Slow Heartrate.

[Minky_Sunshine]

Hello,

Q.  Should I be worried that my resting heartrate fluctuates between the mid 50s to the mid 60s?  Right now it is around 57 bpm.  

I've read that anything below 60 is considered bradycardia and isn't good.  I'm not particularly athletic.  I'm 40 years old, 5'7", male, and weigh 155lbs.  I have slight dizziness off and on, some days are worse than others.  I did have a bit of a nervous breakdown earlier this year, with panic attacks and all that unpleasantness.  I feel I am almost over that now.  I am not on any medications.  I walk and row for excersize.

Last time I went to see a cardiologist (about 6 months ago), everythign checked out fine, including my stress test.  I did have slow recovery though at the time.

Right now, my recovery after exercise is around 40 bpm over 2 minutes.

[Donna-lee]

My husband had a pacemaker installed for bradycadia but his heart rate was down to 30-40 while sleeping sometimes lower with big pauses between beats up to 5 seconds. Hia day time rate was not much higher during the day. He had symptoms as well dizziness, tiredness, poor circulation, syncope, etc. His hr wasn't going up much with exercise either.

[caregiver222]

Mid-fifties is fine. A tad low, but no real reason for concern in and of itself. Heart rate measurement in itself is not helpful in a diagnostic scenario without a blood pressure reading. So don't be worried.

[tickertock]

What you're describing usually indicates a well functioning heart, you should be the envy of town :) be well and watch the anxiety it'll get the better of ya. On another note funny how some with profound anxiety have low heartrates and other with profound anxiety have high heartrates, amazing how we are programmed so much differently , oh well just a thought.

[Minky_Sunshine]

Thanks so much for the replies!  Getting other people thoughts and experiences on these things really helps :)  This is a very interesting and informative forum!

And yes, after exercize, my heartrate will drop by 40 bpm or more over the 2 minutes following.  Last night, I rowed for 10 minutes, hit 164 bmp on the HRM, and was down to 148 within 10 seconds, and then after 2 minutes, was at 98 bpm.

[maggiemag]

Yeah, I think he means that his heart rate drops 40 points in 2 minutes after exercise which sounds like a good recovery to me.  And bradycardia  is under 60 but the cutoff isn't that rigid.  Mid 50's and up is fine.  51 while asleep is fine.   I would suspect that the dizziness is anxiety driven also.  I run a pulse in the mid 40's frequently at rest and feel fine.  Mine is that low due to meds but it is still ok.

[Artaud]

Hi,

On Nadolol 20 mg in the morning and 20 mg in the evening, my resting heart rate was about 56. My Cardiologist feels that is just fine. The Holter report when I was on Atenolol 25 mg in the morning and 25 mg in the evening showed that my lowest heart rate, while asleep, was 51. Still fine according to the Doctor.

Bradycardia is a concern for profoundly slow heart beats. From my reading, the SA (Sino Atrial) Node, in the Atrium, initiates the Heart Beat. It travels down the heart and causes the AV (Atrio Ventricular) Node to discharge, continuing down into the ventricles and causing a contraction. If the SA Node fails to discharge, the AV Node will eventually spontaneously discharge, producing ventricular contractions. Problem is that they are much slower than what would be expected with the SA Node functioning properly. The condition of profound Bradycardia (very low heart rate) would often warrant the implantation of a pacemaker to discharge if the SA Node fails to do so.

If you have been seen by a Doctor and are having no symptoms, you probably have no need for concern. If new symptoms arise, notify your Doctor. Dizziness can be caused by psychlogical disturbances as well, look up "Psychogenic vertigo" on the Internet. (Trust me on this one, I've been spinning around the room on more than a few occasions, brought on by an unexpected and startling thought ;-)

By your recovery after exercise, I trust you mean that the rate decreases by 40 beats per minute over a period of 2 minutes. Is this what you are saying?

Best of Health.

[anacyde]

Low isn't always bad.  If you're not having symptoms from it (i.e. passing out, feeling weak) it's typically not a problem.  You may want to mention it to your doctor.  50s and 60s resting is not unsafe.  Bradycardia is 100.  We all fluctuate above and below these points without ill effects, and frequently.  Don't worry too much.  If symptoms develop, definitely discuss them with a doctor.  40 is a bit low.