heart rate in 30's is it normal?

[fluffypurrcat]

I have been more tired than usual lately, also am hypo thyroid. My TSH is out of whack and the dose was adjusted in mid Feb. My heart rate has been in the 40's, with blood pressure such as 108/60 and 42, then blood pressure of 149/95 and heart rate of 38 , 91/ 64 heart rate 76, 146/91 heart rate 45, 136/80 heart rate 36  147/98 heart rate 40. goes on and on. Why so much flunctuation.? I am a 58 year old female.   fluffypurrcat

[RebekahRN]

Holding your breath longer is not a benefit or a good thing.. You need oxygen to circulated blood (to have a pulse/blood pressure). If he was so concerned what is he doing about it? Having a pulse that low could lead to a blood clot and embolism.

[mearcat]

I have a pulse of 36 bpm the doctor was quite concerned and I had an instant ecg, the results are quite interesting he said that I have a similar response as what babys have and that my heart rate drops with shallow breathing, I am 40 this year and on medication for high BP. One benefit of this reaction is that I can hold my breath longer.

[twopack]

“Does that bring to mind any specific patterns that suggest anything?”

It brings to mind the need to see a cardiologist and if you don’t already have one, the best idea might be to meet one through your local ER.  Grenslori is absolutely correct.  It is entirely possible you are flirting with total cardiac shut down.

I'm about the same age as you and your story has a familiar ring.  Although I don't know what is happening to YOU, I am willing to share what happened to me recently.  I hope it can somehow helps you (or someone else) along the way.

I had been running an erratic heart rate and BP pattern for about a month.  It seemed to improve when I increased my fluid intake but I did mentioned it to my PCP during a regular check up visit.  I told her my heart rate had been dipping from the low 60s to the low 40s after minimal exertion and I felt totally wiped out until I rested and it came back up.  She didn’t say much about my heart.  She did give me a sample inhaler on this visit to trial against the pressure I’ve repeatedly told her I feel over my throat.  

I saw my (former) endocrinologist two weeks later and told him my HR hadn't crawled out of the low 40s for a week.  He told me my thyroid was great and I could come back in 2013 and we would talk about nutrition, B12 and vitamin D. (WTH???  I’ve been taking those supplements for 2 years now and it’s documented on my chart, in the computer HE can’t get his face out of!)  

I’m not here to defend either of these docs because I am still rather angry with them both!  I will mention though that I have multiple sclerosis.  Therefore, I have multiple specialists treating single organs in isolation with each one entirely too eager to blame the other doc’s organ for whatever problem I’m having.  The point here is…. each of us MUST ADVOCATE for INDIVIDUAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS.  Unfortunately, this is a lesson I have been forced to re-learn periodically.

I called for a f/u appointment with a cardiologist I had seen 2 years ago (same problem but it disappeared that time).  First available was 6 weeks away so I booked it and continued to drag myself through life.  After a second straight week with my heart rate stuck in the low 40s it suddenly sank into the 30s at night.  I made my peace with the universe and tried to sleep except NOW my brain seemed to want me awake - perhaps to help out with the keep-it-beating effort?

It was a single reading of 29 that finally pushed me out the door, propelled me through ER triage and landed me in CCU with second degree Mobitz II heart block.  The electrical signal that triggers and synchronizes cardiac contractions was firing fine in the SA node of the atrium but struggling to break through the AV node to message the ventricles.  In fact, there were times of complete AV dissociation with the atria and ventricles maintaining their own independent (less than effective) rhythms.  I had indeed been flirting with cardiac disaster.  

After 48 hours of constant monitoring it was clear this wasn't improving on its own.  An EP cardiologist was consulted and the decision was made to implant a permanent dual chamber pacemaker.  It was done - and I was feeling better in the step down unit - within hours.  It has taken another eight weeks for my body to adjust and to find the best drugs to maintain good control of my heart rate, rhythm, and blood pressure.  I am finally beginning to see my energy and mental concentration return.  I was evidently out of whack for quite a while and had made incremental downward activity accommodations along the way.  I hadn’t realized how bad it was until it was nearly too late.  BUT I am feeling better instead of worse and it is kind of reassuring to know the pacemaker is there to bump me into sync when needed (apparently 78% of beats since it was placed in service).

I see it's been a few days since you posted.  I hope that means you are somewhere being evaluated and treated and starting to feel better yourself.  Please update us when you can.

[fluffypurrcat]

Hi thanks for the comment, By the way, how old is your daughter? Luckily I am very easy to awake, having nine cats, and one that is elderly, 16+ who wakes me as many times as 5 times in an eight hour sleep period,( which leaves me exhausted and unrested...) to feed her, ( she has kidney disease.) Just sitting on the couch for not more than five minutes I took by blood pressure and it was 107/76 with heart rate of 36. Four more readings after that in a short period ( less than five minutes ) were as follows: 119/60 heartbeat 56, 139/79 heartbeat 51,, then back down to 135/80 heartbeat of 40. It seems as though every one or two low heart rates follows with higher blood pressure and "normal" heart rate, then down again. Does that bring to mind any speicific patterns that suggest anything?
   I do see my regular dr. tommrow morning because of my TSH thryroid problem and I can mention this then, but my dr. is not a Heart or Cardiologist. Can this just be a normal flunctuation in blood pressure? I do know that blood pressure flunctuates constantly, but I didn't think it this much and I have not seen it in the 30's , just low 40's .  fluffypurrcat

[Jerry_NJ]

To your question is a HR of 30 is normal, I say no it is not.  I believe it is standard practice to install a pacemaker when a HR is that low.  This device will establish a minimum HR (perhaps in the neighborhood of 60 bpm) if the HR gets below its trigger rate.  This in not a diagnosis nor is it intended to frighten or challenge your doctor's input, it is just my understanding relative to your question.  

[fluffypurrcat]

thank you and it was ok to delete the similiar question. My memory is not so good and I was not sure if I posted in the right spot or it had gotten posted till I saw it. Thanks for the help.           fluffypurrcat

[fluffypurrcat]

thank you for the answer, I do have a dr. appt this friday because of my thryoid being off, (TSH 17.45) but I have had Bradacardia, low heart rate for many years, usually 40's or low 50's. This tiredness is severe to where I slept last night from 10:00 p.m to 6:30 am, this morning Was up till 10:30 am, and went back to sleep till 12:00 noon and before I laid down for a nap, I fell alseep on couch spilling coffee on myself and floor. I just can't stay awake. I do have Prinzmetal's Angina or what is called Variant Angina, diagnosed about three years ago, and take Nitro when needed for it. I have been so tired, I have fallen alseep on public bus and ended up in another town which is pretty bad. I just can't remember my thryroid ever being this bad while on thryoid medication. Mly husband doesn't seem to understand how bad my tiredness is, I feel so weak. I am pale and lightheaded some, but do not move quickly at all, I do walk a lot and am trying to exercise daily by walking dog on beach, but my heart slows me down. Just wasn't sure if heart rate in 30's was normal, it is scary to think that it is that low while awake...what is it while asleep?           fluffypurrcat

[Jerry_NJ]

I agree with the response above.

I post here mainly to let you know I deleted your duplicate post.  If it was not a duplicate it can be reinstated, better it there is some minor difference it could be added to this thread.

[gothic_beauty]

Hey there,

Your heart rate is indeed very low. Unless you are VERY physically fit, a heart rate that is consistently under 50 is considered an issue to be addressed. In your case, the cause seems clear, given that you have an underactive thyroid gland. One question I have is whether you experience any negative symptoms from your low heart rate? You say that you are tired. Do you also feel short of breath, dizzy, lightheaded or just plain off colour? If so, then your low heart rate indicates that your heart isn't pumping enough blood, and that the condition should be treated sooner rather than later. If not, then at least your body seems to be functioning well and the condition isn't quite so serious. However, I would say that a heart rate in the 30s should definitely be addressed, especially if it is caused by an underactive thyroid, which can cause other health problems on its own account. As I understand, thyroid disorders are very treatable. It sounds like you are already on some sort of medication, but if your heart rate is so low, I would talk to your doctor about having your dosage adjusted once more. Best of luck and take care!