Low Heart Rythm and Stomach Pulse?

[muffinman52]

Hello, Im a 25 year old, 375lb (I know, Im working on it) male.  I have no family history of heart disease, severe lipid issues, etc... My grandmother did die from a stroke (hemmorage not the clotting kind) in her 80's if that applies.

My last physical indicated everything was normal except for slightly elevated LDL at 108.

I wen't to a cardiologist in March for a possible enlarged heart that was discovered while getting a chest x-ray (they also did a ekg that showed a slight arrythmiya), that was looking for a fractured rib.  Anyways, the cardiologist did a ekg, stress test, and a echocardiagram and everything turned out to be normal. So I'm pretty sure nothing is wrong with my heart.

However I've noticed that I have a pretty low heart rate for my size recently when sitting at work or home.  Usually in the 55-65 bpm range, sometimes theres a weird gurgling sensation in my chest that I generally attribute to anxiety.  I know its normal for athletes to have lower heart rate, but not guys who are 375lbs and walk a half-mile a day...  just wondering if it something I should go back to get looked at?

I also don't know if its related, but I can see my pulse in my stomach and chest.  Especially if I place an object (phone, plate, etc.) on it.  I knew it was common in thin people but I didnt know about someone my size.

I figured I start here as it takes a couple weeks to get in with my cardio.

Thanks!

[is_something_wrong]

Having a slow heart rate during rest is more the rule than the exception when you carry some extra pounds.

The heart gains a lot of involuntary "exercise" from carrying 375 lbs. The heart strengthens and the pumping force increases. This will cause a slow heart rate (during rest) - however, it doesn't have the same effect as aerobic exercise does. With time, the heart will re-shape itself inappropriately, which is not healthy.

[itdood]

(Forceful contraction) Has to do with the amount of nerve tone the ANS is sending to the heart.  Perfectly normal.  I remember once laying on a recliner with a remote on my chest, was having the same thing, remote fell off.  This all varies throughout the day.  Not to worry.

[muffinman52]

Thank you... I figured there probably wasnt much to the heart rate thing, mostly in my head...  do you know anything about seeing a pulse in your stomach or whatnot?

A side note of this is that I had a CAT scan late last year to look for masses in my GI tract(my family is very suseptable to this type of cancer for one reason or another), my PCP suggested I get one. Which they said my aorta looks normal, so I assume that means no anyerusm which I know is rare in unto itself... probably another thing thats just in my head...

[itdood]

I'm deconditioned as-well (out of shape), my resting in the evening is from 45 to 55.  Not a big thing.  There's a lot to it, hormones, endocrine, autonomic nervous system, para and sympathetic tone.  i wouldn't worry about it.

[MichelleP_3811]

If your heart has been evaluated to be healthy then you really don't have anything to worry about. It would have shown up on your echo so try not to worry about the heart rate.  People's rates vary throughout the day and it is not uncommon for men to have lower heart rates.  The gurgling could be some sort of ectopic activity or it could be some sort of stomach issue affecting the heart area or even causing a bit of flutters with the heart.  All are benign in an otherwise healthy heart as yours has been evaluated to be.  So I would say try not to hyper focus on the heart, go back to your life and maybe get a bit more cardio in to get a bit of the weight off.  That is really where your issues may lie down the line.  But other than that try not to worry so much.  Your heart sounds like it is doing just fine right now.  Take care.