Hi. I have some concerns in regards to my low resting heart beat. Here's some background :
I'm a fairly steady lap swimmer, swimming about 2 km in under 40 mins about 5 times a week. I generally do 1000 m in about 16 mins taking between 100-120 breaths and the rest is at not much of a faster pace. I usually finish up with 35 or m on one breath.
I have just had a heart monitor strapped to me for 24 hours and it came back with a dozen or so minutes where my pulse was sub- 40 with the lowest being 34. My doctor is concerned and thinks I should see a cardiologist.
I was wondering if anybody else out there has a similiar heart rate with similiar swimming amounts.
Many thanks
Eoin
I also have a very low heart-rate. During Recovery from my Laproscopy, I woke up with the nurses screaming at me "Are you a runner?". I mumbled "yes-I work out", I then heard them say with worried voices "Her heart-rate is below 40". It has always been low and I just figured it was because I was in good shape.
I don't think under 40 is too much to be concerned with for endurance athletes.....but it never hurts to get it checked out.
There are other things you can look at as well. How high can you get it to go in a workout? From my limited knowledge, I would expect you to be able to get a good high number. Also take note of recovery rates and see how good they are.
I remember Borg's was mid 30's.....remember him?......tennis?
My waking pulse is usually in the mid- to high 30s. Yesterday morning, it was 35. When I had the worst of my flu, it was 70. That had me worried until it occurred to me that for most people that wouldn't be a "flu pulse," but an everyday one. Once when I had to have surgery, I made sure to reassure the anesthesiologist beforehand that my pulse ran low, so they wouldn't bring the crash cart to my bed. They told me later that it was in the low 40s. I attributed this higher figure to the stress of having surgery. ;)
Eoin,
You mentioned that you had the HR monitor on for 24 hours. Can you recall what you were doing when you were sub-40s? Perhaps was it while you were sleeping?
Former Member
low is good but too low is bad
Former Member
I have really low resting heart rate, and the doctors always ask about it when I go in. Not quite as low as yours but, low 50's-mid 40's.
If you have the financial means to see a caridologist, a second opinion can't hurt.
Former Member
My resting heart rate is about 46. I can get it below 40 with some deep meditative breathing, and did so before a physical exam (i thought lower would be better). The doctor sent me for an echocardiogram to check things out, doesn't hurt to check.
Former Member
I remember Borg's was mid 30's.....remember him?......tennis?
i think bernard hinault had a resting pulse of 24.
Be careful of the cardiologist. Find one who knows about athletes(you may not think you are one,but you are probably in better shape than 99% of the population. An healthy athletes heart can look like a sick heart on first glance. A knowlegable cardiologist can tell the difference,unfortunately not all are.
I agree with your doctor. You need to go to a cardiologist to be evaluated. What symptoms are you having? Why did your doctor put you on a 24 hour heart monitor?
