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Bradycardia how low is too low
Bradycardia without symptoms. How slow is roo slow? I've had a slow heart rate most of my life and my adult sons also have slower heart rates, so there seems to be a genetic component. My heart rate at night will sometimes go as low as 40 bpm. My overall heart rate averages about 54. My cardiologist is taking a wait and see approach, but I'm still wondering if it may suddenly drop too low in the middle of the night.
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note: See James Coburn in The President’s Analyst. 1967 . His watch woke him up.😁
@itdontgo: It’s just a matter of time (it’ called aging)before you start feeling dizzy because your heart is not pumping enough blood to your brain. Ignore that condition and your heart stops. The solution is a pacemaker. But I suspect you will learn this advice the hard way. At age 92 I’ve walked that path believing I was bullet proof.
Replying to the original post: Bradycardia how low is too low.
Me: 66 year old male. Athletic and active my entire adult life. Hereditary HD got me at 56, mild HA and moved on. Extremely active today. Recent events:
A) Atrial Flutter about a year ago.
B) Ablation on 1/28/26 AFlutter gone
C) RHR was in the low 40's tagging me to Bradycardia
D) Holter Patch due to low HR.
E) Noted 3 pauses in 12 hours of 7.4 seconds each. Wore HP 6 days. Pauses this long are not good.
F) Agreed to a cardioversion and a Leadless pacemaker implanted on 3/2/26. PM placed in the heart. Aveir PM
G) I question all procedures and do my own research before agreeing
H) Now in Afib, however there is a "blanking period" (healing time) following the ablation for the Aflutter heart needs to recover in hopes is the Afib goes away.
A low resting heart rate I believed to be great, it was a sign I was in GREAT shape. Fewer bpm supports my exercise regime. All along (since Oct 7, 2025 I knew my EF was low) the low Ejection Fraction of 40% which use to be in the low 60's was not a good sign to me. Fatigue and lacked my normal energy levels which were really good.
My own personal experience, as others have stated here, I'm not a Dr, just a very healthy and active 66 year old. I'm very cautious about my body and what the medical industry suggest I do.
In your case, I would ask for an echocardiogram (3D more reliable) and wear a Holter Patch for 3 to 4 days which gives them 24 hour data on your heart. Hopefully your insurance will support the procedures. I would ask before hand. The Holter Patch just sticks on your chest with short leads, very convenient.
A slow rhr is great however, maybe not in every case. My last procedure will be to ablate the Afib and hopefully move on with my active lifestyle of weights, elliptical (hit program), cycling (Avg. mph 17 at 15 miles).
Are your lower legs or ankles swollen? Exspecially after sitting for an hour or more. Means the heart is not returning the blood from your legs back to your heart, too slow. Referred to as Edema. My experience (not a Dr) hope you can learn more about YOU! Good luck!
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2 Reactions@alwayson
Just wanted to "throw out a few thoughts" ... for me A-Fib had never occurred on either side of my family, so when I was diagnosed at age 83, I was both shocked & Ignorant to it. My GP congratulated me, assuring me most patients are much younger when 1st diagnosed. Since I was diagnosed Cardiologists have prescribed just about every drug in their arsenal, & I come back reporting side effects (for some, Serious side effects). Finally, I was sent to a Electro-Cardiologist . He performed an electronic cardio version. 1 shock & my heart was back to normal.
At a follow-up appointment I asked him, "Dr., since the Covid Vaccines came out & masses of the population received them, have you noticed more & MORE patients, both younger & Older being referred with Cardio-problems? He paused a L-O-N-G moment ... then answered: "Interesting question. We haven't kept any records, nor have I read any articles on That, however I would say the numbers of New patients seem to have grown exponentially ever since, and I've noticed both younger & Older patients than before the Covid vaccines."
>Now I realize there are other factors that may account for this such as: the growing numbers of people dealing with being overweight, + the increased use of chemicals & preservatives the Food Industry uses today.
So think about it: Our Bodies are Strange & Wonderful Machines & No 2 are alike!
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2 Reactions@margaretfriel
Am glad for you that your heart is back to normal.
I have atrial flutter lasting up to 3 1/2 hours at times.
My rhythm doctor never mentioned electro cardiologist just
wanted me to get on blood thinners. Thanks for putting
out some good information. Was your A-fib going steady or just at times?
@bryanta
My A-Fib was 24/7 B/4 the procedure. Now the Dr. who did the procedure has me on Diltaizem … & I’m having some negative reactions to It!
Good thing I wasn’t into illegal drugs when I was younger … I’d probably be pushing Daisies today. Since childhood prescriptions & I just Don’t get along.
😏
@bryanta
Good stuff, thank you!
EP (Electrophysiolgist) are Cardiaologist that specilize in heart arrhythmia. Its worth seeing one. I was told that the Afib will not take care of itself, only hinder you as life moves forward.
To be as transparent as I can be. I had no notable symptoms. I was simply dragging behind, lacked my 13 hour/day energy.
I couldn't feel the Afib, i knew it was there via Kardia Mobile, otherwise I had no other indicators other than the drop off in energy/fatigue. Never had the explosive HR spikes, pre or post ablation.
To digress and answer your question, no, Afib was steady post ablation (1/28) flutter steady before. Today, after a cardioversion (heart shock fix arrhythmia and Aveir Pacemaker, I'm expierencing NSR every day (per Kardia Mobile) however some tachycardia last 2 nights before bed 10ish.
Tommorrow I see my EP Dr for post precedure follow up and will get the actual story on an EKG. The EP was complimentary of the Kardia Mobile, creditable. Anticipating a good review.
Following these procedures, (i was a bit skeptical)(cardioversion & Aveir PM) happy I went along as it appears I'm back to what I use to be. No bloating or puffy stomach, no swollen ankles or feet and the energy is coming back.
Workout 6 days a week, landscape my yard, pool care etc. I'm busy in retirment and glad to be back to what i knew. I credit the EP who fixed the Flutter and Heart Pauses via the cardioversion and Aveir leadless PM. Leadless is a small chip they catherize and implant in your heart plus its replaceable (NOT a colar bone bump and leads going to your heart). They program it beforehand and then adjust and monitored it moving forward.
Opinon, not a Dr, blood thinners only prevent and are not a fix. Try to see an EP.
Knowledge is power. Hope I didn't bore you with all of this. Wishing you the very best!
@alwayson A great lesson on afib and low heart rate! In my case, a low heart rate was not a sign of good health’ even tho I had a vigorous work out routine, rather, it was a warning that my hearts electrical system was failing. A pacemaker solved the problem. The ever present problem now is dehydration. I must force myself to drink water and Gator aid because I have no thirst mechanism.