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.

[shipo]

All things considered, a resting pulse of 53 for a reasonably healthy teenager or young adult isn't all that low.  There are also some enlarged heart conditions which are genetic; as I understand it, a long lifespan is possible with such conditions, however, oddly enough folks with these conditions have certain risks which can be brought on by exercise.  If your mom had an undiagnosed enlarged heart and wasn't athletically active, then she probably would never have known she had a heart issue.

[NellyG]

She didnt have an enlarged heart. Had a cardiac scare around 10 years before she died so had a wealth of cardiac tests and all were normal, including size.
As far as the heart rate goes I was in a group of of about 25 late teens and mine was by far the lowest resting rate, so no, it is not abnormally low, but it is lower than most. I dont have an issue with my heart rate -works fine for me. Some doctors and nurses do though when I am in recovery after some proceedure lol

[Heybales]

Actually, it can be genetic (as in certain regional heritages, like Africans have smaller metabolically active organs for equal body stats compared to others, so metabolism is lower in comparison).

Though training can more than wipe out those differences, but it can make it lower (worse?).

Could be worse for fit as they get older. More pacemaker usage among long term athletes than general population. Here is one article on that aspect.

https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/scicurious/slow-heartbeat-athletes-not-so-funny

As to genetic HR, for sure related - but until sequencing very hard to figure out as the ability to have generational family members in similar fitness states could be might hard. But that's already been known anyway - just hard to narrow down why.

https://bmcmedgenet.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2350-7-17

[NellyG]

Interesting reading. The heart problems as athletes age is interesting. I hadnt realised that, though I was threatened with a pacemaker a couple of years ago when I went through a stage of low 40's and fainted a couple of times. I managed to escape unscathed as my hr went up again after i stopped drinking certain herbal teas. But it alerted me to the fact that there might be a pacemaker in my future. I'd ather avoid that if I can but im not turning back inti a couch potatoe if I can help it.

[shipo]

@Heybales, I read the Science News link you provided, and while it was interesting, the comments such as "It will be important to understand if this same mechanism that appears to be operant in moderately trained mice is also responsible for severe bradycardia and atrial rhythm disease sometimes observed in endurance sportsmen" smack of bias unsupported by any science I've ever seen.

To my mind at least, the issue is with doctors who truely don't understand slow heart rates brought on by endurance activities.  I've had doctors express concern regarding my slow heart rate since the early 1970s, and one tried (and fortunately failed) to restrain me in his office until an ambulance got there to take me to a hospital.  I have no data to support my feelings, but based upon my own experience, said feelings suggest to me many of the endurance athletes who've had pacemakers implanted, had it done by doctors not fully informed.

The other comment in the article which caused me to laugh was this; "But in older athletes it [sinus bradycardia] may not be reversible."  Hmmm, how much "older" does one need to be?  I'm only a few months shy of 60 and late last year/early this year I took about three months off from running to recover from a non-running related injury, and my RHR responded accordingly (both during my break and when I picked up running again):

[shipo]

@Heybales, over the last day or so I've attempted to do some research on what I consider the more controversial statements in the Science News article you posted a link to yesterday; either my skills are abandoning me or that article is a bunch of crap.  Why?  I'm unable to come up with a single shred of evidence suggesting the need for pacemakers in older long-term endurance athletes (other than doctors who don't have a clue what they're doing), or any other long-term issues with exercise induced bradycardia.  I'm not even going to get into the "funny channel" stuff.

Do you have any resources you could direct me to as a way of supporting some of the claims in that article?

[kbmm]

My resting heart rate is 44 and my doc is not concerned at all. When I sick or fatigued it goes up to the low 50s. At night it occasionally dips to 38. No need for alarm.

[Anonymous__]

That seems pretty low! Maybe a trip to the doctor is probably necessary. There may not be anything wrong, might be fitness levels or you could have inherited a low heart rate. I am 15 year old female and my heart rate goes down to 46. But I skateboard for over 3 hours a day. Also medications have an impact on heart rate too. But just to be safe, see a doctor and just make sure it is a healthy heart rate because it could be bradycardia. A heart rate below 40 or if you are UNFIT then below 60. But you seem pretty healthy so it's below 40. But people with bradycardia might actually require a pacemaker if it isn't because of fitness. So go to a doctor and he will diagnose you from there. I would love to be a cardiologist when I am older but I cannot diagnose you myself. Hope you go well!

[Kikasama]

My normal resting heart rate since I quit smoking has gone down to 51-53, even occasionally hitting 49. I exercise very moderately, sometimes going a few days or more without doing anything other then normal everyday activities. I have periods of time where I exercise intensely but they never last for more than a couple months. Then it's back to just walking for between 30 and 45 minutes a day. My heart rate varies throughout the day normally topping out during mundane activities near 80. I haven't been an athlete in many many years so I am sometimes concerned about my heart rate being so low. I finally decided that maybe I just need to go to the doctor and make sure. LOL

[kbmm]

You don't need to see a Dr. unless you have some kind of symptoms you're concerned about. You probably have a naturally slow metabolism and resting heart rate. Mine is between 42 and 46, and sometimes, when I'm sick goes up into the 50s. At night it sometimes goes as low as 37. My 84 year old father who does not exercise other than walking has a heart rate in the mid-50s. That's just our genetics. The charts you see are averages, and those averages account for people like us, and people who have higher rates. Stop worrying 🙂 You're lucky!

[shazzymac]

Good to know I'm very similar. Heart rate in the mid 40s and find it hard to get up above mid 150s. I did a lot of cycling when younger. don't much now. I still work out though a fair bit and have an active job.

When I'm working out 3-5, 45min cardio sessions a week over a few months resting HR will drop down to low40s high 30s. That is on my fitbit.

When I go to give blood they seem concerned when its below 50. my fitbit will show 46-48 but my pulse will be  39-43. I have no dizziness. Take no medication.

I find it really annoying when I get the drill even though I have doctors clearance some of the nurses get very apprehensive and I end up feeling like a freak because I think they think Im lying or Im going to pass out. Honestly I don't think its that rare. The bag fills up pretty quick compared to others haha.

In my twenties when I was very active I had a medical test and the doctor commented after listening to my heart said I must be very fit but wouldn't expand on it when I asked. 

I've never taken that much notice of my heart rate until I got the fitbit. Apparently my fathers heart rate was quite low to in his younger days but lifestyle habits changed that. 

I had a ECG once because I hadn't been well and the doctor checked my heart rate and was concerned. All fine. 

My brother has a heart rate in the mid 50s but was never as consistently as active as me. He has recently he's taken steps to reduce stress and exercise more he wears a fitbit now too so it Id be interested to see how much difference it makes. 

Anyway sorry to ramble but its nice to hear about someone similar. 

[shazzymac]

No you are fine mine is similar but I can get mine up higher during exercise but really have to hammer it and work to maintain it above 150+. HIIT class won't do it so much but running hills and sprint cycling will.

I have always maintained a reasonable level of fitness and always worked in fairly active jobs. My resting HR  taken manually is usually lower than my fitbit low 40s mid 30s. 

Im 51 yr female. No health problems.

I think if you suffer dizziness blackouts or low energy or have fluctuating HR you would worry but no so just because its low.

The fitter I am the lower it goes resting HR 37 which drops lower during sleep.

Fitbit seems to read higher than a manual HR count.

[Colinm39]

@shazzymacI had a total hip replacement in 2015 and I warned them of my low HR.. To make sure, they organized an ECG and that finished up with a note that I had had a heart attack at some stage.  The cardiologist immediately put paid to that, read the graphs, and said there was nothing wrong.  He added $#%^& computers.

After the operation, my RHR went up to 74 and took nearly a month to get back to normal.. Now sits at 50-51 and while I'm typing this it is 52... Because the medico's were prearmed they didn't worry.. The nurses were skeptical..but learned that a few of us had low RHR... Gets down to about 41 at night.

Why the op ?..... One leg was slightly longer than the other and the cartilage was total worn out. I only knew because I was getting wasting in that thigh and my Physio decided to get an X-Ray. No sciatica now.. I was plagued with that for 20 years and the hip bone had been resting on the nerve.. It didn't affect my walking because over those years nature had grown osteo over the hip area and I never had a dislocation, to the surprise of the surgeon..

So keep active...

[Heybales]

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@shazzymac wrote:

Good to know I'm very similar. Heart rate in the mid 40s and find it hard to get up above mid 150s. I did a lot of cycling when younger. don't much now. I still work out though a fair bit and have an active job.

When I'm working out 3-5, 45min cardio sessions a week over a few months resting HR will drop down to low40s high 30s. That is on my fitbit.

When I go to give blood they seem concerned when its below 50. my fitbit will show 46-48 but my pulse will be  39-43. I have no dizziness. Take no medication.

In my twenties when I was very active I had a medical test and the doctor commented after listening to my heart said I must be very fit but wouldn't expand on it when I asked. 

I've never taken that much notice of my heart rate until I got the fitbit. Apparently my fathers heart rate was quite low to in his younger days but lifestyle habits changed that. 

I had a ECG once because I hadn't been well and the doctor checked my heart rate and was concerned. All fine. 

Anyway sorry to ramble but its nice to hear about someone similar. 

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And this goes to the point that genetically some have like big diesel hearts, some have small Honda hearts.

Usually that effects the top end HRmax too, as a bigger heart just can't move fast enough to produce a high HR compared to smaller heart.

The small Honda hearts can have a low idle resting HR too, but many times not as low, just depending on the amount of oxygen needed - which plays into what the workouts train, and the body comp is.

It also shows why a low resting HR can many times have a higher systolic blood pressure reading by comparison with that big bumping ability, and that may or may not be of actual concern.

That ECG stress test, if fit to a decent level, is really useful.

Can really help show up that the low resting HR is of no concern, the perhaps high looking blood pressure isn't of concern, the perhaps high HR when exercising isn't of concern, ect.

Or they see something that is of concern, and you can deal with it appropriately.

From hospitals around here, the VO2max test, which does the ECG at the same so they know you aren't going to die on them, is only about $20 more than just the plain ECG test.

If doing cardio is your thing, totally worth it I think, especially endurance cardio.

Besides VO2max, you'll also find out your lactate/anaerobic threshold (LT/AT) which can make for much better HR based training, you'll get your actual calorie burn at different HR's (if doing endurance cardio that can be useful to ensure eating enough), and once past that point, don't even have to reach your HRmax.

Around here, it's the hospitals or units that deal with the heart that have the equipment mainly waiting for patients to be tested on, so they sell the services to anyone to be tested. Data is Dr reviewed too, not just given a couple numbers at the end. In fact confirm you can have the entire data set at the end.

[lomoswiss]

Am feeling a bit better after having read all the replies.

Was a bit concerned with my hrh dropping below 60 although I am not an athlete.

Started a diet about a month ago and increased by exercise, currently walk between 6 and 8 km a day where possible and a few cardio classes a week. Have made an appointment at the docs to be checked out as all the problems are still at the back of my mind.

[Esya]

@lomoswiss

Good for you for making an appointment to put those concerns to rest.

Although to me a heart rate dropping below 60 does not sound alarming (mine is below 60 during rest) if you are not feeling dizzy, fatigued or have other complaints it is always good to visit a doctor when concerned. Having those concerns at the back of your mind all the time is very draining.

[FitGrannie]

You did not say how old you are but fit. I am 67 and have been active all my life. I have a resting HR of 48 but recently had a heart monitor due to some minor symptoms. My HR goes down to 34 while sleeping but my doctor is not too concerned but getting it checked out with a heart specialist just in case due to my age. I feel fine but sometimes during a cardio step class I can get dizzy if I overdo it. It seems like my age is catching up to me.  It,is possible that my future may include a heart pacer as that happened to my mother as well. 

[Colinm39]

@FitGrannie Great that you will have peace of mind when you see your specialist. As @Heybales posted some off us are genetically built that way. I'm 77 and my RHR varies between 49-51 and while asleep can get down to 44. My cardio is 42-46 and like Heybales I have difficulty getting my engine close to my MAXHR. Keep us posted

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@FitGrannie wrote:

You did not say how old you are but fit. I am 67 and have been active all my life. I have a resting HR of 48 but recently had a heart monitor due to some minor symptoms. My HR goes down to 34 while sleeping but my doctor is not too concerned but getting it checked out with a heart specialist just in case due to my age. I feel fine but sometimes during a cardio step class I can get dizzy if I overdo it. It seems like my age is catching up to me.  It,is possible that my future may include a heart pacer as that happened to my mother as well. 

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[Colinm39]

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[shazzymac]

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