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Low heart rate related to diet?

Posted by abbyd13 @abbyd13, Feb 15, 2020

hi,
I am a young athlete (runner) and struggle with a low heart rate. I have struggled with an eating disorder in the past but have since recovered and am at a healthy weight. However, my heart rate dips below 40 bpm at night when I'm asleep. I am told that it is because I am not eating enough and my doctors will not let me exercise. My EKG however looked fine. I feel fine and experience no symptoms (fainting, lightheadedness, low energy) and am even able to run long distances without any problems. I have heard that low heart rates are very common in young athletes and especially runners. That being said, should I believe at this point that it's still due to under-eating? My BMI is 24...how could I be under-eating?

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redhead63 | @redhead63 | Apr 20, 2020

If you are eating a healthy diet and you know that your weight is good and you know that your eating disorder is completely under control and you have a eating disorder in your medical records then you need to have that removed from your medical records or you will carry that diagnosis with you for the rest of your life. That Doctor label you and you need to go back to that Doctor and have him removed the eating disorder or you will never be heard. You will be the lady with a eating disorder.

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thumperguy | @thumperguy | Apr 22, 2020
In reply to @JustinMcClanahan "Hello @abbyd13, I'd like to add my welcome to @rubywitch67's. Ruby asked some good questions here...." + (show)
@JustinMcClanahan

Hello @abbyd13, I'd like to add my welcome to @rubywitch67's. Ruby asked some good questions here. Was there any more explanation as to why you are not supposed to exercise? Were you referred to another physician or cardiologist to investigate the heart rate in more depth? Here is an interesting excerpt from Mayo Clinic's page on Bradycardia:

"Bradycardia is a slower than normal heart rate. The hearts of adults at rest usually beat between 60 and 100 times a minute. If you have bradycardia (brad-e-KAHR-dee-uh), your heart beats fewer than 60 times a minute. Bradycardia can be a serious problem if the heart doesn't pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the body. For some people, however, bradycardia doesn't cause symptoms or complications."

It goes on to say, "A resting heart rate slower than 60 beats a minute is normal for some people, particularly healthy young adults and trained athletes. For them, bradycardia isn't considered a health problem."
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bradycardia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355474
@abbyd13, in addition to Ruby's questions, did your provider mention the term bradycardia at all?

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I have a somewhat “portly” neighbor whose resting heart rate is 43. My impression is that he isn’t worried about it, but rather seems kinda proud of it. Don

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