Any advice? I had HA May 2020, got 3 stents fitted on ramipril, bisoprolol, atrovastatin and aspirin.

[Muppet7]

Before my HA my resting pulse was 62, after medication it went to 55, I exercise, became vegetarian and practically stopped drinking. I am 53 and no athlete. 😂 My resting pulse is now averaging 48 and occasionally lower. I feel fine. I have not seen a doctor since I left hospital. Is this ok?

[jeanjeannie50]

If you're feeling ok then I'd say that your heart rate is fine. However, I'd want that confirmed to me by a GP who may want to lower your Bisoprolol dose a little.

Jean

[Muppet7 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks Jean, that’s what I thought surely lowering something would be ok. I would think of that as a small win. I will try and contact surgery. 🙄. Best wishes. Tony

[Ageingfast]

Dear Muppet7.

Please can I have your bp readings. Envy envy envy.

I had OHS First of May 2020 and there was no rehab at the time.

Perhaps you could have your medication reviewed. Some chemists offer this service and some GP practices have an in house specialist.

Not sure if some of your meds are ideal for your age. They have done the necessary and I would want the Ramipril and bisoprolol reduced, given the excellent BP.

It does seem harsh that you, me and a small handful of similar date hearties are deprived of after care

Best wishes

Colin

[Muppet7 in reply to Ageingfast]

Thanks Colin, I do feel deprived by not get rehab or follow up appointments. My doctors do have a pharmacist 👩‍⚕️ will endeavour to make contact through the app. Best wishes to you too. Tony

[Chappychap]

Sounds pretty good to me!

By the way, you should get an annual cardio check-up with your GP, or with a specially trained practise nurse.

It should comprise blood tests, a basic ECG, having your weight checked, and having blood pressure and pulse checked. Plus you'll also get questioned on key life style changes.

Because of Covid this has moved to a phone based service in most surgeries, so there's no ECG and you're encouraged to take your own blood pressure/pulse. But it's still a very useful service, and if you ask the right questions you'll get a much deeper understanding regarding your heart health and progress.

Good luck!

[nellie237 in reply to Chappychap]

Hi Chappychap,

"annual cardio check-up"? Wow, I had a HA in 2012, 1 stent and sent home with a bag of the usual meds. I went to cardiac rehab, and my GP dis a few tests in the 1st couple of months, but that was it. I get sent for blood tests every couple of years, FBC, LFT, U&E & Lipids.

Have you got any links to guidelines for annual follow up handy. I've not been able to find any.

Thank you.

[Chappychap in reply to nellie237]

Hi Nellie. I don't have a link I'm afraid, but many people on this forum, who have had either heart surgery or had a heart attack, report having the same annual cardio check up that I've outlined. It's only a guess but these reports are so common I suspect it's the majority, probably the great majority, of qualifying patients.

Maybe it's something you could raise with your GP? Although it sounds that if you're having the blood tests then you're already receiving the main part of the diagnostic checks.

I suspect however that there's an added dimension of care that's more of a post code lottery.

I'm lucky in having a GP who believes very strongly in preventative medicine for atherosclerosis (Coronary Heart Disease), he digs into each patient's test results and tries to construct a cogent explanation for why they have atherosclerosis, and what steps can best slow the future development of the disease.

In my case he alighted on the HbA1c blood tests results as evidence for a slow trend towards insulin resistance, which in turn is the first step on a road that leads to Type 2 Diabetes. He believes this is is a very common cause of atherosclerosis, and the solution is really all about weight loss, diet, and exercise.

Having implemented a range of life style changes I've seen my HbA1c scores reverse and they're now well down in the safe zone. Of course we're all different, but I see this as evidence of how a GP who goes the extra mile can make a real difference to patient's lives.

Good luck!

[nellie237 in reply to Chappychap]

Thank you for your quick response Chappychap.

Well done with your HbA1c, and I think your GP is a keeper. My adult daughter has type 1 diabetes, but mine have always been OK. 😊

[Muppet7 in reply to Chappychap]

Thanks Chappy, I will look into that. Sounds like I need to start fighting my own corner. Best. Tony.

[richard_jw in reply to Chappychap]

Yes I had a 1 year check-up. It was face to face with a practice nurse. No ECG, no blood test, and the nurse did not seem to be at all cardiac trained. I kept asking questions to which she did not have any answers. She did take my BP though.

[Smileyian]

Indeed. My RHR is between 46 and 52 for ages except when I was in AFIB

[Muppet7 in reply to Smileyian]

Thank you. I won’t worry.

[Hidden]

AF. MVR and bigeminy . Felt funny last night ! 77 year old! But had done a lot at the gym today ?!🤪

Photo

[Muppet7 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. I won’t worry.

[BobbyB1962]

Always best to check with your GP but if you're feeling fine it's probably OK. My resting rate is often around the mid 40's, I'm on the same meds as you. One thing my GP wanted to check was for an underactive Thyroid (via blood test) . Mine turned out to be fine but it can cause low heart rate.

[Muppet7 in reply to BobbyB1962]

Thank you. I won’t worry I will say to next healthcare professional I get to see. Like I said I feel fine.

[Andytriumph63]

My resting pulse barely goes above 50 even when stressed, this is down partly to beta blockers partly it was only 54 before treatment. Low heart rate is not a bad thing as long as its not to low.

[Muppet7 in reply to Andytriumph63]

Thank you. I will chill.

[SmokeAKipper]

Go to cardiac rehab and turn vegan

[Muppet7 in reply to SmokeAKipper]

😂😂😂

[richard_jw]

Both Ramipril and Bisoprolol are likely to lower your BP. That's one of the main objectives of Ramipril.Bisoprolol is intended to lower your heart rate and protect your heart which is damaged by the heart attack.

2.5mg of BS daily made me feel like a zombie, and 2 cardiologists recommended withdrawing from it after a year, since my heart was basically OK.

On BS my BP was 60ish and sometimes less. off BS it's 75 and sometimes higher. Initially I was on Ramipril as well, and my BP was not dissimilar to yours, so I stopped because I kept having balance problems.

If you feel ok, there is not a problem, however, if there is no need to take BS or Ramipril, I would ask a cardiologist about them.

Before I came off BS I got the cardiologist to do an angiogram to be sure.

[Muppet7 in reply to richard_jw]

On BS 3.75, that was script leaving hospital, not be reevaluated since. Thanks for the reply. T

[Qualipop]

My pulse is a lot higher but my normal BP of 127/72 ish has, over he past few months dropped to similar to yours. GP was not happy and has gradually tried reducing one tablet and just yesterday took me off it completely to see how it goes. At first it was just my diastolic that dropped leaving me feeling utterly washed out but now it's both readings. I'm on the waiting list for a cardiac echo.

[pjw17]

Hello Muppet 7,I also had HA in May 20, one stent fitted. Had usual meds but had to come off bisoprolol coz it made my already low heart rate lower, I was getting dizzy and nauseous. I have low heart rate because of being a racing cyclist in my past and this is a, consequence of training /racing for years!!

I have had an annual meds check by my surgery pharmacist.

My BP is similar to yours but heart rate a couple of beats higher.

I would mention it to your heart nurse or GP just to settle your mind.

Good luck.

[Muppet7 in reply to pjw17]

Thank you. Will do. T