heartbeat

[beoffwithyou]

what would cause my heartbeat to go from 60s down to 42, I do suffer from chromic stress and chronic anxiety

[John_in_NC]

What is your O2 level?
I have constant PVC and BradyCardio, way down to like 36 BPM, but my O2 stayed in the 98 to 100 which is good for an Ex Smoker. When in the hospital they had to reset the alarm limits on the EKG. It was near constantly buzzing and beeping. When I slept I would go into Brady Cardio frequently.

My Cardiologist was not too concerned with slow heart rate provided that my O2 levels remain ok and my blood checked out okay.

They backed me off on the Metoprolol to 25 mg, and sent me on my way.
oh well

[Arti Sharma, M.D.]

Hi, it is definitely a cause of worry that your heartbeat goes down from 60s to 42.Though you suffer from anxiety and stress it is important to rule out all pathological causes. This can happen either due to defective functioning of the heart muscles, inadequate electrical impulses in the heart, or due to obstruction in the blood vessels. It can lead to serious consequences like insufficient oxygen and blood in the body. The causes of slowing down of heart rate could be varied like cardiac arrhythmia, heart block, atrial flutter, vasovagal attacks, sick sinus syndrome, electrolyte imbalances or use of drugs like beta blockers, hypothyroidism and other hormonal imbalances. You need a comprehensive evaluation .Treatment can be given only when a proper diagnosis is reached. Schedule an appointment with a cardiologist soon. Take care and good luck.