bradycardia -- what's a too-low heart rate?

My 89 year old husband was recently confirmed that he has Bradycardia. Has had arrhythmia for years - without noticeable problems. He also has dementia; CKD - Kidney stage 3; CVI - stage 5 or 6; plus on meds for Thyroid problem; enlarged prostate, gout, high blood pressure (I think that should be stopped???); anger and anxiety; pain; and B12 and D3.

He has shown signs of dementia for years but just recently diagnosed and a lot more tests to come.

At home I would take his blood pressure and it would be really low (kept records for family doctor) but at the doctor's office it would always give a perfect reading so the doctor was really happy. Then he started treatment at Mayo and both visits had him with low readings (hence the Bradycardia).

He also has fallen quite a few times - last two involving 911. Fortunately no falls recently!!!

Legs get small ulcers, which bleed for no reason and he is never aware of it happening. No knee jerk reactions.

I'm not sure how the Bradycardia will impact him or what to be watchful for. He mostly sits in his recliner watching movies. Only wants to eat sweets. I can get him to take a bite of things good for him but only a few bites, if that.
Long days and nights. (oh, he also has rapid eye motion disorder - which means he acts out dreams in his sleep and talks in his sleep lol).

I have a very slow pulse caused by Sotalol. This is no problem as long as I am not feeling fatigued or have shortness of breath. My wife, a nurse for 45 years, asked my Cardiologist about my slow pulse. He told her as long as I wasn't having problems that he was not worried about it.
How do you feel? Do you suffer symptoms? I'd keep a log and would share it with my cardiologist.

Hi, I too had a fitbit which I recently upgraded to a Samsung Health Watch 4 which does an actual interpretive EKG. I am on propanolol 20mg/2/day to suppress my rate which is in the 40's at rest. The problem is the watch algorithm won't read below 50 or over 100 bpm so I have to get my heart rate up a little to use it. All of this is well known by my care team who seem unconcerned about the low rate and they tell me when I ask the question you have, that I will know when there is a problem. I have not passed out although I do have dizzy spells especially upon rising and often feel lightheaded, none of which I think is problematic beyond my frequent AFIB episodes. I am seriously considering an ablation after reading "The AFIB cure" by Dr. John Day. Hope this is useful to you, but if not, read the book. Quite interesting.

I was diagnosed with AFib in 2018 and had only one event per year UNTIL I received the Moderna vaccine after which I had many events which were long lasting . After a couple cardioversions and increased symptoms (Tachycardia) I had an Ablation (pulmonmary veins) in January 2022. Had one recurrence of Afib and had a cardioversion in February. Was in normal sinus rhythm for 4 months and in July began having shortness of breath accompanied by irregular heartbeat (but no tachycardia) Had that for the month of July and part of August ( until I had another cardioversion on 22 August. Diagnosis was Atrial Flutter and am now waiting to schedule an ablation for the right atrium.

kenv267, I gotta share. This falls into the FWIW (For What It's Worth) category. After all, you are not me. You are unique.

At one point, at 5' 5" tall, I weighed 187.5 lbs! I now weigh 115 - 117. Not certain since I've not stepped on the scale for a few days. Usually weigh myself once or twice a year now.

My weight gain was from every female problem (PCOS, fibroid tumors and endometriosis), low energy due to serious anemia. Got those issues resolved and got a job in an automotive factory. Numerous injuries forced me to be sedentary. Thought I was eating properly but was eating too many carbs 20+ years ago. We didn't know then what we know now...

So, how did I lose 70 pounds despite being an old lady? I was steered to a book. Don't know if it's still in print. Check Amazon, eBay or Alibris. No dieting, no meetings, no public weigh ins, no calorie counting, no restrictions, no point system.

The title of the book? The Weigh Down by Gwen Shamblin. Changed my life!

Early on, all I had to do was step on my scale at home around the same time every day. And read the book. Get inspired! Recognize and embrace the message. I could wax prolix and reveal what changed my life but, again, you are you.

I will share that Gwen Shamblin used to compete in beauty pageants and, like the other contestants, she was obsessed with calories, her weight, etc. Other contestants were inducing regurgitation or using laxatives. She knew this was NOT healthy. She had her personal revelation and... I. Had. Mine!

I've lost the weight and kept it off for years and years now!

Wishing you the best and, yes, your doctor is right. Get moving!!!! In another thread I shared my journey re: exercise despite dozens of acute and cumulative injuries.

I too have a very low heart rate - usually hovers around 38 to 40. I have done a fair bit of research on bradycardia, and from what I understand; it really isn't a concern UNLESS it's a change. In other words, if your heart has always beat slowly, then that's your normal. I certainly am not a doctor or any kind of health care practitioner, but I've seen a few doctors and they all say the same thing - including a cardiologist. What is of concern, from what I understand, is the blood pressure related to the slow heart. I went to the hospital the other day because my systolic pressure was over 200 - now with a slow heart rate - that could be serious.
I also know that I have had a heart murmur my whole life, so perhaps there are some issues there. In any event, if you are interested, I can send you links to what I have read about bradycardia.

Hi Norma12
I have done the whole food plant based diet, following Dr. Fuhrman. I am not a fan of any prescription drugs - I went that route before and was far worse off. I take supplements and exercise and I'm very careful with what I eat. There are also a few other doctors that have slightly more flexibility - Dr. Dean Ornish and also Dr. Colin Campbell & his son - Dr. Esselstyn & his son Rip Esselstyn (Dr. Esselstyn is the strictest diet) - and many others. My blood pressure came way down when I followed the diet strictly. I've now started to go the Mediterranean diet route since it's so well-rated; however, it may well be that I can't eat the salt and oil in that diet...we shall see.

I hope you can find a resolution. I too, have episodes of very low heart rate: down to 30, which is as low as Apple Watch will measure. Have had as many as 20 ‘low heart rate notifications’ per night but can’t get any helpful feedback from my cardiologist regarding cause. I initially fainted, which caused the focus on bradycardia as a possible cause. Other than the initial syncope episode, I have no symptoms when my heart rate is extremely low. I have done all the usual tests and even had a Medtronic Loop heart monitor implanted in my chest but have received no useful information from it.
I have bradycardia episodes for months at a time and then go several months without extra low bradycardia. Then, repeat the pattern. What are some causes that others have been told by their care team? Thanks.

For some reason, there doesn't seem to be the concern there should be for Bradycardia - I think if your blood pressure is OK, it may not be as much of a concern - but if you are fainting that seems pretty serious. How long have you had this condition?

My BP is OK (slightly elevated but controlled with medication). Have had 4 fainting episodes spread over 20 years. The bradycardia only appeared right before the most recent fainting episode.