Low Heart Rate

Do you have a previous cardiac history or is this something completely new?

Many people with various heart conditions experience bradycardia. Mine also can drop very low when sedentary or sleeping. You don’t need your heart pumping hard when you’re resting or sleeping so it may be ok. My cardiologist was never overly concerned as I didn’t faint and or have any real symptoms. It was only that my watch would alert me if it dropped under 55 for more than 10 minutes.

I’m having said all that, it’s always best to get new symptoms looked at, especially if you’re experiencing dizziness or anything similar.

I was put on beta blocker about 15 years ago mostly for having heart papations. I never had a low heart rate that l was aware of since being on it. But l'm really not that concerned with my heart rate but I'm little worried about the lightheadedness and dizzy. I didn't know if it could be something serious. I have not fell down of fainted. I will contact my to doctor and get it checked out. I guess I'll be okay until I can see him. Any opinions if this is serious.
forensicfairy, thank you for your reply.
Thank you for responding.

I couldn’t say if it was serious or not. That’s a question for your doctor, but I can tell you it’s very common and mostly always not serious at all. It depends on why it’s occurring and anything else that may be happening. Do you see a cardiologist regularly?

Up until 3 years ago l had never been referred to a cardiologist for any reason. In 2023 my palpations were getting worse but lt wasn't causing me to be lightheaded or dizzy.
My GP sent me to a cardiologist. At that time l had echo stress test and holter monitor. The cardiologist said everything looked good but he said l was having PVC's but stated unless they got worse nothing to worry about. He did another echo in 2024. He said everything looked good. My heart rate could have been low for years but l never felt different. It's just now l'm just feeling lightheaded. My blood pressure is relatively normal and since l have been feeling this way l started checking my oxygen
level with my oximeter. It has always been 95 or higher if the device is accurate. Like I said before l have not fainted or fell down from the lightheadedness. But I'm trying to get into see the cardiologist but it takes a little while to get an appointment. I talked to a nurse and all she says is they will try to get me in as soon as they can but she advised if l keep feeling this way to go to the ER. That's kinda disconcerting. I really don't want to have to do ER but I am concerned.
Thank you for your reply.

I recently had BP at 144/82 so my doctor put me on Licinopril. But she also had me do an EKG and my heart rate was 57. I'm very athletic, I walk up to 3 miles a day, hike hills totaling 10-27 floors and go to the gym for an hour 5 days a week. I would think a lower heart rate is according to this regular excercise but she wants me to wear a heart monitor 24/7 for a week.

Please. advise your thoughts on heart rate of 57 for a very active person

@lauramks My resting-while-awake HR as a competitive runner in my late 30's was 38. So, if your heart really is in pretty good shape and you have no other comorbidities lurking here and there, I don't think you have anything to worry about. Note, though, that there is some discussion over lowering the bradycardia limit from < 60 BPM to < 50 BPM, but it's not a discussion that seems active and public....so far. So, you are in the higher portion of that controversial range which, again, suggests to me (very much a NON-expert or health educator) that you are fine. Although, being scrupulously honest with you, with your history and activities, I wonder why it's that HIGH!!! Assuming for a second that you are quite healthy and only have age-related degradation of all your systems, I would think someone in your circumstances would normally have a resting HR running between 45-ish to 51-ish. Female gets an extra five beats a minute typically, but...I dunno....

What are you thinking?

Thanks for your thoughts @gloaming

I just got back from an hour at the gym doing abs and weight training, followed by a 2.5-mile walk with a hill hike showing 22 floors. At the age of 68, I'd like to think the EKG resting heart rate of 57 is due to my daily workouts. Since my BP was going low, then spiking, then kind of stabilizing around 144/82, my doctor prescribed the lowest dose of Licinopril, so I guess the inheritance finally caught up to me on that. My mom always had to control her BP, and my brother has been on the meds for at least 10 years, starting in his early 50's. I think my doctor is being way too cautious. She said she wants me to wear a heart monitor for some length of time - saying she'd like to be convinced I don't need a pacemaker... What?

Thanks again for your thoughts. I think I'm doing fine. I eat right, hydrate, don't smoke and my only vice is I like a couple of cocktails and wine now and then.

@lauramks Copied liberally from verywellhealth's site:

When Should I Worry About Fluctuations?
If you experience inconsistent readings regularly, it could be due to a health issue. Labile hypertension is a condition in which blood pressure changes suddenly and varies significantly, going from normal to elevated in the same day or from reading to reading.

These fluctuations can indicate significant problems. For instance, studies have found that changes in blood pressure from one provider visit to the next are sometimes linked to a higher risk of heart disease and early death.9

The following are serious issues that can cause blood pressure fluctuations:

ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION: This condition affects the lining of blood vessels or is related to stiffness in the arteries. It's more common as people age.10
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): The temporary cessation of breathing due to OSA leads to a spike in blood pressure that, over time, increases the risk of cardiovascular issues.11
KIDNEY DISEASE: High blood pressure is a leading cause of kidney disease, but the damage done to the kidneys from these disorders also raises your blood pressure because when the kidneys cannot remove excess fluid, it puts pressure on blood vessels and raises blood pressure.
ADRENAL GLAND DISORDERS: With adrenal gland disorders, your body may make too much aldosterone, cortisol, or hormones similar to adrenaline, which can cause high blood pressure.12
Blood pressure medications: Prescriptions to treat high blood pressure can actually cause dangerous blood pressure variations (BPV). For instance, short-acting drugs will not control blood pressure for an entire day, so your BP will begin to increase hours after taking the recommended dose. Calcium channel blockers may be most effective for avoiding BPV.13
Pheochromocytoma: This refers to a tumor in the adrenal gland that in rare instances can cause blood pressure changes.14 These tumors are usually not cancerous.

I saw all those, but I think I just have a pretty consistent blood pressure that is moderate hypertension. My doctor put me on the lowest dose of Licinoprol, so I'll get a device to check every once in a while.

I really posted here about my doctor's strong concern about my resting heart rate of 57. I am a very active person who goes to the gym for 60-90 minutes a day, 5 days a week, and I walk 2-3+ miles with hill hiking up to 30 floors a day

Here is a source with a chart that places you in safe territory. See the chart for women.
https://www.verywellfit.com/resting-heart-rate-3432632
But really, the question does need to be asked, and the cardiologist should have to answer it to your satisfaction. Why are you concerned about a heart rate three beats below the approved lower limit for women my age given my level of activity, intensity, and overall cardiac fitness?