Having a low heart rate is not a cause of problems for some people. On the other hand, it can be a sign of the beginning of a health problem for others. Heart rate indicates the number of times the heartbeats. Athletes and young adults in perfect condition may have a heart rate of fewer than 60 beats per second. In some people, a low heart rate is indicative of an electrical problem in the heart. Therefore, it is essential to know how the heart is since it is responsible for pumping blood to the body so that it can fulfill each of its functions. Occasionally, this condition can present symptoms and even become fatal.
At FastlyHeal, we explain a low heart rate’s causes, symptoms, and consequences.
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Low heart rate: bradycardia
A low heart rate is known as bradycardia. This term indicates an alteration of the heart rhythm, which is slower than usual. Bradycardia is not a disease. It reflects the presence of a problem that must be diagnosed.
Bradycardia is when the heart rate is persistently less than 60 beats per minute at rest. Studies conducted by the University Health System report that men and women 65 years of age or older are more likely to have a low heart rate.
During sleep, the heart slows down. In people such as athletes or who do physical training, the pulse may be slow. When it comes to the above case, less than 60 beats per minute heart rate does not generate danger or symptoms.
There are diseases such as the sinus node, which can give rise to a permanently slow heartbeat. It is what is known as sinus bradycardia.
Causes of low heart rate
The causes of low heart rate are multiple. Due to this, it is necessary to know them since they may reflect some dysfunction in the heart’s electrical system. Among them, the following stand out:
- Injury to the heart tissue due to a disease that affects the heart, such as infectious processes, myocarditis, Chagas disease, or the presence of a heart attack.
- Cardiovascular surgeries, including heart transplantation.
- As you get older, the heart’s electrical system loses its capacities, giving rise to a low heart rate.
- Congenital diseases.
- Alteration of electrolytes due to increased potassium or calcium in the blood.
- Metabolic diseases such as hypothyroidism.
- Medicines used in the treatment of heart diseases, high blood pressure, beta-blockers (atenolol, metoprolol, and propranolol), those that act at the calcium channel level (nifedipine, amlodipine, verapamil), clonidine and digoxin).
- Inflammatory autoimmune diseases include systemic lupus erythematosus, erythematous arthritis, or rheumatic fever.
- People with obstructive sleep apnea. This is a disorder capable of repeatedly stopping breathing.
As we can see, many causes can give rise to a low heart rate, and the important thing is to detect the reason to reach the final diagnosis and implement the appropriate treatment for the symptoms that the patient presents.
Low heart rate: symptoms
Low heart rate can trigger the following symptoms:
- Dizziness or lightheadedness, feeling like you might pass out.
- Syncope (loss of consciousness).
- Drowning sensation due to lack of air.
- Fatigue.
- State of confusion due to loss of concentration.
- Chest pain accompanied by palpitations.
- Decreased blood pressure.
There are cases where people do not present symptoms or are invisible. They may come to think that they are normal and part of them. In these cases, you can see how your heart beats just by taking your pulse. If you have it slow or irregular, you should consult with your doctor.
Consequences of low heart rate
At the moment that the low heart rate begins to be evident in some alterations that can aggravate the existing symptoms, the patient may present:
- Much more frequent fainting.
- The heart loses the ability to pump the blood required by the body to perform its functions, leading to heart failure.
- These alterations can degenerate into sudden cardiac arrest and, in the worst case, premature death.
How to prevent low heart rate
The surest way to prevent the consequences of a low heart rate is to lower the risk of acquiring these diseases. In case you already have it, you should control it by following the following instructions:
- A healthy diet accompanies exercise. You must change your eating habits to benefit your heart and start a low-fat, sugar, and salt diet. Increase the consumption of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
- Maintain the weight according to body size. Overweight and obesity are important risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
- Quit smoking. If you smoke, you should seek help to eradicate this habit.
- Reduce alcohol consumption as much as possible. The intake of alcoholic beverages for men over 65 is only two drinks a day. For women of any age, only one drink a day is allowed.
- Manage stress. This may be the trigger for the symptoms to worsen in this alteration.
Consult your doctor if you have cardiovascular disease that you need to control. Do not hesitate to go to your specialist. He will give you the necessary guidance to alleviate the symptoms you present.
This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor if you present any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Low heart rate: causes, symptoms, and consequences, we recommend that you enter our category of Blood, heart, and circulation.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.