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Pulse Rate Has Been Consistently Below Normal Range During Normal Check-ups. Is This Alarming?

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Posted on Sat, 6 Jul 2013
Question: My pulse rate has been consistently in the range of 40s during normal check-ups. Is this alarming ?
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Answered by Dr. Anantharamakrishnan (35 minutes later)
Hi friend,
Welcome to Health Care Magic

Yes, it could be...
Heart rate less than 60 is called slow – Bradycardia
40 is usually from block in the conduction system (nerves)–

HOLTER (24 to 48 hour ambulatory monitoring) is done to analyse and plan for further management

ECHOcardiogram is usually necessary to see the heart valves (muscle (Cardiomyopathy) and heart function (Ejection fraction, wall motion abnormality) / clots...     

TMT – Treadmill exercise ECG; may be with thallium isotope – is also routinely done to evaluate ischemia (reduced blood flow / Coronary Artery Disease)

If there are no clues, advanced investigation is necessary – Electro Physiological Studies (EPS) > it resembles angio – a catheter is put inside the heart / electrical activity recorded / stimulation and suppression tests are carried out / suitable medicine tested and so on. Though the test is the gold standard, it is INVASIVE) and is not generally done unless there are compelling indications. This super-speciality expert is called ELECTRO-PHYSIOLOGIST.

See a Cardiologist / get yourself examined / get investigated...
The treating doctor may suggest them depending on need, based on his assessment of the situation.
You may need a pacemaker...

Take care
Wishing speedy recovery
God bless
Good luck
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Anantharamakrishnan

Cardiologist

Practicing since :1966

Answered : 4505 Questions

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Pulse Rate Has Been Consistently Below Normal Range During Normal Check-ups. Is This Alarming?

Hi friend,
Welcome to Health Care Magic

Yes, it could be...
Heart rate less than 60 is called slow – Bradycardia
40 is usually from block in the conduction system (nerves)–

HOLTER (24 to 48 hour ambulatory monitoring) is done to analyse and plan for further management

ECHOcardiogram is usually necessary to see the heart valves (muscle (Cardiomyopathy) and heart function (Ejection fraction, wall motion abnormality) / clots...     

TMT – Treadmill exercise ECG; may be with thallium isotope – is also routinely done to evaluate ischemia (reduced blood flow / Coronary Artery Disease)

If there are no clues, advanced investigation is necessary – Electro Physiological Studies (EPS) > it resembles angio – a catheter is put inside the heart / electrical activity recorded / stimulation and suppression tests are carried out / suitable medicine tested and so on. Though the test is the gold standard, it is INVASIVE) and is not generally done unless there are compelling indications. This super-speciality expert is called ELECTRO-PHYSIOLOGIST.

See a Cardiologist / get yourself examined / get investigated...
The treating doctor may suggest them depending on need, based on his assessment of the situation.
You may need a pacemaker...

Take care
Wishing speedy recovery
God bless
Good luck