A cause for concern or?

[caz1967]

For the past couple of months i started getting notifications via my Samsung 6 watch that my HR was anything from 44 to 52,for more than 10 minutes, numerous times a day or night . I am taking various medications, Bu trans patch, HRT co-codamol 30/500 Pregabalin tramadol & citalopram 40mg. They are for a couple of different issues with my spine as well as Sciatica was very severe. These i started taking from 2006 to 2010. In 2019 my GP felt i had a lung problem so i was sent for chest Xray, from which he told me i had Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, as it was covid nothing else was done. i had a recent Chest x-ray after saying i was concerned id not been refereed or checked on. and have not had any result given to me or been asked to see GP.

I have had central sternum pain of varying degrees for a few years which was initially checked after an ambulance crew took me to A&E.

My concern is that even when using my blood pressure machine ive been getting the same low HR reading, i knew if i go and tell GP that my watch is advising me he would brush me off , as i occasionally had a low BP as well & its exactly what he did. Ive also had some dizziness on and off for a few years, along with feeling off balance and light headedness.

Should i purely carry on as i have been or TRY to be seen by my GP

[bluemoon572]

You seem to be experiencing symptoms that can be caused by abnormally low heart rate or low BP. An EKG may be helpful if it's done during the low heart rate. Wearing an outpatient cardiac monitor for 48 hours or more would be most revealing as you would note symptoms & cardiac rate and rhythm would be recorded for review at these times.

[caz1967 in reply to bluemoon572]

Thankyou

[caz1967 in reply to bluemoon572]

Hi An update, i got an ECG, when i arrived it felt like i was in line at a fish and chip shop we were all took through one by one and a very young chap did the ECG, a week later my surgery called it was a receptionist , to say its satisfactory. What that means im still trying to discover.

[DWizza]

My heart rate is generally in that range as an average resting heart rate. Doesn’t give me any issues . Blood pressure dropping is the one that gives me dizziness and fatigue . It dropped from 115/75 in mornings to 101/61 when I was in 80mg artovastatin, stopped taking it and it reverted back to normal. Now trying a 3rd statin at a low dose . It’s mad how the meds interact 🤦🏼

[GoodHearty]

I was advised by my cardio the devices we use at home like watches and pulse oximeters don’t always pick up pulse rates accurately and therefore unreliable, even though I said the trend from ‘normal’ for me of around 65 to drop to around 35 was concerning me, before it then recovers to ‘normal’ after going through this up and down cycle for 30 to 60 mins.

So unless there are other symptoms that present at the same time my cardio at least didn’t seem bothered.

I take Mg which seems to help regulate it, I have been diagnosed AF, but thankfully only happens once every couple of months.

[caz1967 in reply to GoodHearty]

Thankyou . I also experienced the brush off in similar fashion when i noticed my BP was going very low, its why i sought out and brought an identical electronic BP machine , its on this machine that im also getting very low readings in the 40's. i do know some high profile TV GP's take note of some of the smart watches , and recommend you visit your own GP.

[caz1967]

If and when i manage to see a GP its not easy getting past the consult by phone i will try. Thankyou for your reply.

[Judithdalston]

his Caz, Can you link the dizziness etc to the sudden lowering of BP, and do you know what your heart rate is doing at the same time? I have been having high HR/BP problems for the last 4 years with Long Covid…had echocardiogram, ecgs, chest X-rays etc etc and cardiology and respiratory said nothing to see and signed me off without actually seeing a specialist dr., and on 5 BP drugs. But symptoms of breathlessness, dizziness and falls persisted, so did some research and just wrote to GP asking for referral outside my Trust to tilt table test clinic. There I was found to have very low BP on standing for about 8 mins (60/40) which was not seen on all other tests; the falls consultant thought it was the low BP that drove up my heart rate to 130-150 level. I have found my HR will be at 150 just from struggling to put my coat on with an oximeter. Since had a 24 hr BP monitor which again shows huge variation in BP, highs alternating with lows on waking…but not yet been back for treatment other encouraged use of compression garments. Obviously I cannot tell what ailment you have, but from experience those dysautonomic conditions like postural hypotension or PoTS are not diagnosed in my Trust, and totally ignored by my GPs, so be prepared to ask for a referral elsewhere…. I incidentally bought a Kardia6 L to show my tachycardia etc but by then my symptoms of fainting were so bad I did not need to convince the drs.I was in a bad way!

[caz1967 in reply to Judithdalston]

Hi Judith, It seems a lot pf us have been pushed aside because GP's are in the main idle now. When i was much younger i had very low BP so bad i was hospitalised so much when pregnant with all of my 3 babies. Since im older i do not believe its a continual issue, it was between 103 / 60 when HR 45.. when i last did a bp calibration on my watch. i will try to keep everything in mind when i get an apt. thankyou carol

[JHutton1994]

' my GP felt i had a lung problem so i was sent for chest Xray, from which he told me i had Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, as it was covid nothing else was done.'

You should have been referred to a pulmonologist urgently, he cannot say if it is idiopathic or not without further testing. This is quite a serious disease. You need to request that you see a pulmonologist urgently.

[caz1967 in reply to JHutton1994]

Yes i know it can be, ive just been forgotten. i do believe he must start to investigate at the least.. Thankyou