Low BPM on portable monitor - should I be worried?

Health & Diet Health & Diet: Questions / Help
61

Thanks Mags, Legs will be back soon…:wink:

Thanks Zuleika, I was surprised when they said the doctor would see me in just two days. The NHS used to be like that once upon a time…Where did it go so badly wrong…:017:

Thanks Annie, I think the doctor mentioned that the electrical disturbance was probably due to wear and tear, but he will know more after the 24 hour monitoring and the ultrasound scan. The cost is making my eyes water though…:shock:

Thanks Zaphod let’s hope so. I had a bit of a shock this morning though.
I received a new heart rate monitor yesterday and gave it a run out this morning. I had only run a few hundred yards when I glanced at my heartrate and was shocked to see 163 bpm…:shock:
For my age the maximum rate should be 150. It stayed at 163 for about three quarters of a mile when I couldn’t run any further and had to walk. I managed to get round the five mile route running and walking when my heartrate went too high. I’ve known there was something wrong for a while but didn’t have a heart monitor I could take running with me until now, so let’s hope I can find out what it is…

62

OGF are you going private?

63

163?
:shock:
Blimey, talk about extremes … good luck for Monday & let’s hope you don’t have to wait too long to find out.

64

Foxy, are you talking about the systolic pressure or the pulse was 163?

65

BPM = beats per minute = heart rate.

66

I felt such a fraud using the NHS when they are struggling to cope with the backlog Annie, so I decided to go private…

I thought I’d got the settings mixed up Zaphod, I thought it was the calorie or date readings, I had to stop running to check…:shock:

Yep, JB is correct Mups, it was my heart rate and not my blood pressure. My maximum heart rate for my age should be no more than 150 beats per minute.

Thanks for explaining JB…:023:

67

Ah, that’s what I call ‘pulse rate’ JBR.
I understand now, thanks. :slight_smile:

68

Is this any use Foxy, or did you already know this?
Your max heart rate is worked out by using 220, then subtracting your age.

This is from the BHF.

Your heart rate is the number of times your heart beats per minute.
The heart, like any other muscle, needs physical activity to keep it in good condition.
In most cases regular exercise can help improve your overall heart health and help improve many of the ‘risk factors’ for heart and circulatory disease. It is important to know if you are exercising at the correct level for you, and measuring your heart rate can help you track your level of fitness.

What is your heart rate?

What is a normal heart rate?
A safe heart rate while exercising.
A normal heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm), whilst resting. However, it will vary depending on when it is measured and what you were doing immediately before the reading.
For example, it will be higher when you walk compared to when you sit and rest. This is because your body needs more energy when you are active and so your heart has to work harder.Your heart rateTo make sure you increase your fitness and strength safely, it is important that you increase your heart rate to the right level while you are exercising. This means working out a safe range for your heart rate when you are taking exercise. To do this, you first need to work out your maximum heart rate (MHR). Maximum heart rateThe maximum heart rate depends on your age.
One way to work out your maximum heart rate is to take your age away from 220.
Example: The maximum heart rate for a 42 year old is: 220 – 42 = 178 bpm (beats per minute)

If you have a heart condition it is important that you check with your doctor before doing any new exercises, in case they are not suitable for you. You should always remember to warm up and cool down before and after exercising to avoid injury to your muscles".

69

Thanks Mups, much appreciated…:hug:

70

Be careful Foxy, don’t overdo it. I know you love running but it’s not worth pushing your heart too hard. Glad it wasn’t AF xxxx

71

I used to think my heart rate was fine, at 40 BPM.
After all, Zatopec, the athlete was the same?

It took an incident, out on the golf course to get me started on doing something about it.

A hot, sunny day, like some this week, we had to wait behind another group, so I sat down on the grass, then laid down, enjoying the sun - no pain, no feeling of illness.
But when the time came, I couldn’t get up!
Not enough energy.

Went back to the car & drove home, no worries.

The Mrs was not impressed and told me to go to the Doctors.

The Dr said that it looked like a possible heart problem, so I overrode his suggestion, of an ambulance, and drove myself to the Hospital in Windsor. Still feeling no pain - but tired.

Then there started a lengthy sequence of checks after checks, which, finally resulted in a diagnosis of Tachy/Brachy.

That’s where the heart beat can run very low but can also do sudden peaks to well above the norm.

Not long after, I was in having a pacemaker fitted (to set the lower standard) and medication to set the higher standard.

Been on that, now, for about 15 years.

Apart from losing my story that I was as fit as Zatopec, all is now good.

Soon, the pacemaker will be replaced.

Sorry to Rabbit on, but they said failing to follow this up could have lead me to be dead!

Note: Two of my offspring have been found to have very low heartbeats, so it might be inherited!
Maybe Zatopec was visiting the area…!

:wink:

72

No problem Lion Queen, when I get into oxygen deficit it stops me anyway…Thanks for the kisses though, it speeded up my heart a treat…:surprised::cool:

73

Thanks Ted, a good account, very interesting, and I’m glad you managed to get the help you needed and came through.
A pacemaker is something we discussed, and it’s probably something I may have to consider after the smoke has died down. I’m sat here at the moment with my 24 hour monitor keeping an eye on me. I had a very thorough ultrasound scan when I went for my fitting and when I returned home I did 30 hard minutes on the exercise bike. I shall emulate the great Emil Zatopek first thing in the morning, that should give them something to look at on the monitor…
Here’s me all wired up for the night…

482×800 35.2 KB

74

Hi

I have an inoperable heart condition.

We all die, it is no great shakes.

It just concentrates my mind on having a blast.

Many are walking round with no idea what danger they are in.

I am on 20 pills a day to protect me.

Look on the bright side.

75

I was wondering whether or not to mention on this thread an episode I had yesterday, as it seems to tie in with problems others have or have had.

Yesterday at about 2pm, Marge and I were walking along the main street in Bakewell when things just ‘faded out’ and I woke up flat on my back on the pavement. Apparently, I was speaking in a garbling fashion to Marge, but slowly came round. I had been lying there unconscious for about 30 seconds and remember nothing about the episode.

One thing which impressed me, and restored my faith in human nature, was that apparently people nearby stopped and came to offer their help; even some shopkeepers came out to help, some with glasses of water. Even a woman sitting with her baby on her lap stood up and asked Marge if I’d like her seat. One person asked whether he should call an ambulance, so I suppose my collapse must have looked rather worrying. One lady from an estate agent’s insisted that I come in and sit down inside, out of the sun, and brought me a glass of water. People really couldn’t have been kinder and more helpful.

I must admit that I am often the most ready on here to criticise people, but I’ve learnt to change my attitude completely now. I’m going to become a nicer person!

When we got home, I telephoned the GP for advice. I was fully expecting the usual ‘the surgery is closed’ or ‘you are 53rd in the queue’, etc. (I exaggerate!) But no, I got through quite quickly and explained things to the receptionist, also informing her that I had tested my blood glucose (8.5), heart rate (54) and blood pressure (149/75 reducing to 130/67).
Again, I was expecting her to tell me to go to A&E or to call again for an appointment, or some such, but no, I had been very lucky to get a receptionist who recognised a potentially serious condition. She had a word with one of the GPs who called me back shortly afterward, confirmed the information I had given them and asked some more questions. He arranged for me to come in on 22nd July for blood tests and ECG, explaining that he thinks it likely to be some form of cardiac problem.

Naturally, Marge and I have been looking up information about cardiac pacemakers and, to be honest, it sounds quite probable that I shall have to have one myself. I do occasionally feel a little faint and, of course, I did have some sort of fit and loss of consciousness for a few seconds back in January whilst sitting at home on my computer. In addition, my heart rate (resting) is usually in the 50s, as low as 52 at the moment.

I see that Ted has one and that OGF might need one as well. I’ll probably find myself joining the happy throng!

I’d just like to repeat that I have had my opinions of human nature changed for the better by both the very helpful and concerned people who witnessed my collapse and also the receptionist and GP who dealt with the problem very efficiently.

I hope that this has made me a better person.

Sorry to drone on for so long.

76

Good to read that you are OK JBR, or at least it wasn’t an emergency ambulance to A&E. That’s what happened to me around 12 years’ ago now. A call to the GP, next a 999 ambulance at my door then ended up in hospital awaiting investigations which then found it was a heart attack, from there into another department for the procedure where they have a look inside the heart (angioplasty) to investigate if I needed a stent (or stents).

Also good to read your faith in human nature has been restored too. Sometimes I reckon we see the worst and it’s difficult then to see the best in most people, I recently experienced similar. I’ve now found it’s only the few who are not so good compared with those who will ‘be there’ generally and help in an emergency.

Let’s also hope you get it all sorted out JBR and don’t have any more problems like this recent one.
I do feel sure you will be OK though. My best wishes to you in that regard, look after yourself. :slight_smile:

77

I’m so sorry this happened J, worrying times for you and Marge but im so glad you have a surgery with listening ears. Its amazing how heart problems can be managed with modern medicine. I remember when my AF started, I was petrified but with meds its now under control.

Look after yourself and do what the docs says and you.ll be reyt,

When these things happen it really does make us evaluate our lives. Glad to hear you intend to be a nicer person but I always thought you were an ok bloke anyway, just one who’s bark is worse than his bite :008:

78

Oh no! You too?
Thanks for your good wishes. I’m afraid I still fell a bit light-headed. Just now, in fact, when I got up to help Marge hanging some washing up outside.

79

Thanks LQ. It’s encouraging to think that the problem might be sorted with medication rather than surgery or a pacemaker. I’m very pleased for you that your atrial fibrillation is controlled and I hope that continues and that you’ll be reyt too! :lol:

80

Yes me too! The common problem is JBR that we are all getting older and with that sometimes comes health problems. I spoke to my GP following my problem and said that I couldn’t understand why I should have had a heart attack, I don’t smoke, eat reasonably good food, plenty of sleep, am teetotal so don’t drink alcohol at all and I lead a reasonable lifestyle. She looked at me and then said “yes, but you forgot one thing, which is that you are a human being so you are fallible”. The gist of that comment has never been forgotten, it’s something that prior to health problems we do tend to overlook at times. :wink: :slight_smile: