low heart rate

[TigerGirl79]

R has been experiencing chest pains over the past week. He has had 4 ECGs which have all come back ok but his heart rate is between 42-52 per minute. The doctors know he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s but they think it is angina due to stress. I know MSA usually presents with dizziness when standing and blood pressure drop but has anyone had experience with a low heart rate?

Many thanks

[TigerGirl79]

He is being referred to the chest pain clinic but not sure when that will happen. We do have a Parkinson’s appointment with our new consultant next week so will definitely be mentioning it

[TigerGirl79 in reply to TigerGirl79]

I should also caveat that when he was diagnosed it was noted that he has brisk reflexes, Babinski sign and postural tremor but not resting. He was diagnosed as Parkinson’s or Parkinson’s Plus in 2021

[Anovis]

My husband was diagnosed with MSA in 2021. He is now 80 years old and his heart rate has been low (50s) for several years.

[TigerGirl79 in reply to Anovis]

Thanks for replying so quickly. Did your husband have any struggles with the low heart rate? R seems fine day to day although the chest pains have knocked him. I will be mentioning it to our consultant next week.

[Anovis in reply to TigerGirl79]

No, he has not had chest pains. It could be a separate issue of the heart. Has he had a heart disease workup?

[TigerGirl79 in reply to Anovis]

He had lots of ECGs which apparently were ok and bloods done. We are chasing the docs for the chest pain clinic referral, he has private health insurance so we may look into using that if there is a massive wait.

[Purplegoth]

My husband a little different as he is diagnosed with Pure Autonomic Failure but his heart rate is low and doesn't rise on exercise so much so he has had a pacemaker fitted to kick in when his heart rate drops below a certain level. Xx

[TigerGirl79 in reply to Purplegoth]

Thanks for replying. I am beginning to think we are dealing with 2 things - chest pains probably linked to work stress and low heart rate. He could do with a 24 hour ecg to see what is going on.

[Darn2023]

Hi, I have been diagnosed with MSA one year ago. The initial symptoms included low heart rate going as low as 34 bpm. I have had no chest pains though.

Regards

Rob

[TigerGirl79 in reply to Darn2023]

Thanks Rob for replying, I really appreciate it

[TigerGirl79]

Thanks everyone, he has a cardiology appointment next week to see what is going on

[CloudEA1]

Please can I ask if the MSA diagnosis was after covid as some elements like heart changes are common there - both tachy and brady heart rates and burning type chest pain (and body aches)?

[TigerGirl79]

Hi, R doesn’t have an MSA diagnosis. There have been many things that point to it but still working on the Parkinson’s diagnosis. He still has bradycardia, not related to Covid or angina following an investigation. He did have a 24 hour heart monitor which we are waiting for the results of. Heart rate is anywhere between 50-65 in the day and can drop to 43 at night.

[CloudEA1 in reply to TigerGirl79]

Parkinsons and MSA can impact the heart in the way you describe (looking at parkinsons charity websites)

[TigerGirl79]

Thanks, it is so frustrating. Neither the heart or Parkinson’s doctors think that the bradycardia is linked to Parkinson’s but they can’t come up with anything else that could cause it. Going to try to get R to contact the heart people to see if anything came back from the 24 hour heart monitor. Otherwise I guess it is just another wait and see situations. Thanks for the replies