Can anxiety cause a slow heart rate? Average bpm 55-60 sometimes low 50's?

[Ash1057]

I’m a 19 year old female and I have recently started working out again after a year break and have been measuring my heart rate. I have found that my heart rate is on the lower side particularly at night and in the morning when I’m laying down (in the low 50’s) and my average resting heart rate when I’m sitting is about 55-60 bpm.  However when I’m standing or doing everyday activities it’s around 70-80 and after working out it spikes into the 150s.  I know that 60-100 bpm is considered “normal” but it can be lower if you’re an athlete or really physically fit but the thing is I use to be an athlete but over the past year (1st year of college) I lived a pretty sedentary life style and am now just starting to work out again so I’m not really conditioned. I have also been feeling tired, weak, and like I have no energy for the past year. Last year when I got my wisdom teeth pulled I wasn’t released right away because I had low bp and resting heart rate(they thought it was because I use to play sports a lot). In my previous posts I wrote about my other symptoms including heart palpations, shortness of breath, seeing black (but never fully passing out) when I stand after sitting for a long time, and chest pains that I have had since I was about 10 that are increasingly getting worse. My doctor says it’s all from anxiety and that I’m fine but why do I feel have these symptoms when I’m not even anxious?  I’m just nervous and I don’t know if I should bring this up to my doctor because usually anxiety has the reverse effect so at the doctors it’s always high.  Here are my tests I have had over the past year and the results.
-Normal resting ekg
-Normal basic metabolic panel
-Normal TSH reflexive
-CBC showed slightly elevated rbc (5.05) and slightly low MCV (79)
-24 hr. Holter monitor showed min heart rate at 45 and max heart rate at 194. Average 79. There were no ventricular ectopics throughout the test and only 2 atrial ectopics. SUMMARY: Predominantly sinus rhythm (doctor said it was good/normal)
-Heart rate at the doc avg. 100 bpm at home 55 bpm
-Average BP at doctors 125/73 at home 105/70
I do know I have anxiety and that it can do weird stuff to your body but I can’t convince myself that only anxiety is causing this and not a physical underlying problem. I have seen 2 doctors and they say I’m fine and my parent’s think I am over reacting. I feel completely alone and that no one will listen or take me seriously because of my age. Does this sound like anxiety? Can these test rule out  all physical problems? The slow heart rate is what is scaring me the most. Thanks in advance for any info and or advice

[Ash1057]

Thanks for the response guys it made me feel a little better

[NeverAgain127]

One of the things that bothers me the most is when people say "it is JUST anxiety." or "it's JUST stress."  

Would you say "it's just cancer?"  Of course not.  

Anxiety is a very powerful thing; it can and does affect your entire body.  Prolonged anxiety can seriously injure your health.

It is not uncommon for people who work out a lot to have resting heart rates of 48-60.    I'm 53, and my normal resting pulse is 52; I work out almost every day on an ellipitical/stair stepper.  

I'll bet if you did something to address your anxiety, a lot of these fears would go away.  Have you ever tried yoga?  Tai chi?  

Based on your test results, you seem like a very healthy person..try not to worry honey.  

[is_something_wrong]

Yes it can.

It's a phenomenon not very known. I have it myself.

Anxiety can manifest in several ways, depending on which signal substance is released. With panic, your adrenal glands release adrenaline. This will cause the typical fight or flight response, with rapid heart rates.

Worry, ruminations, fleeting anxiety, will make noradrenaline leak from the nerves into the blood stream. Noradrenaline makes the blood vessels contract/constrict, which increase blood pressure and sends signal to the heart to slow down. Which will cause bradycardia. You can also feel cold hands and feet.

The reason is simple. Adrenaline has higher affinity to the receptors in the heart and the receptors that makes blood vessels dilate. Noradrenaline has higher affinity to the receptors that makes blood vessels contract.