I have a slow heart rate at 19 years of age?

[JayRhodes]

Hi Everyone,

I live in the UK.

I have been diagnosed with ADHD and Anxiety over the years, but recently I've been obsessing over my heart rate. I'm not very active and I have a slow hear rate which can sometimes make it into the 40s (Mainly at night, but also when resting during the day sometimes)

Over the years I've had all sorts of tests like:

ECGs
24 Hour ECGs
Brain MRIs
Neck MRIs
Physiotherapy
Full Blood Tests
Chest Xrays
Heart Ultrasound
Neck Xrays
CBT Counselling
Tests for Diabetes

They all came back normal, apart from my most recent 24-Hour ECG which came back with some Atopic Heartbeats, but my doctor told me they are nothing to worry about.

I do get the feeling all the time, mainly after eating that I have to burp quite a lot, and this is combined with a sort of pressure feeling like I have trapped wind. Burping does appear to solve it however.

I'm really worried and Ive been put on 20mg of Fluoxetine daily as a treatment for my Depression and Anxiety.

Basically I really want to know what could be causing my slow heart rate. Can lack of activity cause a slow heart rate?

Thanks Guys, Sorry If i go on a lot but I am actually quite worried and anxious about it.

Thanks Guys!
Jay

[JayRhodes]

Hi there, thanks for answering my post and my other one too! Sorry I never received an email telling me I had any response! lol but thanks very much, it's really put my mind at rest now. I still see my doctor and everything still comes back normal apart from my last ECG which showed I have an occasional Atopic heart beat. I'm sort of starting not to worry as much now so hopefully everything might just be related to my anxiety or something.

Thanks again!
Jay

[remar]

I agree with everything Nursegirl said.
You've had a lot of testing done but you did'nt say if you've had any blood work done or not. Think about having your potassium levels checked. If they're low it can sometimes cause a low heart rate and anxiety. You're also having atopic heart beats and that may be a cause of low potassium. It's worth having this blood test done, just to be sure.

[nursegirl6572]

Hey Jay!  Welcome!

Sounds like you may just have a benign bradycardia.  Everyone's resting heart rate will vary.  For instance, mine is on the faster side, like 90-100, and has been like that for years.  

You've had pretty thorough testing done, which should reassure you, plus you're very young, serious heart conditions are very uncommon in someone your age.  

Have you seen a cardiologist?  If not, that's not a bad idea, even if for some extra reassurance.  After consulting with a heart specialist, I think it's important to try to accept that they're telling you everything is okay.  That's a tough thing to do for someone with anxiety, but it's important because the actual process of continued reassurance seeking adds to anxiety.  It becomes part of the anxious cycle.  

I would recommend at that point (getting the "a-ok" from the cardio) putting your energy into addressing the anxiety.  Are you still in CBT?  How long have you been on the medication?  If not long, of course it takes some time to see results, and sometimes a person ends up needing a higher dose, so it's important to be patient as much as you can.  Therapy should be continued as well.

Nothing sounds worrisome for you with your heart, that's just my unofficial opinion.  Keep us updated on how you're doing.