Heart Rate Low - Ok?
Discussion
Over the last year or so I have been getting fainting symptoms more often. Almost always after resting and getting up from the settee or out of bed in the morning. I don't usually actually faint and collapse on the floor as I feel the symptoms coming on and either stop still or sit down for a few moments until it passes. It seems to happen more often when I'm stressed.
I don't have the figures but while at the GP's he took my blood pressure which he said was good until I stood up and he said it crashed. I didn't feel faint though. I've had ECGs which are not revealing anything untoward apparently. He referred me to the cardio unit at my local hospital which I went to this week.
The doctor said my heart rate is at 50 and asked if I played sport in my youth. I'm now 73. I told him I played lots of sport when I was in my teens but from early 20s just badminton. He said that playing sport conditioned the heart and that is why it was at 50 today even though its 30 years since I played any. He was reluctant to offer any treatment and as I had been living with the fainting symptoms for a good while then I should carry on. He did mention steroids and a drug (can't remember what it was) but that in many cases it had no effect.
5 years ago another doctor decided my low heart rate - it had dropped to 36 before recovering to 50 - was due to sport in my younger days too but only after admitting me to intensive care.
Does this sound a likely diagnosis?
I don't have the figures but while at the GP's he took my blood pressure which he said was good until I stood up and he said it crashed. I didn't feel faint though. I've had ECGs which are not revealing anything untoward apparently. He referred me to the cardio unit at my local hospital which I went to this week.
The doctor said my heart rate is at 50 and asked if I played sport in my youth. I'm now 73. I told him I played lots of sport when I was in my teens but from early 20s just badminton. He said that playing sport conditioned the heart and that is why it was at 50 today even though its 30 years since I played any. He was reluctant to offer any treatment and as I had been living with the fainting symptoms for a good while then I should carry on. He did mention steroids and a drug (can't remember what it was) but that in many cases it had no effect.
5 years ago another doctor decided my low heart rate - it had dropped to 36 before recovering to 50 - was due to sport in my younger days too but only after admitting me to intensive care.
Does this sound a likely diagnosis?
It’s not a diagnosis. You need a 7 day holter monitor. Ignore all that nonsense about sport in your youth. The question is whether you have conduction disease within your heart.
Get an OP appointment with your local cardiac team. Please don’t worry, our diagnostic tools these days are really good at sorting this stuff out. You’ll be grand.
I’m a consultant cardiac scientist, by the way. I should know what I’m on about (colleagues may disagree!)
Get an OP appointment with your local cardiac team. Please don’t worry, our diagnostic tools these days are really good at sorting this stuff out. You’ll be grand.
I’m a consultant cardiac scientist, by the way. I should know what I’m on about (colleagues may disagree!)
My RHR is around 50 and I too can feel quite light headed if I get up too quick. Blood pressure is within the normal range.
When I found myself in A&E a few years back for a stomach complaint they decided to do an ECG. They then had a good few looks at the printout but never said anything. About two months later I get a call from the GP to go and have another. It turns out I have a Stage 1 heart block (bradycardia), but because of my level of fitness I've been told by the GP "It's nothing to worry about"
.
Bradycardia can cause dizziness. I'm 61 and not on any medication.
When I found myself in A&E a few years back for a stomach complaint they decided to do an ECG. They then had a good few looks at the printout but never said anything. About two months later I get a call from the GP to go and have another. It turns out I have a Stage 1 heart block (bradycardia), but because of my level of fitness I've been told by the GP "It's nothing to worry about"
. Bradycardia can cause dizziness. I'm 61 and not on any medication.
Armitage.Shanks said:
My RHR is around 50 and I too can feel quite light headed if I get up too quick. Blood pressure is within the normal range.
When I found myself in A&E a few years back for a stomach complaint they decided to do an ECG. They then had a good few looks at the printout but never said anything. About two months later I get a call from the GP to go and have another. It turns out I have a Stage 1 heart block (bradycardia), but because of my level of fitness I've been told by the GP "It's nothing to worry about".
Bradycardia can cause dizziness. I'm 61 and not on any medication.
Stage 1 heart block isn't a medical diagnosis, I suspect they meant Type 1. There is no pathological impact of Type 1 heart block it's simply a slightly prolonged PR interval on ECG, you don't even need to be bradycardic to have it.When I found myself in A&E a few years back for a stomach complaint they decided to do an ECG. They then had a good few looks at the printout but never said anything. About two months later I get a call from the GP to go and have another. It turns out I have a Stage 1 heart block (bradycardia), but because of my level of fitness I've been told by the GP "It's nothing to worry about"
. Bradycardia can cause dizziness. I'm 61 and not on any medication.
There are plenty of pathological findings on ECG that needs monitoring however. Smart watches these days are fantastic, infact the Samsung ones do amazingly good ECG recordings (I'm sure other brands offer the same).
Edited by gangzoom on Saturday 24th January 07:37
Mark_S1000RR_2010 said:
I m a consultant cardiac scientist, by the way. I should know what I m on about (colleagues may disagree!)
Show an abnormal ECG to 10 different Cardiologists and expect 10 different answers, I use to work with one chap who was obsessed with QTc calculations and regareless of clinical relevance would make anyone who asked for advice manually calculate the QT before giving advice........Needless to say they got approached the least for ECG advice 
PS: I haven't calculated the QT for the pseudo ECG above.
Edited by gangzoom on Saturday 24th January 07:39
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