low pulse rate

[TheBoys]

I ve had problems for about a month or so now with low pulse rate! My apple watch is recording low heart rate of less than 40 bpm on around two nights per week.

Today was particularly bad as was fluctuating from 52/54 bpm up to 80 then back down and I’ve now sent readings to my GP surgery. I’m on bisoprolol for blood pressure which is fine at the moment (116/66). Hopefully I ll have an appointment tomorrow but strangely I’ve been incredibly bloated lately and have terrible indigestion and flatulence -sorry! No other pains or breathlessness. Heart rate currently settled at mid 70s.

I’ve not been able to get much exercise as have got leg issues with a painful knee

has anyone ever had symptoms like these? I m really really scared about going to hospital which I suspect is where I ll head tomorrow

Interestingly my rheumatologist feels my arthritis med is no longer working properly just now as had covid back to back infections from June-September so am due to see him and get checked out next week

Paul

[sandandkev]

Have you checked your pulse manually?? I wouldn't rely on anything else to check

[Scotsman53]

Medics pay a lot more attention to actual symptoms than devices. My HR was going low as well but it was the shortness of breath and fainting that got me my pacemaker!

[TheBoys in reply to Scotsman53]

Hi

Thanks for that - my partner just said similar to me.

[Gambalunga]

I regularly wear a chest monitor when cycling. Recently my resting rate was up to 10BPM lower than normal with generally lower rates throughout the range. I do get ectopics and these have been noted when the nurse manually checked my heart rate. For me it feels like I've missed a beat. They've been particularly bad recently and a one point my monitor read 35BPM where I'd normally have expected 65BPM. I'm assuming the odd beats may be to me being a bit stressed at the moment and the monitor can't always make sense of the underlying rate.

[Blueberrylover]

Hi I have exactly the same symptoms as you, my pulse goes down to 40 and then straight back up to 120, it doesn’t last long and happens a few times a day. The 7 day holter monitor recorded that my average pulse as 72. It has all happened since the C jabs, I am on Bisoprolol, ibersartan and statins, the cardiologist nurse said there was nothing to worry about.

[Hrty]

I was put on 1.25mg of bisprolol after my HA 2 years ago. After 3 months of walking round like a zombie and a resting heart rate dropping into the 30s regularly it was stopped. Even now it often drops into the 40s, like it did pre-HA, but I feel so much better. Always worth talking to GP/Cardiologist/Rehab Nurses if you have any concerns. I still trigger alarms when it hospital when the monitors detect a HR under 60

[TheBoys in reply to Hrty]

Many thanks for that. I’ve gotten really frustrated with my GP as have raised concerns on 3 reviews now and ended up splitting the 5mg tab in half myself as was getting these symptoms at the higher dose now am getting them on this 2.5 dose. I ll have to persevere and get to the bottom of it.

[Hrty in reply to TheBoys]

What I've found useful on a couple of occasions is having a telephone appointment with the clinical pharmacist at our GP practice. He is really good and swapped out a couple of meds (Replacing lansaprazole with famotine for example). it was the cardiologist who stopped bisoprolol but he was happy with what the pharmacist had suggested for other meds. I suppose it all boils down to what they've prescribed each med we get given and whether the advantages outweigh the side effects. Best of luck

[TheBoys in reply to Hrty]

Hi

Thanks for that tip! I m still waiting on call from the surgery lol.

[Blackknight57]

mine has had all of these. The bisoprasol pushes your heart rate down. I had a cardiologist from papworth double my dose, my cardio team at my care hospital told me not to take the double dose.

The watches are not reliable, but mostly accurate. 70 is a good rate while you are active.

He is lower when you sleep, mine is 40-50 at night, 54 average rest and 70-90 ave when taking exercise.

Highest rate is 200 minus your age.

[T666]

I had readings on my watch of 26-39 BPM. Two people said take it manually or ignore your watch ( a nurse)

I had manual (2 nurses and a doctor) plus BP monitor plus ecg machine. All came within 2BPM of my Apple Watch

They insisted on putting a chair next to the nurses station and fitting a portable monitor

Long story short. They stopped bisoprolol and digoxin and my heart rate has been 50-80 (activity dependent) ever since ( June)

It is a common issue, blaming the technology lol. They will adjust your requirements accordingly. Most important thing is the cardiology or other doctors are the correct route forward. After all it was them that put me on digoxin and Bisoprolol in the first place 😁