response. I felt too relaxed while I was working is the only thing I felt then suddenly my watch went off and I stood up and both times HR was normal but I did forget to take my pulse. I will do next time that’s a good idea. About 5 mins later my wife took my BP and it was 135/78. Maybe all the slow breathing stuff I picked up at a workshop on breathing is responsible!
I noticed similar readings and I have confirmed them with an oximeter which shows pulse sometimes dropping into the 30s but it soon moves up to normal readings and I don't have any problems. It's always when I am resting. I ignore it now and most of the time I don't wear my watch
Interesting thanks for letting me know I’m not the only one. It must have something to do with reduced breathing and a consequence is lower heart rate. I seem to do that especially when reading on computer. I’m due to see cardiologist early next month and will have a chat about it
Same here though lowest was 39bpm my apple watch fired off only once so far. As I also have occasional afib it has also fired on the heartrate over 110bpm a few times. I have checked both low and high on my Kardia at the time and the watch is correct so I set the high one to fire at 120bpm instead of 110 and have not had a warning since. The apple watch is very reliable for heartrate but not that good if you are an anxious person so I mostly ignore it now and only really check occasionally with the Kardia for checking the traces and use the watch as a fitness tool. We all know we have heart issues of one kind or another so it would not be unusual to expect the odd glitch now and again.
Yes I guess we should expect the odd glitch with the heart. Maybe it would be something a person with no AF issues could also experience. I wonder what the default setting is for Apple Watch for low HR. I actually set mine at 40 for warnings.
Do you remember what you were doing when it went off for low heart rate? A few here have said whilst resting or relaxed reading on computer as I was….
I would imagine that 40 would be the minimum or otherwise switch it off. I was lying in bed at the time reading the news on my phone when it came up as below 40bpm for 10 minutes, checked and the watch told me it was 39 to 40bpm for that 10 minutes, I felt grand and have a fairly low heartrate most times anyway averaging 50-57bpm. I walk 5klms most days and keep active so better not to worry about these things I would think.
Hi James. I also have an Apple Watch that has been giving me these readings of low heart rate which is worrisome because I’ve never had it come up before. Right now I’m looking at my watch and it’s reading 41 bpm. Here is what I think is the reason for these low heart rate readings. I’m going through a phase right now where I’m having all sorts of different arrhythmias going on. I have biigemini, which means I have 1 normal heartbeat and then one early one. For some reason, the Apple Watch does not count the early one so it shows I’m only having 40BPM. Are you able to check your pulse on another device like a Blood Pressure monitor or a Kardia unit? This may give you more accurate reading.
Interesting…. I did actually use the blood pressure machine about 5 minutes after the alert and HR was 65 but I guess I need to do it as soon as I get alert. A few months back I did a breathing workshop which teaches us how to control breath and only inhale through nose. HR slows. Maybe we’re just taking less breaths a minute and consequently slowing our HR……
I would suggest confirming that HR by checking your pulse manually on your wrist. With the low dosages you report for your meds, I find it unusual that they would responsible for any bradycardia.
Bradycardia is very common as we age without any meds at all and also with very fit people. Bradycardia apparently is no problem if you do not show any symptoms though I have my doubts on this information?? unless you are exceptionally fit i would prefer not to have it at all.
Thanks for your thoughts I used to be really fit but last couple of years I’ve backed off from my normal week at 66 it gets harder to keep up the work rate! It could well be bradycardia…..
wondering if your Metoprolol dose is right. meds start at 23.75mg!
I was prescribed 3. Equally over 80mg. I said NO but she, an Endocrinilogist said that I culd reduce them.
Even on 23.75 I was in trouble with breathless, no energy cause H/rate was 186.
Get a 24hr Heart Montor done and that shows what your meds are doing to your heart and it is the best avenue to proof anything.
My heart rate at night is 47bpm.
When I was discharged after thyroidectemy at 4 months post stroke and on Metoprolol it was 135bpm and I was not given an appointment with a Heart Specialist to get this controlled.
It points to different specialalities! So not their expertise.
However my clinic should have spotted it and sent me to a h/specialist.
In hospital for stroke, AF and thyroid cancer I was told by the nurse to breathe fully! As I wasn't taking a breath regularly. Not a good sign she said.
I have a brother 77 in hospital with a intestinal blockage. He underwent surgery yesterday. Constipation is in our genes!
I have to do somethin if I miss one day.
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Thanks Joy I will ask for the monitor to see what’s going on. I intentionally stayed away from computer work in the afternoon and everything was fine. I think somehow it’s to do with me sitting quietly after a meal. I’ll stay away next 2 days from reading and computer then try again and see what happens.
Yes, Oz I have exactly as describe. I also use blood pressure cuff and readingsWill change with a change in posture. Sitting at computer BP drops to a very low 100/62. When I stand up or even sit up my BP will jump up to a more normal 112/70.
Doctor Notified via Nurse and nobody seems to care. It makes sense that pressures will change according to demand on the heart to deliver more O2, but I am surprised how quickly all of this happens.
Yes it does change quickly which I think is a good sign that nothing underlying there. If it stayed low after moving around then that may be an issue to investigate. I actually had my annual cardiologist appointment a few days back and he said nothing to worry about. I practice slow nasal breathing and that probably contributes too lower rate when sitting quietly. I remember reading Breath by James Nestor and he described meeting yogi’s who could purposely lower their heart rates by breath and sitting in a meditative position
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