Bradycardia and excercise

[woodstein312]

So as some of you have already heard, I was told recently by a doctor that I have a slow heart rate (ranging in 50s to high 40s). My question is, how much exercise does one have to do in order to develop bradycardia?
I am by no means an athlete. However, I have been working out almost every day for the last 3 months. I also walk everywhere because I don't own a car (my commute is about two miles of walking every day)
Somehow I doubt those factors would be enough to develop a slow heart beat, but what do you think?

[sueinns]

Everyone is different but it is doubtful that your bradycardia is due to exercise alone.  Elite athletes have low heart rates in the 40's - these folks exercise intensely.  I am a runner (about 30 miles per week) and my resting heart rate is 54.  Before I became a runner, I walked about 5 miles per day and was generally very active.  Then, my resting heart rate was 68.  The intense exercise is what brought my heart rate down.  

Is your doctor doing any further testing?  There are many reasons why a person would have a low heart rate and you need to get this checked out.  

[Barbarella]

I've been walking every day for decades, and my heart rate is around 54 bpm.  Never arobics, jogging, treadmill etc, just brisk walks.  Before I started walking my heart rate was 60 bpm when I was a Teenager and into my twenties.  The only time a doctor (cardiologist)  was concerned was when I was put on beta blockers in the ER (BP crises) and my heart rate went down to 30 bpm and I couldn't function.  

[Artaud]

Hi,

If you have Bradycardia to the point that intervention is necessary, it is best not to try to discover the "real" cause for it, and to go along with the medical suggestions. In other words, if they feel that the SA Node in your heart is compromised to the point that your heart rate is too slow, and they tell you that a Pacemaker is needed, don't look for other answers, the Doctors would be able to assess if your Conditioning is the reason for your slow heart beat.

On the other hand, if they have told you that you are fine, and that the Bradycardia is of no concern, then you have nothing to worry about. Heart Rates in the 50's are not that uncommon for people with normally functioning SA Nodes and for people on Beta Blockers. My heart rate was as low as 54 at rest while I was taking Nadolol 20mg in the morning and 20mg at night.

If they told you that a Pacemaker is needed, by all means get a second opinion from an equally or more qualified Cardiologist.

What have they told you?

Best Regards.

[SwanSong]

I have bradycardia too. For years my resting heart rate was 42. Sometimes after exercise it would dip into the mid thirties. My blood pressure was low too. I never thought anything of having the low readings and neither did any doctor. I used to brag about my low heart rate thinking it was great.

Years later I finally got diagnosed with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis [more common form of hypothyroidism]. It was then I learned that my low heart rate and blood pressure were symptoms of hypothyroidism. With the proper dose of thyroid medication, my heart rate is now between 50 and 60, which is considered normal to slightly borderline.