Resting Heart Rate

[heartsonfire]

My 72 year old husband had 2 HA’s last one over 13 years ago, and has been on Bisoprolol 7.5mg for about 8 years(previously 5mg for 6 years but due to higher BP, GP increased the dose) without many problems. Recently however he has felt dizzy, his colour is not so good, and his resting heart rate this past week has varied from a high of 60 down to 45 yesterday. His BP is 123/66, O2 levels good at 97%, anyone else experienced this?

[MountainGoat52]

I have a resting rate of around 55 and when I am really relaxed it will go down to 45, usually when I am watching an engaging program on TV. Then when I stand up the world spins! This has been attributed to Bisoprolol even though I can only take 1.25mg.

If the drop in your husband's heart rate from 60 to 45 is sudden and without a cause such as that I experience, I would certainly get in touch with the GP. The fact that you say his colour isn't good in itself is of concern, so maybe it is time for a health check.

Hope you can get this sorted out and quickly.

[heartsonfire]

Thank you Thatwasunexpected and GWP1952, you both confirm what I really know to be the right thing to persuade him to do. The dizzy spells are new, these last 2 weeks, and only this week did I start taking his BP & HR. I’ll be on the phone to the surgery on Monday am. x

[heartsonfire]

Update on resting heart rate.

Husband has had pain under left shoulder blade since Monday, thought it was muscular as he’d been trimming the cotoneaster hedge a little, then this afternoon pain moved to his chest, relieved with GTN. The Paramedics couldn’t get a good heart trace with their machine as they said his HR was too low at 44 bpm. He’s currently in a cardio ward and they still can’t get a decent trace, so keeping him in overnight while the effect of the Bisoprolol wears off a bit, and he gets blood tests done. Hopefully he’ll see a cardiologist tomorrow and find out what has gone awry. I couldn’t go with him of course, so my anxiety levels are a just a tad high!

[heartsonfire]

Thankfully my husband is now home, complete with a Pacemaker (or Gerry as he’s named it) and he feels fantastic! No breathlessness, not tired, no chest pain, only tenderness and swelling at the op site, absolutely amazing! x

[heartsonfire]

Anticipating taking a flight sometime in the distant future, the airport security scanners will present problems for both of us, one pacemaker and my replaced knee, we’ll both experience the joy of a pat down instead! 😉