irregular heart rate during running

[mdg56]

when I am running my heart rate will suddenly drop to around 65 then back up to 148. My resting heart rate is around 50. I am 56 years old and have mitral valve prolaps. Could there be a problem?

[mdg56]

Hi Jerry, Thanks for you answer. I use a heart monitor. This irregularity usually happens after I complete a steep hill on my running trail. I suppose it could be a technical problem with the monitor, because of pumping my arms so much, to get up the hill.Thanks for the insurance advice. Don't think I want a stress test.

[Jerry_NJ]

I was a "runner" until age 67 and had a diagnosed leaky mitral valve since about 58 when I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.  The cardiologist was able to get me back into normal sinus rhythm and I continued to run for exercise.  I was always on a beta blocker or an arrhythmic drug which slowed my HR, suppose it was around 60 at rest.  I would normally run for about 30 minutes at a HR of 150 to 160 and I wore a chest strap heart monitor.  I never, even once, observed a drop in HR.  How did you notice/measure yours?  

I suspect that if you were using a heart monitor it is reporting an error rate due to poor contact with you skin or other technical problem.  If you are sure the HR drop is happening I suggest you discuss it with your doctor.  Watch out, I started with a simple question about my heart rate when running to my primary care doctor a number of years back which resulted stress tests that ended up part of my record and resulted in a higher cost of life insurance when I decided to buy more when getting ready to retire at age 57.  The stress test indicated a possible heart blockage, which was later proven to be false when I underwent a catheter examination.  If you read my profile you'll see I have also undergone heart surgery to repair my mitral valve.