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Sudden Drop in Heart Rate & Dizziness while exercising.

Day 1.) I was starting a jump training routine (I've done this routine several times before). Warmed up fine, but 10 minutes into the jump training routine I got the same feelings described in day 2 below.

Day 2.)  (4:20pm in the day) I warmed up on a stationary bike just before going to a treadmill and my heart rate was at a steady 110/120 with no problems. While on the treadmill, I started off at 3.0 mph for 5 minutes, then up to 5.3 mph and then suddenly felt weak, tired, dizzy, cold sweaty, and my heart rate dropped from 130 to 89. After stopping and getting off the treadmill, the dizziness got stronger, my hearing went a little muffled and my heart rate dropped to 59. It felt like I was going to pass out (I've never passed out before). A minute or two later and some deep breaths my heart rate returned to the high 90's and low 100's and the dizziness was gone. This never happen to me before, now it has happened twice in the past two days.

I was able to do a weight training (Back and Biceps) session earlier in the morning (8:30am) with a steady heart rate of 125.

Some suggested I "BONKED" but I have read about Vasovagal, Pre Syncope, Bradycardia, and Angina. Any idea's what is happening?



This discussion is related to Sudden Heart Rate Drop/exercise.
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Avatar universal
Same here.  I'm a former recreational runner/cycle/rower now 48yo and 100lbs over weight and on 10mg Lisinopril for blood pressure.  Started running again - 1.25 miles.  My rout happens to start with a hill that rises 50 feet.  Have run that 6 times so far this spring.  Pulse starts at 75 then when run begins either drops quickly or in the first two minutes to 64 for 2 minutes then recovers during rest of run to peak at normal 145-160 depending on the day.  First run dropped to 75 after 1 minute, recovered to 141 then after 15.30 minutes dropped to 35bpm then recovered to 110 over next 4 minutes.  The only symptom is shortness of breath, which I expect in my condition.  I changed my rout to push the hill back to 4th minute of the run but was not much change - still dropped even without the hill so the drop begins with exertion.  I'm going to email my charts to my GP but any thoughts otherwise?
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Avatar universal
Glad to read this.  Not glad that it happens to you, just glad I am not alone.  I have had spells like your for years.  They have been getting worse.  I thought maybe I could train my way out of it.  After 1 round of P90X and in my last week of Insanilty, I have had way less untill yesterday.  I had 5 minutes left of a 60 minute cardio workout and my HR went from 87% to 38% in a flash.  I went down hard but never passed out.  Freaked me out!  I test perfect on every test ever given to me.  Just low blood pressure 90/60.  Doctor have never seemed that interested in helping me figure it out.  It messes with my life and I hate it.  Good luck to you.  Hope we figure out how to stop this.
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Avatar universal
Hi there

What you described sounds very smiliar to what I am experiencing. On the exercise bike my HR suddenly dropped from 150 to 89BPM and after about 2 minutes returned to about 159BPM. In such an episode I will sometimes feel dizzy and my eyes go blurry. So I considered it maybe to be blood pressure related.

This isn't normal is it? I have had several EKGs performed, and an echo, had a 24 hour holter (not while exercising though) and a exercise stress test- the only abnormality showing was atrial ectopic beats.

Following such an episode I will feel very wired and restless all night and will feel physically exhausted the next morning and through the next day.

I am now terrified to go back to the gym due to this and I really dont want it to take control of my life. I have a history of panic attacks, however they have become much more manageable and I can tell the difference between this and a panic.It is triggered by exercise as day to day I am generally fine.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!
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