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Is Heart Rate Of 55 Bpm A Cause For Concern?
Question: Dear Dr Iliri,
I did a terrible thing (for me) and bought an iPhone heart monitor which
tracks heart rate. At rest, even off carvedilol my heart rate is low, about 50-55, sometimes going to 65 right after eating. Most of the time, other than during exercise, my heart rate seems steady and never elevated. I have noticed sometimes that while standing and doing normal
Things like cooking my heart seems to be faster. Today I used the monitor and my heart rate was 78-100 on standing and then 58-65 on sitting. I believe later on today it will not be so, but I'm frightened at the strong difference on sitting and standing. I am afraid of getting a tachycardia-related cardiomyopathy again. I know this isn't happening all the time, and often while walking or light exercise, heart rate is only in high 50s but why would this happen sometimes? Could it be menstrual cycle related? It seems to happen soon before my period.
I was due to get a holter monitor today, but had an emergency crisis with my mother (she has end stage Alzheimer's and I take care of her) so it was delayed until February 1st. Then I have my "last" holter/echo in April. So eager for those tests to be normal.
Thank you so much, as always.
I did a terrible thing (for me) and bought an iPhone heart monitor which
tracks heart rate. At rest, even off carvedilol my heart rate is low, about 50-55, sometimes going to 65 right after eating. Most of the time, other than during exercise, my heart rate seems steady and never elevated. I have noticed sometimes that while standing and doing normal
Things like cooking my heart seems to be faster. Today I used the monitor and my heart rate was 78-100 on standing and then 58-65 on sitting. I believe later on today it will not be so, but I'm frightened at the strong difference on sitting and standing. I am afraid of getting a tachycardia-related cardiomyopathy again. I know this isn't happening all the time, and often while walking or light exercise, heart rate is only in high 50s but why would this happen sometimes? Could it be menstrual cycle related? It seems to happen soon before my period.
I was due to get a holter monitor today, but had an emergency crisis with my mother (she has end stage Alzheimer's and I take care of her) so it was delayed until February 1st. Then I have my "last" holter/echo in April. So eager for those tests to be normal.
Thank you so much, as always.
Brief Answer:
Everything seems to be all right with your heart rate.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
I am glad to hear from you again on HCM!
I agree with you that buying an i Phone heart monitor would not be the best thing to do in a person which is hypersensitive like you.
Nevertheless, I would like to reassure you that all these heart rate finding during the day are quite normal for a healthy person.
It is normal to have a lower heart rate during resting (50-55 is not a too low heart rate, just a normal resting heart rate) and a higher heart rate during physical activity.
Even while standing up, it is normal to have a raise in the heart rate, due to the chatecholamines released by physical activity, leading to an increased heart rate (the heart tries to pump more blood in order to afford the muscles activity while standing up).
Orthostatic intolerance or POTS are suspected when there is an increase more than 30bpm while standing up from sitting position. But this is not your case. So just relax!
Regarding the menstrual cycle, I would explain that your heart rate is not related to the menstrual cycle.
But premenstrual syndrome (anxiety, mood changes, headaches) which occur before the menstrual cycle, may cause some changes in the heart rate.
But, I would still insist that all these findings are quite normal for a healthy woman.
So, my dear just relax! You have nothing to worry about.
I am sorry for your mother! It is really hard to have a family person suffering from this disease, and I can understand your emotional state.
Your upcoming tests will result normal, I know that. But I also know that you need to perform those tests, just to be sure of that. That is OK too!
Take care of yourself and try not to notice the small changes in your heart rate. It happens to everybody and most of the persons do not even notice this.
I am always here, if you have any other uncertainties.
Dr. Iliri
Everything seems to be all right with your heart rate.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
I am glad to hear from you again on HCM!
I agree with you that buying an i Phone heart monitor would not be the best thing to do in a person which is hypersensitive like you.
Nevertheless, I would like to reassure you that all these heart rate finding during the day are quite normal for a healthy person.
It is normal to have a lower heart rate during resting (50-55 is not a too low heart rate, just a normal resting heart rate) and a higher heart rate during physical activity.
Even while standing up, it is normal to have a raise in the heart rate, due to the chatecholamines released by physical activity, leading to an increased heart rate (the heart tries to pump more blood in order to afford the muscles activity while standing up).
Orthostatic intolerance or POTS are suspected when there is an increase more than 30bpm while standing up from sitting position. But this is not your case. So just relax!
Regarding the menstrual cycle, I would explain that your heart rate is not related to the menstrual cycle.
But premenstrual syndrome (anxiety, mood changes, headaches) which occur before the menstrual cycle, may cause some changes in the heart rate.
But, I would still insist that all these findings are quite normal for a healthy woman.
So, my dear just relax! You have nothing to worry about.
I am sorry for your mother! It is really hard to have a family person suffering from this disease, and I can understand your emotional state.
Your upcoming tests will result normal, I know that. But I also know that you need to perform those tests, just to be sure of that. That is OK too!
Take care of yourself and try not to notice the small changes in your heart rate. It happens to everybody and most of the persons do not even notice this.
I am always here, if you have any other uncertainties.
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hi again!
As I already told you, this application on your I phone is not very accurate like an ECG and the findings are not to be trusted at a 100%. It is unable to detect PVCs.
That is why I think you should not trust it too much and be concerned without any rational cause.
Regarding carvedilol intake, I think that the schema of your taken doses has been very appropriate based on your clinical situation. From the other hand, you should know that if continued in high doses for a long period of time, carvedilol could lead to a reduce of your physical peformance.
So don't worry about that!
I recommend you to continue performing a lot of physical activity (which helps you manage better your anxiety). Psychotherapy would also be helpful!
You should focus more on your anxiety management!
Hope to have been helpful!
If you have any other questions, I would be happy to answer.
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hi again!
As I already told you, this application on your I phone is not very accurate like an ECG and the findings are not to be trusted at a 100%. It is unable to detect PVCs.
That is why I think you should not trust it too much and be concerned without any rational cause.
Regarding carvedilol intake, I think that the schema of your taken doses has been very appropriate based on your clinical situation. From the other hand, you should know that if continued in high doses for a long period of time, carvedilol could lead to a reduce of your physical peformance.
So don't worry about that!
I recommend you to continue performing a lot of physical activity (which helps you manage better your anxiety). Psychotherapy would also be helpful!
You should focus more on your anxiety management!
Hope to have been helpful!
If you have any other questions, I would be happy to answer.
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear dr iliri,
Thank you.
I, with my psychiatrist's help, withdrawing from prozac as it makes me feel very numb and eventually makes me gain significant weight. I was very much coerced into starting Prozac again in May 2015, but I was very much against it. I dont feel it helps. I have already gone from 20mg to 10mg and now 10mg every other day. So far, nothing bad has happened. However my very bad PVCs which caused cardiomyopathy in 2014 started when I stopped prozac and switched to Brintellix. But the PVCs did not stop when I went back on prozac. I was on no antidepressant since Ablation in december 2014 until psych insisted in May. Sorry the question is this- have you heard of arrythmias, PVCs starting from discontinuation of SSRI?
Very very anxious to have post med echo. But my EP says there is no way carvedilol would have normalized my heart function in just a few weeks. Trying to have more faith.
Thank you so much,
Mia
Thank you.
I, with my psychiatrist's help, withdrawing from prozac as it makes me feel very numb and eventually makes me gain significant weight. I was very much coerced into starting Prozac again in May 2015, but I was very much against it. I dont feel it helps. I have already gone from 20mg to 10mg and now 10mg every other day. So far, nothing bad has happened. However my very bad PVCs which caused cardiomyopathy in 2014 started when I stopped prozac and switched to Brintellix. But the PVCs did not stop when I went back on prozac. I was on no antidepressant since Ablation in december 2014 until psych insisted in May. Sorry the question is this- have you heard of arrythmias, PVCs starting from discontinuation of SSRI?
Very very anxious to have post med echo. But my EP says there is no way carvedilol would have normalized my heart function in just a few weeks. Trying to have more faith.
Thank you so much,
Mia
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
I don't think that your PVCs are directly related to antidepressants withdrawal. But they could be explained by the anxiety, related to this withdrawal.
There is no study in the literature to support any similar connection between Prozac withdrawal and PVCs exacerbation.
Regarding carvedilol intake, it has helped improve your clinical situation. So relax!
Do not worry about it any more!
After your next cardiac ultrasound, we will discuss the next strategy of treatment.
If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to ask me!
Greetings,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
I don't think that your PVCs are directly related to antidepressants withdrawal. But they could be explained by the anxiety, related to this withdrawal.
There is no study in the literature to support any similar connection between Prozac withdrawal and PVCs exacerbation.
Regarding carvedilol intake, it has helped improve your clinical situation. So relax!
Do not worry about it any more!
After your next cardiac ultrasound, we will discuss the next strategy of treatment.
If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to ask me!
Greetings,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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