Slow Pulse Question

[Squims]

Doctor.

I

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

Squims,

Thanks for your questions.

I would like to make a few points prior to answering your specific questions.  While it is possible that your pulse has actually slowed down since the death of your father, I am extremely skeptical about this point.  It is much more likely that you have become more focused on your pulse rate since his passing, and thus now have perceived a difference that is not there.  Further, young, otherwise healthy patients have a significant variation in their heartrate throughout the day.  The difference in rate between 55 and 61 is rarely clinically significant, and is more likely due to the daily variation and not a statistically significant change.

Now to your questions...

(1) Anything is possible, but I have never encountered someone whom I felt derived an improvement in heart function from a stressful life event.  However, I have encountered patients with broken-hearts after stressful life events...

(2) I can't comment on your pauses without knowing what they are. Fortunately it is very easy to diagnose their cause with a 24-hour holter monitor (a continuous ECG that you wear).

(3) Most disease have a typical timeline that does not vary, but this is not always the case.  Cancers usually progress at a steady rate, for example, but Multiple Sclerosis and heart attacks are characterized by "punctuated events" with few or no symptoms in between.

(4) Anxiety is a frequent cause of preoccupation with one's heartrate and pulse.  It is unfair of your GP to simply say "deal with it", but he/she is probably not being mean -- they may just not know what to do.  I would recommend that you speak with him/her to formulate a plan that is suitable for both of you.  The plan might include every 6 month follow-up, a holter monitor, and various treatment strategies for anxiety such as support groups, bio-feedback, yoga, or counseling.

Hope that helps.

[Stefan518]

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[pat302]

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[BillyboyAA]

Squims!!!   I felt that I was reading a letter I wrote to the forum.  I have had the same problem for years.  I am 33, 5'9", 155# and pretty healthy.  I have always, like you, had a slow heart beat.  It used to be around 60ish....Now my resting rate is 45-50.  I do alot of cardio workouts at the gym, i.e. stairmaster for 45 mins about 4 times a week.  I have had two cardiologists full exams including EKG's, Echos, Stress Tests with and without Thallium, Calcification scans of the heart (0%).  and also many holter monitors, about 4.  I had an episode of about an hour worth of pauses and nothing turned up at that time on the results, just some PAC's and PVC's, and some aberrant beats, whatever those may be.  They always say not to worry, but it is hard when you fell like your heart is going to stop.  I can take the double-beats, but the pauses are much harder to tolerate.  I had a bout with panic/anxiety attacks and high anxiety in the last 4 years.  I even wake up sometimes and until I get going my heart is around 42-45.  Then after I eat and get my day started, it gets to 45-50..  I even think sometimes I need a pacer, but both doctors think i am crazy.  Both doctors did stress tests on me and my heart was able to reach 145 on both tests.  I just have to get used to having some bad days and I cant' expect to feel good everyday.  Please feel free to email me anytime as it would be nice to have someone to talk to about something similar.

Billy    ***@****