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Bradycardia how low is too low

Posted by thomas51 @thomas51, Aug 17, 2025

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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Profile picture for lmt1
lmt1 | @lmt1 | Jun 13 6:43am

I'm very similiar to you, no doc seems concerned. I don't feel more tired than I ever thought I'd be when I was old. I do like my new Fitbit Air, screenshot attached.
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shmerdloff | @shmerdloff | Jun 13 7:57am
In reply to @lmt1 "I'm very similiar to you, no doc seems concerned. I don't feel more tired than I..." + (show)
Profile picture for lmt1 @lmt1

I'm very similiar to you, no doc seems concerned. I don't feel more tired than I ever thought I'd be when I was old. I do like my new Fitbit Air, screenshot attached.

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@lmt1
Beginning to sound like a bradycardia competition.
Trophy for who has the lowest without syncope.

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mbixler | @mbixler | Jun 13 9:07am
In reply to @neilgr777 "Not sure if this dialogue is active, but my Bradycardia seems to be concerning. I'm 86,..." + (show)
Profile picture for neilgr777 @neilgr777

Not sure if this dialogue is active, but my Bradycardia seems to be concerning. I'm 86, active, and taking a lot of meds. I had one ablation and take 100mg Amiodarone to hold down my AFIB. It seems to drive my heart down to 47-50 sleeping and maybe 52-53 most of the time. I'm feeling tired and too dizzy, and thought it was mainly age, but beginning to suspect Bradycardia. Diastole pressure usually about 60-65. Systole maybe 110. I'm thinking of getting another ablation to get off the Amiodarone. Seems like before the Amiodarone I might have been about 5 beats higher, but maybe I'm heading for a pacemaker. Not sure anyone will read this and/or have a comment, but that's the situation. My Electrophysiologist is great.

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@neilgr777 My EP didn’t get to concerned until I was consistently below 40 BPM. Had to get a pacemaker when it dropped below 35..

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lmt1 | @lmt1 | Jun 13 9:28am
In reply to @shmerdloff "@lmt1 Beginning to sound like a bradycardia competition. Trophy for who has the lowest without syncope." + (show)
Profile picture for shmerdloff @shmerdloff

@lmt1
Beginning to sound like a bradycardia competition.
Trophy for who has the lowest without syncope.

Jump to this post

@shmerdloff
Bottle of Jack to the winner?

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conrand10 | @conrand10 | Jun 13 4:13pm
In reply to @margaretfriel "@alwayson Just wanted to "throw out a few thoughts" ... for me A-Fib had never occurred..." + (show)
Profile picture for margaretfriel @margaretfriel

@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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@margaretfriel I have a friend who was in good shape…worked out regularly, had to have all of the vax’s or lose job (I know what I would have opted) and shortly after, died. Also read that many soccer athletes, who are usually some of the most physically fit…being able to run non-stop for almost 80 min (in their late teens to early 30’s) died with Mitochondria conditions, having no trouble at all prior to vaccines. This info is slow to be released but I follow soccer players/teams regularly…always have. It would be nice if some of thru medical facilities that have been highly respected, would step away from financial gain and “political involvement” and would’ve divulged this information. We, the patients, have a right to know so that we can make informed choices in the future.

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labexperiment | @labexperiment | Jun 14 11:59am

Lots of people brag how low their HR is equating that to fitness and a strong heart. As long as you aren't dizzy and falling down all is well. Mine got to 36 the other night. I'm told by many EP's that low at sleep is nothing to worry about unless it flatlines.

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mbixler | @mbixler | Jun 15 7:43am
In reply to @labexperiment "Lots of people brag how low their HR is equating that to fitness and a strong..." + (show)
Profile picture for labexperiment @labexperiment

Lots of people brag how low their HR is equating that to fitness and a strong heart. As long as you aren't dizzy and falling down all is well. Mine got to 36 the other night. I'm told by many EP's that low at sleep is nothing to worry about unless it flatlines.

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@labexperiment Unfortunately, many people like me have a HR below 40 while moving around during the day. Even if you are asymptomatic an anesthesiologist won’t clear you for surgery - as I found out after being prepped for vascular surgery, only to be told she was canceling it because my rate was 36 BPM.

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rbusch1944 | @rbusch1944 | Jun 15 8:04am

I am 82 year old male with uncontrollable high blood pressure.... my primary care ( Medicare Advantage ) Nurse P. has me on BP meds ..amlodipine...losartan....furosemide...clonidine....spironolactone...atorvastatin ...Hydralazine...Tamsulosin and low dose aspirin....On a good day my BP ( average ) is 145/63/42 .....on a bad day 178/70/38...on a real bad day in ER....218/88/ 38...when my BP gets in the 30's I get really sleepy and dizzy...I was told I have something called Bradycardia...At this point and my age, I am considering chucking all these meds. and trying a holistic approach....Trying to lose weight ...5 foot 6 at 221 lbs. ...not much sucess

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Moderator
Justin McClanahan, Moderator | @JustinMcClanahan | Jun 15 9:23am
In reply to @margaretfriel "@alwayson Just wanted to "throw out a few thoughts" ... for me A-Fib had never occurred..." + (show)
Profile picture for margaretfriel @margaretfriel

@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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@margaretfriel,

Research is still ongoing with how COVID effects patients during and after they have tested positive. Another way to view the potential uptick in patients is that COVID itself has resulted in cardiac issues:

- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-long-term-effects/
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- https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/covid-19-and-heart-disease-what-you-need-to-know
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https://world-heart-federation.org/news/covid-19-and-the-heart-new-evidence-highlights-lasting-risks/
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You may find this article helpful as well as it does talk about myocarditis cases from the vaccine. It goes on to highlight that the risk from contracting covid without being vaccinated still greatly outweighs the extremely small risk of vaccine-related myocarditis:
- https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2025/12/myocarditis-vaccine-covid.html.
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All medical decisions carry risk in different percentages. However, the ongoing data in regard to the risk of contracting COVID with or without the vaccine continues to point towards a much higher risk of illness or ongoing injury from COVID itself.

Based on the data from the Stanford research, one could conclude that an increased number of patients may be a result of patients previously having actually contracted COVID.

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