Is Slow Heart Rate a problem?

woong · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Posts: 32

I went to my doctor 5 years ago because I was feeling tired and lethargic. He did some blood tests and they came back fine so he put me on a 24 hour halter monitor. The monitor showed that at 5.30am my heart rate while asleep was 33bpm, the rest of the time while resting it was in the 40-50 and while awake in the 60's. He referred me to a cardiologist, he did all the heart tests including another 24 hour monitor this time while asleep my heart rate was 46 bpm at one stage the rest of the time the same as before. After all the tests - stress test, ecg, ekg, bloods, ultra sound on my heart, lung test etc he told me that I suffer from anxiety but my heart if fine. I got pregnant had my daughter and then decided I wanted to double check this so I went to another cardioligist all the same tests - the holter monitor showed a reading of 48 while sleeping. And he told me the same I am health and there if anything is stress in my life that causes anxiety. Some times I feel tired and faint but the doctor tells me this is my anxiety and when I take my pulse when I feel like this it is 60-65ish.

My questions is why would my heart rate have dropped to 33bpm, is this dangerous and should I have regular check or see someone else? During the day my heart rate is around 60 - 70 when I check it (and the monitors all show this),so why is it dropping at night. Please answer - not sure why I am stressing about it now it has just come back and hit my like a tons of brick that I never got an answer.

potor · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Posts: 49

Everything in your body slows down at night including your heart. Your heart doesn’t have to work as hard when you are in a state of rest. I do not think 33bpm was too low or else your doc would have brought immediate attention to it. Maybe you were extremely tired during those times in which you had that first holter monitor. Not sure what to tell you but id relax (I know it’s hard) they would have found something if there was anything wrong. Worrying will only make your stress level rise and make things worse for you. Good luck!

woong · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Posts: 32

Thanks, That does make sense, just hard to handle when I am having an anxiety attack. I check my pulse 4 or 5 times a day even when feeling good and my heart rate is always about 60 - 65. When slightly anxious it is about 80 and when very anxious it is about 95. I get more of a pounding then an increased rate

thanks so much for replying and if you have anything that you need help with or want to ask a couple of questions please contact me and I will see if I can help

joung · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Posts: 46

Hey,

Stop checking your pulse! If you went to a cardiologist, and he said your fine then you've got to stop worrying. Checking you pulse 20 times a day can drive you crazy and make you panic because you're worried about it. I had to see a counselor about it because I had to get out of the habit of checking my pulse every 5 mins, once I stopped doing that the anxiety and everything else along with it stopped. That is my advice to you.