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Malibu wrote:So do I need to get excited about a couple of times dipping below 50 during my 8 hours sleeping? Using Lunesta but don't know if that has anything to do with a slower than normal rate....

The doctors didn't seem to worried about what they saw...

That's been my experience as well. Doctors haven't been at all concerned about my heart rate being low. I've had it taken in the 40's in doctor's offices, along with low blood pressure and no one has ever diagnosed bradycardia. Mostly they'd just look at my not being overweight and say that it's not unusual for physically fit people to have low pulse rates and low blood pressure. Oh well . . ., that's been a great comfort to me, and I used to like to believe it.

I think it really boils down to what are they gonna do for you to improve the heart rate. There's apparently not much available in the medical arsenal, other than a pacemaker. For hypotension, there's even less they can do.

As for bradycardia, the definitions I've seen for bradycardia start it at 40 beats per minute. I read that's the rate at which some pacemakers kick in. That's also the default alarm value for my N-395 pulse oximeter. It used to alarm on me every few weeks when my pulse rate would get down below 40 bpm, so I reset that to 35 bpm and it hasn't disturbed my sleep since. Just for grins, the next time I see the cardiologist I think I'll mention this to him and see what he says (although I think I know already).

Just like with hypertension, I've noticed that diet and exercise can both affect a slow heart rate.

Regards,
Bill (feeling pretty darned good these days, with a happier heart than in years)

Here is the Mayo Clinic's definition of Bradycardia.

About Bradycardia

Bradycardia describes a heart rate that drops below 50 beats per minute, compared to a normal heartbeat rate of about 72.

Although a heart rate below 50 beats a minute while at rest is considered a bradycardia, a low resting heart rate doesn't always signal a problem. A person who is physically fit may have a heart capable of pumping an adequate supply of blood with fewer than 50 beats a minute at rest. This slower heart rate also occurs in many people during sleep. However, if a slow heartbeat isn't pumping enough blood, bradycardia is possible.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/bradycardia/index.html

Looks like everyone is right on this one.

Ted

Thanks for finding that definition, Titrator.

Regards,
Bill

Thanks Ted...

Very interesting stuff here!!

Marc