Bradycardia and Beta Blockers

Posted By John Paravantis on May 09, 1999 at 17:32:36
Thanks for this wonderful site.  A few months ago, I was fortunate enough to receive a detailed reply to a PVC related message and it greatly put my mind at ease.  I have since found that most of my PVCs are stress-induced; I have also found (and I am quite happy about it) that over 60% of healthy adults show some PVCs in a 24-hour Holter moniroting.
Here ensues my present question.  I am currently 39 years of age and was on Inderal for about a couple of years around 18 years old.  Before that time (in my teen years), I was told that I had a "natural" sinus fast heart rate and had on a couple of occasions registered slightly elevated blood pressure (i.e. 140/90).  After 2 years on Inderal, I stopped taking it and have never been on any medication since.  From time to time, I had been aware, but noticed it only lately as I perused my Holter results (all normal with 250 PVCs), of the fact that I have a rather slow pulse rate, i.e. it may fall to 50+ at quite spells during the day.  When I exercice or simple get excited, my heart rate does respond reaching e.g. about 150 when biking.  Yet, when I have a really relaxed weekend, I have caught my heart rate being 50-55 (49 once), and my Holter showed that it actually fell to 40-43 while sleeping!  I should mention that a stress-test and an echocardiogram came back normal except that the echo verified that I have a mild mitral valve prolapse without regurgitation.
I should mention that I am never symptomatic, (in fact my pulse is low when I am relaxed so I usually feel wonderfull).  Because of the PVCs, I have totally cut off caffeine (including decaff and Coke) and take some Omega-3 salmon oil tablets which, if nothing else, act as placebo!  I should also mention that for many years now have also greatly lowered salt to reduce my risk of hypertension which plagues my mother.  Although I eat absolutely no additional salt, I eat a bit of everything and, following the advice given to me by MedHelp in my previous message, exercice 2 or 3 times a week (biking).
To recap, I which to know whether it sounds like I should be concerned about my oftentimes slow heart rate.  Is 43 bpm while sleeping normal?  Could my use of Inderal for 2 years have permanently slowed down my heart (it did, the question is whether there is a causal association)?  Should I be concerned about the future?
Do allow me to express my gratitude for your site once more.










Follow Ups:


Re: Bradycardia and Beta Blockers Karen 5/16/1999
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Re: Bradycardia and Beta Blockers CCF CARDIO MD-APS 5/12/1999
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