Why Is My Heart Rate So Low?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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In people who are not physically active, a resting heart rate below 60 is

sometimes a sign of an electrical problem with the heart, a low thyroid level (hypothyroidism), or damage from a heart attack or heart disease

.

Is a heart rate of 50 too low?

A normal resting heart rate for most people is between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm).

A resting heart rate slower than 60 bpm is considered bradycardia

.

What would cause a low heart rate?

A slow heart rate (or a low heart rate) is known as bradycardia, and occurs frequently in older adults. “

As people get older, there is occasional normal wear and tear on the electrical system of the heart

,” says cardiologist Jose Baez-Escudero, MD. “As a result, the normal rhythm tends to slow down.”

Should you be concerned about a low heart rate?

Low heart rate, or bradycardia, is a heart rate below 60 beats per minute. But a low rate is not always a sign of a problem.

Bradycardia is often not a cause for concern when it is not causing any symptoms

. And it can even be a sign of good cardiovascular fitness that allows the heart to pump more efficiently.

Can dehydration cause low heart rate?

Dehydration, Heart Rate, and Heart Health


The amount of blood circulating through your body, or blood volume, decreases when you are dehydrated

. To compensate, your heart beats faster, increasing your heart rate and causing you to feel palpitations.

What is the lowest heart rate before death?

Well-trained athletes may have lower resting heart rates in the range of 40 to 60 beats per minute. A 2013 study showed that a resting heart rate over 90 bpm triples the risk of premature death as compared to the lowest heart rate category of

less than 50 bpm

. The resting heart rate for children varies by age.

When should I go to the ER for low heart rate?

Adults and children who have a low pulse and experience symptoms such as chest pain, fainting, or exercise intolerance should also go to the hospital. A person should contact a doctor about bradycardia when they:

experience an unexplained change in heart rate that lasts for several days

.

How can I raise my heart rate?

  1. Exercise more. When you take a brisk walk, swim, or bicycle, your heart beats faster during the activity and for a short time afterward. …
  2. Reduce stress. …
  3. Avoid tobacco products. …
  4. Lose weight if necessary.

Does anxiety cause bradycardia?

The less time you spend worrying about your heart, the less likely you are to experience a low heart rate as a result of anxiety. Summary:

Typically, anxiety does not slow the heart rate

. But it can cause people to pulse check too often, or feel their heartbeat is slower when it is not.

How can I raise my heart rate without exercise?

Is 55 a good resting heart rate?


The normal range is between 50 and 100 beats per minute

. If your resting heart rate is above 100, it's called tachycardia; below 60, and it's called bradycardia. Increasingly, experts pin an ideal resting heart rate at between 50 to 70 beats per minute.

At what heart rate should you go to the hospital?

If you're sitting down and feeling calm, your heart shouldn't beat more than about 100 times per minute. A heartbeat that's faster than this, also called tachycardia, is a reason to come to the emergency department and get checked out. We often see patients whose hearts are beating

160 beats per minute or more

.

Can low vitamin D cause low pulse?


Low calcium levels, or hypocalcemia (which can be secondary to low vitamin D levels), can cause irregular heartbeat

. Severe hypocalcemia can even lead to life-threatening cardiac events. Therefore, vitamin D can affect the heartbeat indirectly by its influence on calcium.

What can you do for a low heart rate?

If there is no clear physical cause,

your doctor may change medications that might be slowing your heart

. Beta blockers are sometimes prescribed to relax your heart muscle. But if they cause you to have a really slow heart rate, your doctor might lower the dosage or give you a different drug.

How can I tell if I'm dehydrated?

  • feeling thirsty.
  • dark yellow and strong-smelling pee.
  • feeling dizzy or lightheaded.
  • feeling tired.
  • a dry mouth, lips and eyes.
  • peeing little, and fewer than 4 times a day.

What causes low heart rate NHS?

Bradycardia

may be a sign of a problem with the heart's electrical system

. It means that the heart's natural pacemaker isn't working right or that the electrical pathways of the heart are disrupted. In severe forms of bradycardia, the heart beats so slowly that it doesn't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.

Can bradycardia cause stroke?

Conclusions.

Junctional bradycardia is potentially associated with ischemic stroke

, particularly in the absence of an identifiable retrograde P wave.

Can bradycardia be cured?

The good news is that

bradycardia can be treated and even cured

. Friedman explains that certain medications can slow down a person's heart rate, and stopping that treatment can in turn stop bradycardia. Even if the condition can't be reversed, doctors can still treat it with a pacemaker.

What are the 4 stages of heart failure?

  • Shortness of breath.
  • Feeling tired (fatigue).
  • Less able to exercise.
  • Weak legs.
  • Waking up to urinate.
  • Swollen feet, ankles, lower legs and abdomen (edema).

How can I increase my low heart rate naturally?

  1. Set an incline. If you're on the treadmill increase the incline. …
  2. Take the stairs. Just like adding an incline, stairs bring a new challenge to your workout.
  3. Alter your pace. …
  4. Take shorter breaks.

Can a slow heart rate cause weight gain?

A slower metabolism will mean that you'll have less energy, be less active, and

possibly also be more prone to weight gain if you overeat

—but since your body is running more slowly, it will age more slowly. In effect, everything is slowed down—whether this is worth the tradeoff is a matter of individual preference.

Why is it harder to get my heart rate up?



If you're in bad shape, your heart rate jumps up quickly; if you're in good shape, it tends to be harder to achieve

.” As a rule of thumb, he says, for someone first starting an exercise program, “we would advise working to 50% of your maximum heart rate, then gradually up to 75 or 85%.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.