bradycardia

[Jeems]

I have a low heart rate of around 42 and this goes down to mid thirties at night according to my Apple Watch.

Has anyone else these symptoms and what advice if any have you received. ?

My consultants say I’m ok as I’m reasonably fit. Still play some tennis etc. I’m 67

[Lowerfield_no_more]

Talk to your GP and let him/her decide if it is cause for concern. If your low heart rate does not interfere with your life then it might be OK. My heart rate can drop to low 40s when I am sleeping and my GP said not to be concerned, so I am not

[Jeems in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

Thank you

[Knavesmire27]

Hi, I suffered with bradycardia for a number of years and while my doctor and consultant kept it monitored I just got on with things and they were ok with this. I recently had a pacemaker fitted but this was following open heart surgery and the affects of that (this dated from a childhood illness). Many athletes have very low heart rates, which do go even lower when resting so I always used to joke that it meant I must be fit like an athlete 😊. Wishing you well for the future.

[Jeems in reply to Knavesmire27]

Thanks. Much appreciated

I use the same joke signing off fit and fat !

[Hrty]

I've got quite a low HR, currently 54 as I type, which often drops into the 40s whilst sleeping. Been like it for years and possibly a result of all the swimming and other exercise I did pre-HA. It gets annoying when I'm in hospital and the blooming machines keep bleeping every time it dips below 60, so much so one nurse changed the threshold to reduce the alarms. No-one has ever been bothered. The only time it became an issue was when I was prescribed bisoprolol after the HA. Only the very lowest dose but then my HR was regularly dropping into the 30s and I was cream-crackered all the time. One of the rehab nurses was taken aback when she did my HR and BP and the HR was only 42 after running up from the car park and only sitting for a few minutes. Once, in hospital, the nurse was reluctant to let me take the bisoprolol until my HR went above 60. In the end the cardiologist was happy for me to stop the bisoprolol and I've felt loads better since. He has often commented that I have a "good pump".

I'm now at phase 4 rehab and the only "drawback" with a lowish HR is that it takes quite a bit of effort to get into my target range of 100-120. At an assessment with the DR there last year he wanted to get me to 132 - It was flipping hard work and I was shattered at the end

I has similar issues with atenolol when that was prescribed for high BP many years ago, at a routine ECG with my GP he saw my HR was 32 so stopped it and switched me to other BP medication.

I suppose the bottom line is, if the professionals aren't bothered and you feel OK then probably best not to worry too much.

[Jeems in reply to Hrty]

Thanks for your reply and sharing your experiences. It is comforting to know that I am not the only one with a low heart rate. More importantly that it is ok to be so.

I too used to play squash 3 times a week etc so was probably quite fit many years ago

Now I manage just once or twice a week since lockdown and that too is tennis which is far less strenuous.

Thanks again.

[Sambobs17]

hi jeems, I too have low HR can be in the 40’s couple of occasions at 38 mine seem to happen because of PVC’s I have a run of them and it drops then climbs up again - I have had a run of tests last one being stress echo, I didn’t quite get to the optimum HR not far off but they saw enough to know thankfully every thing was ok - I was told I had runs of bradycardia on a 24 holter as things stand nobody has said about changing meds I take sotolol have done for a number of years, but I’ve reduced it further as I think it’s made things too slow - I’m at a point where I’m doing my own thing which is working for me,

I was expecting a follow up with the cardiac nurse but I don’t think that is likely it was said to me by my surgery ‘not worried about the bradycardia it’s more about how many PVC’s your having’ but that by the looks of things doesn’t come into the ‘we need to look at further intervention’- my conclusion with this is keep an eye on things obviously if your having dizzy spells with it then that’s when you need to seek further help, my husband was in the same position slow with dizzy spells he had a pacemaker fitted and has been fine sorry for the ramble think it just helps if you know someone else is having same issues - hope you get sorted take care 😊

[Jeems in reply to Sambobs17]

Thanks for sharing. It’s interesting that bradycardia although not common is not uncommon either !

[theoldgolfer]

Low pulse rate has been a concern ever since I came out of hospital a year ago. I've always dropped below 40 bpm every night when sleeping, and recently went to 32. Daytime when resting in usually in the low 40's . Two consultants I've seen said that they were not worried and wouldn't recommend a pacemaker. I'm now 72 years old and never smoked, don't drink much and play golf 2 or3 times a week.

I've stopped checking my pulse rate every night and only do it occasionally as clearly I shouldn't worry, however, I do get quite light headed most days at times ?

All the best

Chris

[Jeems in reply to theoldgolfer]

Thanks for sharing. Pleased to hear you did not need a pacemaker despite the low HR. My concern is that i do get short bursts of dizzy spells, light headed and chest pain occasionally. I had many tests done and waiting for the review now.

BTW its first time I read anyone with a low HR of 32. Its comforting to read that the consultants did not seem overly concerned. Mine went down to 33 lowest so far but generally hovers around 40.

Thanks again.

Jeems

[Lonmayloon]

Hi Jeems, My resting heart rate is in low forties and often in thirties when asleep. I run 5km three times a week, I am 66. Last year HR dropped to 33 for an hour or two when just sitting (not asleep). I discussed this with my GP even though I was not experiencing dizziness or feeling lightheaded. She was happy for me to half my dose of bisoprolol and monitor heart rate and blood pressure. When exercising hard my heart rate can get up to 154 and recovery heart rate drops 30 beats in first minute. If you want to discuss it with your GP that is the sort of information they might want.

Incidentally I’ve just spent two months in a ski resort (high altitude and very little running). That always pushes resting heart rate up about 10bpm so I reverted to previous dose of bisoprolol. Back down to sea level and back to running so I’ll see how that affects my heart rate.