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Heart Rate Drop When Running

I am 61, and a lifelong runner. Lately I am running 15-20 miles a week. I run with a heart monitor. This year I have had some odd things happen during runs. For example, sometimes when I run I will breath very very hard but my heart rate will be relatively low - 117 - 134. A couple days ago I was struggling with my breathing when suddenly my heart rate jumped to 147 and my breathing smoothed right out - felt like it should have given the effort. Today I was two thirds of the way through my run and my heart rate, which had been around 127, dropped to 60. I stopped running immediately. My heart rate dropped to 50, then 48. After a few minutes of walking it went back to 98 and then went down gradually into the normal range as I walked , then 50. The heart rate drop has happened before during runs but never that far - usually it drops to 95 or so. My resting pulse is usually 48-52.  I had a comprehensive work up by an electromyocardiologist and everything looked ok (according to his nurse). I have a follow up visit scheduled on Oct 23. Should I keep running or knock it off until this gets figured out. Any idea what is going on?  My blood pressure is pretty good - yesterday it was 120/72.  
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Avatar universal
I am not a doctor but I don't think you should be afraid of running.

Also, even if there would be something wrong with your sinus shunt or autonomous system the heart has a built in safety; if the heart beat drops to much the AV shunt takes over. So I don't think this is so dangerous. It might be uncomfortable but not dangerous.

I think it would be much more dangerous if your coronary arteries were bad or if your heart was raising really fast. Running also keeps your vascular system healthy, right? If you are worried then you don't have to run the hardest intervall sessions of your life, just run in a comfortable pace. But it is probably healthier for you to run than not to run. That would be my guess.

Besides, maybe it is just your monitor that is messing up a bit, who knows.

Best wishes!
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Avatar universal
I am 62 and run a lot as well. I think your problem is the chest strap. If the batteries are good try wetting the part that contacts the skin before you put it on. Use water not saliva.
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86819 tn?1378947492
134 is not necessarily low bpm at age 61. See http://****.***. According to this page, 3 of five different calculation methods give your AT at 135bpm.  This is a very very hard training session.

I do not have the tenacity to run everyday at AT, nor any single day.  I would definitely wear out over a few days and I know my heart rate would tend to become sensitive to exertion. However, I can not say how things should be for you.  I would call your doctors office and ask about continuation of running until the 23rd.
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