Low resting heart rate (too low?)

[LakesGeek]

Hi

I just bought a Fitbit Charge HR and have therefore started keeping an eye on resting heart rate.

The dashboard so far says 55, 60 and 62 for the resting heart rate stat for the first few days (first day was a half day as I got it in the afternoon)

If I look at the graph, particularly at night, it goes down into the 50s and even took a momentary dip to 49 last night.

Out of curiosity I googled healthy heart rates and ended up reading that below 60 is considered 'bradycardia' and a possible cause for concern unless you're an athlete. For my age (33) and gender (male) I'm between the "excellent" and "athlete" categories for this resting range.  But I'm definitely not an athlete.  I go for a 30-45 minute brisk walk most lunch hours, do about 30 minutes of bodyweight exercises every 2-3 days (I achieved an intentional 75lb weight loss from obese to lean but neglected to do any strength training so ended up a bit 'skinnyfat' - well underway with fixing that now) but otherwise am sat on my backside at my desk all day, which is one reason I got the band.  It's rare that I do anything massively 'cardio' - sometimes trek up a mountain but we're talking "plod up one a few times a year admiring the scenery" not "run up a few times a week" as I'd expect an athlete to do.

You're generally advised to watch out for dizziness.  It's not usually a problem for me, but I did get dizzy a few weeks ago whilst gardening (which I put down to overexertion and dehydration at the time), I didn't faint but my head and vision got a bit wobbly for a few seconds.  I've only ever noticed this when getting carried away with gardening (not just plucking a few weeds... it's overrun with brambles so better described as terraforming tbh) and I think once when doing a lot of bending around laying a carpet.

Is the consensus that there's any cause for concern?  I know the only real answer is "go and see your doctor, we are not your doctor" and I know all the disclaimer stuff that the Fitbit isn't a heart health tool and no post is official health advice etc, but I'd rather not go dashing straight there potentially wasting his time on something I've read on the internet 😉

Edit: Current HR 56 sat at desk.  Wikipedia is a little less alarmist and seems to suggest down to about 50 may be ok.

[Colinm39]

I'm at the hospital tomorrow for a day procedure where they put me to sleep.

I have to warn them of my low RHR.. If I don't, their bells go off... and nurses come from everywhere... Like many of you when I'm asleep my HR gets down to 43....

I had to have an ECG last time to ensure there were no issues..

Let's see how I go..

[shazzymac]

I think it’s more normal than many people realise it’s just that we wear trackers these days. Idk about putting on weight I can pretty much eat whatever I like without too much impact as long as I stay active.people do ask me if I work out which I do but not very much haha. I’ve learnt salt helps with dizziness. The times I’ve been out I. The heat & playing sport etc

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[Sue-Coll]

Hi,

I’m 63 and my heart rate goes down to 38 bpm at night. So you’re not alone. The only worrying thing is, that because my father was similar, doctors fitted a pacemaker when he was in his eighties, as he hadn’t registered the fact that he had a low rate. He had dementia in his 80’s so wasn’t able to make the doctors aware that the low heart rate was normal for him. So having this put on your medical records is important.

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[Colinm39]

Just back home from my hospital procedure under anesthetic. There were many mentions of low HR and low RHR on my admission documents, and at each stage as I was prepared for theater.and this time no bells went off in recovery..

So definitely get it on your hospital records.. Definitely makes the theater staff more relaxed.

Fortunately I had a full cardio assessment and stress test a couple of years ago and all clear there which makes me more relaxed.

@Sue-Coll  a big tick for your post, again reasserting in the early stages of one's medical history.

.

[Heybales]

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@LakesGeek wrote:

Still alive more than 4 years after starting the thread though, I'm now 37.  Definitely not an athlete, the most I do is a brisk walk every lunchtime, and sometimes 10k-20k steps on weekends.  I do get a bit dizzy sometimes if let's say I'm crouching down looking at something in the shops or doing gardening, and then stand up quickly.  From what I've heard that's normal though.  I've never passed out, but felt close to it once.  This is only a rare occurence - if I was often dizzy I'd go and see the doctor.

Might explain why I put on weight if I so much as sniff a good meal.

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Great effort on your body - congrats.

I'll mention that the difference in calorie burn for the part of a day for a heart beating at 37 compared to say 60 is negligible - more inaccuracy allowed in the nutrition labels of the items you ate for lunch.

Heart doesn't take a ton of energy.

Rather this just indicates you have a diesel heart, compared to a high revving Honda heart. Merely a genetic difference, nothing to do with exercise.

Your heart can push out the required oxygen and pull in for dispersal the required CO2 at a slower rate than a body with a Honda heart would require, that's all.

And if rest of the aerobic system isn't "fit" - you could start doing a jog say and the HR would shoot up really high for you. Though again, lower again compared to someone with high-revving heart.

A low restingHR doesn't always indicate being cardiovascularly fit.

But it slowly decreasing as you become fit is a good indication.

[Colinm39]

@HeybalesThanks for the great information.

That's me..... A diesel heart..  Not built for speed, but endurance...

All confirmed by my GP and cardiologists and their stress tests with my annual checkups..  They confirm I'm definitely genetic with my health..

Because Fitbit hadn't released their Vo2 for my Ionic I wanted to confirm my Cardio Fitness score of excellent for people my age  (80 next month), so I purchased the finger device off the web and my home reading is 96-98..

That was confirmed when I had a procedure at the hospital yesterday.. The same fluctuations.

And with some pre tests the days before...  My RHR has gone from 54 to 58 and only domestics..

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@Heybales wrote:

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@LakesGeek wrote:

Still alive more than 4 years after starting the thread though, I'm now 37.  Definitely not an athlete, the most I do is a brisk walk every lunchtime, and sometimes 10k-20k steps on weekends.  I do get a bit dizzy sometimes if let's say I'm crouching down looking at something in the shops or doing gardening, and then stand up quickly.  From what I've heard that's normal though.  I've never passed out, but felt close to it once.  This is only a rare occurence - if I was often dizzy I'd go and see the doctor.

Might explain why I put on weight if I so much as sniff a good meal.

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Great effort on your body - congrats.

I'll mention that the difference in calorie burn for the part of a day for a heart beating at 37 compared to say 60 is negligible - more inaccuracy allowed in the nutrition labels of the items you ate for lunch.

Heart doesn't take a ton of energy.

Rather this just indicates you have a diesel heart, compared to a high revving Honda heart. Merely a genetic difference, nothing to do with exercise.

Your heart can push out the required oxygen and pull in for dispersal the required CO2 at a slower rate than a body with a Honda heart would require, that's all.

And if rest of the aerobic system isn't "fit" - you could start doing a jog say and the HR would shoot up really high for you. Though again, lower again compared to someone with high-revving heart.

A low resting HR doesn't always indicate being cardiovascularly fit.

But it slowly decreasing as you become fit is a good indication.

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[BetzHohe]

Thanks for your comments. They came at the perfect time as I do live with anxiety (over 40 years) and these things can create a snowball effect of worry at times. I actually threw away my fitbit. I think the 37 while sleeping was due to me wearing it too loose as when I tightened it up closer to skin the lowest was in the low 40's. Then one day I looked and twice my heart rate recorded 189 while I was sleeping. It freaked me out and fed into my anxiety. My neighbor who isn't anxious person said "I would just assume the FitBit  malfunctioned". I used it a few more times for the stopwatch while I paddle board and eventually the time digits were incorrect so I think she was right and my FitBit was just VERY old and probably not accurate.

[Aamirtecha]

You can check your heart rate in your android or ios smartphone by these heart-rate-monitor-apps

[SunsetRunner]

I'm 43 and I don't exercise.

My resting heart rate is 49. It drops down to 38 during the night.

I'm not sure if I should be concerned or if I should see a Dr?

I do sometimes get dizzy spells but I put this down to low blood pressure as that was diagnosed in the past.

[Sue-Coll]

Hi,

I am 64 and do exercise (but not excessively) and also have a slow pulse which goes down to 38 at night. I have had my heart checked (24 hour monitor) and the specialist said this was normal for some people. I gather it’s ok unless you are short of breath or dizzy. I know this happens with low blood pressure too but it might be worth mentioning it to your doctor to be on the safe side. I’d be interested to hear what the doctor says about it 😊

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[SunsetRunner]

It's virtually impossible to get a drs appt which is why I'm reluctant to even try and get one unless it's necessary.

My mum has recently been very ill, not 100% if hers is heart related but it's certainly made me question by own health.

I guess I should at least contact the Dr to see what they suggest.

[theADDict]

Hi folks .... Read through some of this thread.... But if anyone can answer one simple question, I will be very thankful.

Had a Huawei watch GT fit six month, but sleep tracking is abysmal, heart rate can't measure below 40.... Huawei don't seem bothered.

So yesterday bought a bargain versa 2 !!

Sleep tracking already MUCH better, but for low sleep HR..... Is everyone using the Fitbit app for monitoring, or an additional app added to the phone ? Wearing both watches for a week, but looking forward to see actually how low my heart goes at night

 Thanks again

[Sue-Coll]

I’m just using the Fitbit app and it does record below 40bpm as mine goes down to 38 bpm

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[shazzymac]

I use Garmin now but previously Fitbit both seemed to read about the same. I don't wear mine at night anymore. I would readings of late twenties at night sleeping & mid to high 30's resting it's no bother & just normal for me I don't get dizzy or tired. Along with lowish bp I am not even particularly fit atm & at 54 years have no health issues. Reassuring health professionals that it's normal for me is easier now I have that info in my health apps. I donate blood regularly with no problems.

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[LZeeW]

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@theADDict wrote:

Hi folks .... Read through some of this thread.... But if anyone can answer one simple question, I will be very thankful.

Had a Huawei watch GT fit six month, but sleep tracking is abysmal, heart rate can't measure below 40.... Huawei don't seem bothered.

So yesterday bought a bargain versa 2 !!

Sleep tracking already MUCH better, but for low sleep HR..... Is everyone using the Fitbit app for monitoring, or an additional app added to the phone ? Wearing both watches for a week, but looking forward to see actually how low my heart goes at night

 Thanks again

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If you are really interested in your sleeping heart rate, you should try the Premium service (try the free trial).  You get a detailed sleeping heart rate trace, with measurements as frequent as with exercise tracking.  

The Premium service is a little pricey just for this feature, but it is interesting to see.  I haven't gone below 39 in my sleep.  That reassures my husband, who thinks I am mostly dead.  Nope, just a very efficient heart.

[NozzaC]

Unless you’re Brownlea brothers level fit, resting HR much under 60 (low 50s

or below) should be looked at by a doctor. 

it might be normal for you but it could also be a heart block or a symptom of other issues like coronary artery disease, neurological problems. medication issues and so on.

if it’s beating too slowly it may have to beat harder which can cause high blood pressure, thickening of the heart muscle etc. 

it’s a myth that slower is always better. If it’s not explained by super fitness it can be a problem.

I’m under investigation for bradycardia right now, discovered by my Fitbit, so have had detailed conversations with doctors about it. Don’t assume it’s fine - be sure.

[DejavuPoison]

I have Fitbit Premium and really love the HR readings. I'm wondering if poor wrist contact might cause a reading like I had last night, or if it was just a relaxing stage of sleep. There was a 10 minute window where I was between 57 and 39. Any ideas?

 

[Heybales]

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@DejavuPoison wrote:

I have Fitbit Premium and really love the HR readings. I'm wondering if poor wrist contact might cause a reading like I had last night, or if it was just a relaxing stage of sleep. There was a 10 minute window where I was between 57 and 39. Any ideas?

 

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Graph is exactly what you want to use - not just numbers.

You can see where you likely had a missed HR reading series to reach that 39 - that's most likely bogus. May wrist bent funny, got lose, something that caused some missed reading in that block of time.

But now your graph is giving you what for many many years has been considered resting HR, reading first thing in the morning.

This way though, you didn't have to get freaked out by an alarm, lay and calm down, and then get a reading.

Fitbit's term "resting HR" is not the normal meaning, they include awake time - hence your sleeping, or most obviously resting, HR, was below your Fitbit "RHR" 99% of the time.

Or rather, take that morning low and that's your true RHR.

Watch that, or log it.

When you are getting sick and fighting it, over training, getting stressed out, ect - you'll see the true RHR usually start drifting up. Time to pay attention and figure out why.

[NozzaC]

A one off event like that is more likely to

be a misread than anything. Unless it happens regularly, I would not worry about it.

[shazzymac]

It’s not a misread for me it’s normal I just have a low heart rate although I don’t consider myself an athlete I keep very good general fitness. I’m 54 & can easily run Sub 30 minute 5km without any training. Coupled with having a family history of low heart rate it’s nothing to be concerned about it was years ago when I first started with monitoring I found it odd. I now use Garmin products & get similar results. 😊

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