Hi all, just woke up from a nap and looked at my Apple Watch and saw that my heart rate dipped quite low during a nap (44bpm)
I’ve often had this low reading but normally during middle of the night when Asleep. I’m 43 years old, slightly overweight (according to nhs BMI chart) but I work as a postie so walk a lot every single day.
Should I be worried or does this look normal? No other symptoms to add
Reasonably fit 71 year old, 13 weeks post op. I'm seeing heart rates as low as 40, in fact I saw 42 at lunchtime today as I was preparing to go to my rehab class this afternoon.
Hi There, if you are walking most days. I would not worry about your heart rate going low as that while sleeping. Mine is the same as yours when iam in deep sleep, 44-45 BPM. I walk every morning for 1 hour and again in the afternoon for about 30 mins. If you are concerned about your heart rate go and see your local nurse or GP or Advanced nurse practitioner for advice. My uncle was apostie for 35 years and unfortunately passed away 2years ago this September of an in large heart he didn't even know he had. Take care.
That is what would be considered low , but because it has happened on your smart watch during a rest the results might not be reliable. Not because the watch is not good but because this can sometimes happen when your watch becomes looser on your wrist and loses good contact with the skin.
And this can happen quite often in bed, you may need to tighten the watch a little or move it to the arm which you don't lean on at night or while having a nap.
If you aren't having noticeable symptoms as well that wake you up this is the most common explanation.
If you have a BP cuff monitor , it would be a good idea to spend the next week doing a few tests at the same times each day and note both your BP and heart rate to make sure you aren't getting similar results. You could also keep it at your bedside then if you wake up you can compare the watch with your cuff results whilst you are still lying down to see if it's the same. And note if you have any other symptoms.
Sometimes the same thing can happen after a shower or whilst you are exercising as well.
If your cuff readings and watch keep showing low results ( under 50bpm) or you feel symptoms are getting worse contact your Cardiac helpline or the GP for a check up . Take care , Bee
Iv found that smart watches arent very good at monitoring below 60bpm. I guess their not designed for that . Mine has an ‘ECG’ option… random i know but whenever i run it with a slow RHR it always come back inconclusive
They also aren't that good at blood pressure if you suffer with Tachycardia like me.Because the BP is worked out from the heart rate the watch measures based around algorithms if you have a continuous heart rate 100 BPM+ or under 55bpm the blood pressure results are generally higher or lower than your cuff monitor results usually are if you compare them.
I did have to check a number of times when I first got a watch , as my blood pressure is usually normal or low but the watch was giving me a hypertensive result.
This has been proven in medical research tests if various watches.
I don't take much note of the blood pressure on my watch now , although I do find it very useful in tracking my heart rate and activity to reduce my symptoms.
Hello
My smart watch shows my resting heart rate to be in the mid-60s, and that's the lowest it ever shows overnight.
But when I did a 24 Holter, after I went to sleep the results showed my HR was in the 50's and in Deep Sleep (between 3 / 5am) it was in high 40's.
The Cardiologist was satisfied with my Holter results, what this showed me is:
a) my watch isn't very accurate
b) not to be alarmed if my HR is 50's or 40's while totally at rest
It may well be that a) or b) or both apply to you.
But if it reoccurs & bothers you perhaps ask your GP to investigate.
Hope that helps.
I’m not a massive fan of smart watches to be honest. when my old Fitbit died I was bought the latest Apple Watch at Christmas by my wife as a gift, but by February I had given it away to my son.!!!! It needed charging every day( not good) so I turned half the settings off but it still needed regular charging.!!( not good) so I got another trusty Fitbit just to monitor my steps through out the day. One charge lasts nearly a week( great) I don’t think any of these gadgets are very accurate to be honest.? my son loaned me back the Apple Watch once and I wore them both together whilst out walking for a comparison and I ended up with two totally different results in heart rate, steps taken etc, and their was quite a big difference too not a little.!!!
I don’t think we can take them seriously to be honest.? I’m happy just to catch my steps in a day or a rough estimate anyway.???
I regularly set off . All the alarms in hospital when my resting HR goes below 50 but no-one seems concerned about it. My garmin often shows HR below what is considered "normal" and a recent 24hr halter test backed up recordings in the 40s whilst asleep. We are all different so we all have different "normals". Probably worth a chat with your GP if concerned. All the best.
If it’s a new development for you then it should probably be brought to the attention of your GP. I agree with another poster that it might simply be an inaccurate reading. You could take your pulse manually at different times throughout the day.
Like Hrty I set off the alarm in hospital. Even a nap would drop my HR low enough to trigger it, which of course woke me up! Seeing I was fit and healthy they decided to unplug it, I think for everyone's sanity. They kept me in an extra day to see what happened when they put me on a beta blocker. I still regularly get into the 40s while wide awake... and often when taking my BP. 😀
We are all different, you can't look at just one incident so monitor it then speak to the doctor.
My resting heart rate is 43\44 but I am pretty fit. So it's all about circumstances and often the meds some of which drop your heart rate which is one for the doctor again.
Don't stress but keep an eye on it
Mine is the same, I am having a holter fitted on 29th Sept. It doesn’t effect me but it’s best to get it checked.
perfectly normal - stop worrying ........👍
I wouldn't worry too much as heart rate does drop when sleeping. Plus you walk a lot so could be that your quire fit. Mine often drops to around 44/43 when asleep and my cardiologist and gp said I shouldn't worry. However I'm no medic do if your concerned maybe just check with your gp or cardiology team. Hope your keeping OK otherwise
My heart rate dips to 36bpm when awake and asleep which has been noted on hospital stays. All it means is I can't get medication for heart issues because they tend to lower heart rate too 🥴
My sleeping heart rate regularly drops to 40. It doesn’t go any lower as my ICD kicks in and nudges it up again 😀
Does your device have a minimum heart rate setting? Sometimes given on your card or device settings as IPG rate (Implanted Pulse Generator).
40 would be quite a low rate if you are being treated for bradycardia, 60 or 70-BPM are "normal" settings.
Just wondering as I have a pacemaker with an IPG rate of 70, but when I'm inactive, sitting down, sleeping and I can drop to as low as 30-BPM.
Clearly, this is wrong and I'm due to see the cardiologist in four weeks time.
There's a suspicion that recently reported ectopics (PVCs) are interfering with the PM timing.
No harm at all in seeing your Dr/Cardio & getting it checked out .It is your heart, no one elses & the only one you have. Best wishes.
I don't think I would be too worried either, but excuse the pun, you need to keep a watching brief.
I asked my GP about watch type devices for heart rate and she recommended chest strap types.
For accurate rates, do the manual method at wrist or wherever works for you.
Next best is a decent blood pressure monitor.
Least accurate in my opinion are the non-hospital finger devices like oximeters. There's something about the mathematics used to average readings that doesn't work well. Medical grade devices maybe OK.
I've no doubt you are fit, but any long term change in heart rate does need to be checked in case there are changes in things like conduction. An ECG will reveal problems there.
My heart rate regularly dips to 42-44 when asleep, even if it’s a nap, and no one is concerned. As you walk a lot it’s probably a sign of your fitness! But if you’re worried speak to your GP.
I’m getting treatment for AFib at the moment, and mine drops to 32/33 during the night and 35/36 during the day if at rest. I had a long chat with my cardiologist prof. about it and it boiled down to, if I feel ok with it at those rates it’s OK, if not, it’s not. It’s a balancing act when getting the treatment to be effective. Btw, before AFib, my resting heart rate was mid 40’s.
My doctor took me off bp meds when my reading was so low,luckly I was at her office. Since then I feel great much more energy. My heart rate is low normally. I am honky dori so far
Low heartrate - Bradycardia 
low pulse
Too low diastolic Blood pressure
Low Blood Pressure
Low 'resting' pulse rate
