Low resting heart rate (50's)

Usually metoprolol is prescribed for rate control AND for high BP when there's an arrhythmia involved in the background. At least that's what seems to happen on my other forum where it's either diltiazem or metoprolol, and if the arrhythmia is gaining some ground Sotolol, Multaq, Fleainide, or propafenone....
I had a bad week after my first ablation with high HR, and it wouldn't self-revert to NSR. The attending called my EP, and between them they agreed to try amiodarone. I blanched when told that is what they wanted to give me, but the internist said, when I commented that it was a mighty big hammer, that it was the '..right hammer'. So, I went on it and converted overnight with an ICU stay. It kept me out of arrhythmia until the weaning period was almost over at eight weeks. Back on the maintenance dose I went for another two weeks, then another two weeks of the weaning dose. That worked. For two months.

My Bradycardia started in 05 with a LBBB. In 19 I had an Afib event with an ablation 6 mos later. HR was in high 40s when I was in bed. In 8/20 my EP had me take a stress EKG and Chronotropic Incompetence was the diagnosis. This resulted in Pacemaker implant 3 months ago. My first Followup in person is in 10 days. I would suggest a stress EKG to how your heart responds.

Keep us posted how your follow-up goes.
Very interesting--Thanks

jer22,
The BP for systolic is a little high but you dystolic (spell the at rest level) is low at 55. Norm is 70. Mine bounces around depending on my weight and when it goes (weight) down my BP is around 90/60. I do get dizzy when it is 90/60 when I stand up too quickly.

When my weight goes up, like now, my BP is 120/70 and no dizziness. I would talk to your doctors about the 55 as a possible cause of your dizziness.

I am not familiar with the medications you are on. Are they for blood pressure? I take Entresto and Carvedidol. When my BP gets low my heart failure doctor considers separating the time I take the medications to help maybe maintain the BP better. But as usually I gain the weight back with holidays and stress and have not had to do this.

A pacemaker won't affect your BP it will affect the pulsing of your heart to bring up beats per minute if low or having electrical problems like I do. I am not a cardiologist but your pulse rate is quite low even when you are moving around. Do you exercise a lot? With that low of a pulse rate could affect your dizziness and is why best to asked your caridolgist as we can only give advice on our conditions and the causes we found that affect us personally. Athletes have a very low BP and pulse.

My resting pulse rate is 54 without my pacemaker. My pacemaker pulses me at 70. However mine is pulsed at 70 to help reduce PVCs that are more present when my pulse is lower. Again this is me and what is causing your dizziness may be completely different that what causes mine and what my treatments are.
Good luck,

Thanks good info

Four years ago I was diagnosed with HCOM. I collapsed while walking. My resting heart rate was 45-50.I had no response with exercise. I had a pacemaker implanted. My weakness, fatigue and shortness of breath ceased almost immediately. I have done well since then, Now 81.

Thanks for info

I too had a low resting HR, bradycardia, as the result of LBBB in 05. My lowest HR that I noticed while awake was 46. An ablation in 20 and pacemaker implant in 8/23. I haven’t noticed any real improvement in my energy etc but believe that the positive outcome will be years down the road.

Well I am one for the books. I’ve had Afib for 40 years and I’ve had a low heart rate all my life, 46 resting. I am not an athlete nor do I have any symptoms of tiredness, dizziness, and or shortness of breath. I am 76 and in good health with bounds of energy. I only experienced episodes of Afib once or twice a year until I had Covid for a month two years ago. Since then, I get more Afib episodes at least once or twice a month. I’ve only been to ER 4 times since then. They put me on a diltiazem drip and two hours later my heart corrects. The cardiologist gave that drug to me in pill form which usually takes two hours to correct. Since I am getting them more frequently they suggest an ablation. I am very hesitant due to potential risks. My blood pressure is usually 117/75. I don’t drink anything caffeinated and watch my sugar intake. I also keep very hydrated with electrolytes. So my concern is the getting an ablation.

Linda, I'm a big proponent of ablation. And I've had two of them. I was unfortunate in that I joined the unhappy ranks of first time failures, which run about 30% of ablations. My EP agreed to try again, and this time he was successful.

The great risk from AF is stroke. The disorder won't kill you, but it can lead to degenerative heart conditions that could shorten your life. Then there's the anxiety or discomfort from symptoms, which some of us simply can't abide. I'm one of them. It was a living hell for me, and friends and family say I looked grey near the time of my second ablation in February last year. If you are properly prescribed an anti-coagulant, which you should be, your risk of stroke is going to be very well managed. Not zero risk, but pretty darned close.

Since you are largely unaffected by your AF, and if we can hope that it won't begin to progress to increased frequency or worse symptoms, maybe you should just live with it as you have been doing. But if you become increasingly affected and worried, and if the condition becomes intrusive and ultimately unhealthy for you due to loss of sleep and anxiety, then I would very strongly champion the procedure of ablation. Just be sure to get the best darned EP within a day's drive or a five hour flight.