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Slow heart rate symptom??

by be still my beating heart 13, Jun 15, 2007 12:00AM
I have been experiencing a transient slow heart rate during the day, and everynight when I lay down for bed.  It drops to 60 BPM while I'm awake (sitting and standing) and is accompanied by a headache, and chest tightness.  It drops to 60 BPM as soon as I lay down for bed and I've woken up with a heartrate of 44 BPM on several occasions.  I have had generalized anxiety for 7 years now and was used to the pounding heart, rapid heart rate with extra beats, etc., but those symptoms seem to have been replaced with a slow heart rate with extra beats, and it's really worrying me.  I found slow heart rate as a symptom of anxiety on The Linden Method's symptoms page, but no explaination as to why it occurs, and through HOURS of googling I cannot find anyone who experiences this due to anxiety.  Does/has anyone else had this happen to them, or can anyone explain why it drops so low BECAUSE of an anxiety disorder?  I am in the process of ruling out bradycardia with the help of our local free clinic, and hopefully I will be told it's harmless, but it may be as long a one month before I get any answers.

Thanks to all who reply and I hope you've all had an "up" day!!
Member Comments (11)

by heartfluttersflyawayplz, Jun 15, 2007 12:00AM
hey my heart rate is always 60, i take timolol and it stays that low my cardio says its ok no big deal for me mine has gotton down to 51 with other meds which i didnt stay on. am anxiety and it has not changed mine , it never gets fast because of anxiety. hey do you like the linden method, ive not had anxiety but for 4 weeks now and it does feel like its going away but i might need try something to help it go . hang in there and if that slow heart beat bothers you call your dr . mine says its good .

by RCA7591, Jun 16, 2007 12:00AM

Anxiety attacks generally lead to an accelerated heart rate. In a select few, the inappropriate release of Catecholamines (Adrenaline) causes "reflex bradycardia", which is uncommon. It is more common in heart disease or hypertension.

Normal physiology of the heart would equate an increase in pulse with an increase in blood pressure and cardiac output (a directly proportional change). In the case of reflex bradycardia, the opposite occurs. The pulse decreases, and the blood pressure increases (indirectly proportional change). The headaches are likely the result of transient surges in blood pressure, known as "labile" hypertension.

If you haven't had a full cardiac work-up, you might want to have one (just to be on the safe side). In the mean time, an event monitor (holter monitor), would be useful to detect the transiently low heart rate. Perhaps the clinic can fit you with one. I'd be looking at the QRS complex, PR and QT intervals, and QTC interval to determine if some degree of "heart block" is present, or if there are ECG changes suggestive of ischemia.

So, my thought is that it's an unusual finding (unless you're a marathon runner or taking medicine).

-Ryan

by Mozartcowgirl, Jun 16, 2007 12:00AM
my heart rate gets down that low as well... at first.. and sometimes still now. i do freak about it..

have you thought about being tested foe HYPOthyroidism?/
This can cause slow heart rate..

I have anxiety issues as well.. and was used to the whole fast heart rate thing... so.. when my heart rate started going the other way.. it really scared me.. get that checked.. you never know..

also.. i know this will sound strange.. but...when i was seeing someone about my anxiety.. he told that ... well.. when your body has undergone so much stress.. due ot hte anxiety.. that sometimes.. it wil give up.. meaning..it reverts itself back to normal.. so when you have a panic attack.. your heart rate doesnt go way up.. or. you dont get the classica things from anxiety that you normally would.. due to the fact that your whole body is so USED to panic all the time..

it made sense to me..lol

i can be sitting on my couch.. have a massive panic attack.. and my vitals are the same.. heart rate doesnt jump up.. even though i am freaking out..


i hope that everything turns out ok for you ... again.. have your thyroid checked!

by tanns, Jun 16, 2007 12:00AM
I put this in a post somewhere but I can't find it so I'm writing again.  I have a heart rate that is staying right around 60, sometimes high 50's.  Even when I get that really jittery, crazy feeling, it doesn't go higher.  Nor does my bp.  I feel like both should be sky high!  It scares me if I let it.

by be still my beating heart 13, Jun 16, 2007 12:00AM
Thank you all for responding!!  I am not taking any meds so that couldn't be it.  Until about four years ago (when I became a mom) I lead an extremely sedunatry life.  And I smoke too, so it just doesn't make sense to me that it drops so low.  My father passed away suddenly at 50 from either sick sinus or heartblock (coroner couldn't be sure), and I'm worried my time is coming soon.

But hopefully my doctors will find nothing life threatening and tell me it's just the anxiety.  Motzartcowgirl's responce does comfort me greatly.  I also read somewhere that all the pounding our heart does when were really anxious can actually strenghten our heart.  If that is true, then I have had years of daily cardio workouts, and maybe I'm starting to see the benefits! lol

Thanks again guys and keep on keeping on!

by be still my beating heart 13, Jun 16, 2007 12:00AM
To: tanns & Motzartcowgirl
Sorry tanns that I didn't include in my last post, we were posting at the same time :-)  I'm glad to know that I'm not alone in this.  Have either of you had a full work up by a cardio?  If so what was your dr's diagnosis/advice?

Thanks again!

by tanns, Jun 16, 2007 12:00AM
Oh my gosh have I seen cardios!!  I've seen three in my hometown and one at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.  I have had lots of tests.  LOTS!  

I've had sinus bradycardia on my event monitor reports but nothing that raised any red flags with anyone.  It stil bothers me.  

by Mozartcowgirl, Jun 19, 2007 01:29PM
To: be still my beating heart
I do have first to  second degree heart block.. so do my brothers.. and probably my mother.. my mother passed away... but not from ANYTHING related to her heart.... when i first was diagnosed.. i FREAKED out.. but .. my cardiologist was like.. OMG >. you are freaking out for NOTHING..

she was right.. yeah.. i get skipped beats sometimes..  but.. whe i changed my diet.. when i started taking iron from having slight anemia.. things got SO much better....+

something to think about.. that my cardio doc told me..

she said.. she only gets about 2 normal heart results a YEAR.. A YEAR!!
no ones heart is perfect.. NO ONES.. ( ok myabe those 2 a YEAR)

my docs advice was to calm down.... and.. i have.. for the most part.. i have had 7 children.. and ..well. i can remember seeing my cardiologist on passing at the hospital.. it went like this..

oh hi sandra!! how are you ??
Im great!! guess what!! Im going to have another baby!!
omg thats awesome!!!
do you think my heart will be ok ???
sandra.. yes.. of course!!
well take care!!
you too!!
bye!


i had a colonoscopy .. about two years ago.. when i went for my pre procedure stuff.. i asked my cardio doc about the risks.. considering i had 1-2 degree heart block.. she said..

well. it will certainly be a work out for your heart... if you come through that fine.. you will have your answer.

i took no meds.. at all. and.. when they hit my vagal nerve.. my heart freaked out.. i think my heart rate went up to like 210.
i got through the procedure just fine.. went home as normal.

take care of yourself.. eat right. or try your hardest to do so.

i think that stressing over it .. is worse than anything else

have you looked into hypothyroidism??

i just checked my heartrate..lol. its about 62... lol.. nice and low..


my dad passed away suddenly as well.. from heart attack.. but.. he smoked all his life.. drank quite a bit. and didnt take care of himself.. he was shoveling snow....

ask yourself..about your dad... you mentioned that you were a bit concerned that because you do not have a difinitave diagnosis from the cornoer.. that you are concerned..

did he eat right ?
what were his habits?
family history?


keep in mind.. while you are your fathers daughter.. you are not HIM.. your genetics while similar.. are not the exact same..

i hope th at you are doing alright.. and that you are feeling more comfortable with whats going on with you ...

by bip, Jun 19, 2007 02:46PM
To: mozartcowgirl
Hi I was reading your post and I worry alot about my