Low resting heart beat

If your heart rate was recorded at a time when you were either just waking up or sitting/relaxing, you probably just have a naturally low heart rate. Since you can see a cardiologist for free, I can't imagine it would hurt to have it checked out. FWIW, I run or swim or both about 5x/wk., and the amount of time per workout varies from 30 mins. to 2 hours when I'm healthy. (Recently had the flu so I'm just getting back to my regular workouts now.) I'm training for a long swim, but I also have run marathons so when training for them, my long runs have gone over 3 hours. Lately, though, most of my workouts that long are in the water. If I'm smart about it (sadly not always!) I can tell if I'm coming down with something b/c my resting heart rate goes up into the 40s or even 50s. If I catch that in time, I can take some extra rest days, extra fluids, vitamins, etc. My mom had a very low blood pressure when she was about my age and well into her sixties and seventies. Sometimes blood donor centers told her she was too low for them to take her blood. She exercised and in her sixties competed in ballroom dancing, also watched what she ate, didn't smoke. (Sadly, though, she passed away in 2004. Not without relishing life though.) So it could be that the hereditary factor was that our bodies responded quickly to exercise and healthy living. Some folks will do lots more than what I do and are a lot faster and won't have the kind of resting heart rate I have. My dr. last time we talked about it saw nothing to worry about. She said the rhythm was strong, and during the surgery I mentioned, the dr.'s said the same. Recently, I was surprised to find my bp was something like 99/47. I'm used to it being low normal but that was lower than it had been. Still, didn't worry me, as I felt fine. Plus, it was one of those freebie machines in a drug store, and it's hard to know how accurate those machines are.

Hi All, FindingMyInnerFish and swim4me both mentioned having a low heart rate. Do ye train as little as I do? Eoin I work out pretty much every day, even if I do not swim. I always thought the low heart rate was because I have been active most of my life. However, my mom has never been an athlete and she also has a low heart rate. So maybe it is hereditary. It wouldn't hurt to have it checked out in your case, just to be safe, but I always heard that a low heart rate was a good thing. Good luck!

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? Hi All, Thanks for all your replies. I'm in the UK, so seeing the cardiologist is free but won't happen for a month or so. My 34 bpm was when I was asleep, but the other 10 or so where with me sitting around taking it easy (I took the day off). I think the recommendation to see how I recover is a good one, many thanks. Others mentioned top level athletes, but as I only do less than an hour's cardio a day I don't think I'm near their levels. I'm fairly sure they trained a lot more than I do. FindingMyInnerFish and swim4me both mentioned having a low heart rate. Do ye train as little as I do? I'm fairly sure I'm fine, but as I had a few symptoms my doctor recommended I take it easy for a while, so I haven't been in the water for 2 whole weeks! If anybody could point me towards any studies they are aware of that might help. Again, many thanks for your time and knowledge. Eoin

I really hope it's nothing in your case but let me tell you my dad's story. Background: he was 64 at the time, had just swam at Nationals and runs and/or bikes every day. He swims about 3 times a week. Needless to say, he's in good shape! One day he was running with his heart rate monitor on and felt sluggish and like his legs were heavy. He went in to a cardiologist for a stress test. After 2 min on the treadmill his heart rate was still only 34. So they did a catheterization, stopped that and within a few hours he was in having triple bypass. I'm not telling you to scare you but he is a good example of a fit person with a heart problem that he picked up with his heart rate monitor. His heart problem is a genetic thing so I watch my heart rate as well. Fast forward over 2 years and he's fine now. He's swimming, biking and running like normal. Back to doing triathlons, too. THe only set back was tearing his quad tendon while mountain biking 4 months after his heart surgery. I'd say get in to a cardiologist and see what's going on. Let us know what happens. Alison

I collapsed at home. I had felt symptons similar to a cold, but I didn't loose conciousness, nor did I feel nauseous. My doctor thought it might be an inner ear viral infection, but took notice of my low heart rate and wanted to exclude arrythmia as a problem. Eoin Collapsing is not good ever!:shakeshead: You do need to see the doctor. My (again I'm not a doctor) opinion is that a normal low heart-rate does not involve collapsing. That is serious. Be careful and see your cardiologist ASAP. Good Luck! This does not sound sports related to me.

Swim Shark, Thank goodness your father is doing well . But that is a scary story.Dom in AZ.:applaud: ;)

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? I collapsed at home. I had felt symptons similar to a cold, but I didn't loose conciousness, nor did I feel nauseous. My doctor thought it might be an inner ear viral infection, but took notice of my low heart rate and wanted to exclude arrythmia as a problem. I have a brother who cycles quite a lot, so I'll give him a call. Neither of my parents or their siblings have been sportive, so I can't go there. I haven't swam in two weeks and I'm not keen on going another 4 without, which is why I'm trying to get as much info as possible so I can make an informed decision. Thanks again for all your help! Cheers Eoin

Eion See a cardiologist. The advice here I must say is pretty shakey, I did not get your age, your cardiac or medical history, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, episodes of sudden cardiac death in your family, EKG findings etc etc. Absent all of this information it is impossible to make any intelligent remarks

I collapsed at home. I had felt symptons similar to a cold, but I didn't loose conciousness, nor did I feel nauseous. My doctor thought it might be an inner ear viral infection, but took notice of my low heart rate and wanted to exclude arrythmia as a problem. I have a brother who cycles quite a lot, so I'll give him a call. Neither of my parents or their siblings have been sportive, so I can't go there. I haven't swam in two weeks and I'm not keen on going another 4 without, which is why I'm trying to get as much info as possible so I can make an informed decision. Thanks again for all your help! Cheers Eoin Wow....you definitely need to be checked out. Bradycardia (heart rate less than 60) can be very serious. Yes, athletes have normal low resting heart rates but not usually in the 30's. They also don't collapse. There are so many things that could be causing your bradycardia....some very serious and some benign. If I were you, I would not do anything very strenuous. Why do you have to wait a whole month to see a cardiologist? Thats crazy. With your history, they should get you in sooner!

Swim Shark, Thank goodness your father is doing well . But that is a scary story.Dom in AZ.:applaud: ;) Thanks Dom. I tell people that a heart rate monitor saved his life. Best investment anyone can buy. Alison