How low is too low?

[sammy73]

Just went for a medical check-up (my new life insurance company requires it).  The doctor measured my heart-rate - the number when he put the clip on my finger was 48, and that's what he put on the form, but while he was doing other stuff I kept an eye on the heart rate and it settled around 42, lowest value was 40.

I'm male, 37, 6'3" and 182lb, so normal weight if not marginally skinny.  I'm pretty fit - I run 20 minutes most days, and most of the time go rowing once a week (for 1h30) plus an hours intensive circuit training a week, although I haven't been doing much of either these last couple of months so I'm not at peak fitness.  I'm a long way from a professional athelete, but I'm in good shape for an everyday bloke.

So, I realise that if you're fit your resting heart rate can be lower.  But still, 42 seems pretty low to me.  Just read that 60 is the official limit for bradycardia, but is frequently not symptomatic above 50.  42 seems to me well below 50.

The doctor didn't say anything, beyond asking me if I generally had quite a low resting heart rate, which I confirmed and said I was quite fit.  But he saw the 48, not the 42.  I didn't realise quite how low 42 is compared to normal, 'til I just checked it out now.  If I'd realised then how below-average it is I'd have asked him about it.

Is this still within normal boundaries for a fit man of my age?  Or should I be concerned about this?

[Pamz]

I monitor my bpm because of my son and we are trying to get records together for him for family history so I just wore a 48 hour monitor.  My bpm while up and walking around is in the upper 40's, lower 50's.  While working at my desk, it's in the lower 40's constantly  On the monitor, it drops to 30 while sleeping.  The other day, while at work, not sleeping, it was 27.  The cardio said that while it is low, unless it is in the 30's most of the time and I feel extremely fatigued, extremely dizzy or am passing out, it's not a problem.  I don't know if being female makes any difference.

[MindPieces]

I'm in the same boat. 30 year old male, and while I do daily cardio I'm not exactly an Olympian or anything. Went to the doctor a couple weeks ago and discovered that my resting heart rate ranged from 40-50. Wore a 48 hour holter monitor and it went as low as 31 while I was sleeping. I find this pretty worrisome, but the doctors do not. These results came in weeks ago, but my review with the cardiologist isn't until next week.

I guess I don't know how low too low is, but if the doctors aren't concerned about either of us I guess we have to trust them.

[sammy73]

I know my heart rate tends to be on the low side, but I had no idea what the actual value typically was until my medical yesterday.  So the results from that are the only figures I have.

[netminder1976]

I think your doctor would have said something if it was a problem. If you arent having any symptoms I wouldn't really worry about it. My hr gets down to 50 sometimes and I get worried about it but I always feel fine.What is your heart rate normally at rest... mine ranges from 59-67 but like I said it will sometimes dip to 50. My mom has a slow heart rate too. I think it must just run in the family.

[sammy73]

N.B. I don't have any of the related symptoms of Bradycardia listed on Wikipedia (fatigue, weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, chest discomfort, palpitations or shortness of breath).

I don't drink much (rarely more than 1 pint of beer / 2 glasses of wine, 3 or 4 times per week), never smoked, never took drugs, not on any medication.