What to do with a low heart rate

What is low heart rate

Pulse in general is the fluctuations in the walls of blood vessels that occur when the heart contracts. This is not a constant value, in a person it can change even during the day. The heart beats faster when we exercise, eat or worry. When we sleep, the body works more slowly.

Cardiologists thinkIs a Slow Heart Rate Good or Bad for You? / Cleveland Clinic a heart rate of 60 to 100 beats per minute is normal for adults. If the heart beats less than 60 beats per minute, this is a low pulse, or bradycardiaBradycardia / Mayo Clinic.

Why a low heart rate can be dangerous

Bradycardia does not always signal problems. In healthy young people, especially if they play a lot of sports, at rest or in sleep, the pulse can be from 40 to 60 beats per minute. But if this is not about you, then bradycardia can be dangerous.

Since the heart beats infrequently, it means that it pumps less oxygenated blood. This leadsBradycardia / Mayo Clinic to unpleasant symptoms:

• weakness,
• dizziness
• chest pain,
• fatigue,
• shortness of breath even under light loads,
• memory problems,
• fainting.

By themselves, these manifestations worsen the quality of life. If the heart is constantly and for a long time working slowly, then blood can accumulate in the heart chambers. And this is already causing heart failureHeart Failure (Congestive Heart Failure) / Cleveland Clinic - a chronic condition in which the body can not cope with the load and does not satisfy the needs of the body.

Why is the heart rate getting low?

There can be many reasons. If you delve a little into the anatomy, then the sinus node controls the pulse rate - this is a group of special cells that is responsible for the work of all cardiac departments. The defeat of the node leads to bradycardia. But all internal organs are under the control of the autonomic nervous system. It gives signals: when you need to speed up and intensify the work, and when, on the contrary, take a break. Bradycardia occurs when signals from the nervous system are slowed down or blocked. This process is also called heart blockHeart block / NHS.

That's what refer1. Bradycardia / Mayo Clinic
2. Bradycardia / Healthdirect Australia to the causes of bradycardia doctors:

• Aging of the heart tissue. Bradycardia is most common in men and women over 65 years of age.
• Damage to heart tissue due to disease or heart attacks.
• congenital heart disease.
• Inflammation of the heart tissue (myocarditis).
• Complication after surgery.
• Endocrinological diseases such as hypothyroidism.
• An imbalance of chemicals in the blood such as potassium or calcium.
• Obstructive sleep apnea (stopping breathing during sleep, such as when snoring).
• Some medicines.

Our entire cardiovascular system dependsCardiovascular diseases / WHO also from lifestyle. Therefore, smoking, drinking alcohol, constant stress and a sedentary lifestyle are also risk factors. This is, of course, boring information, but it is.

What to do with a low heart rate

If you do not experience any unpleasant symptoms, but simply see that the fitness bracelet indicates a low heart rate, then nothing special needs to be done. Keep practicing and listening to yourself.

If you notice that a low pulse is associated with weakness and dizzinessIf you snore or you are over 65, then it is worth getting your heart health checked. First you need to contact a specialist - a therapist or a cardiologist - and understand what is the reason for the low heart rate.

To do this, the physician directBradycardia / Mayo Clinic for examinations:

• Electrocardiogram.
• Daily ECG monitoring.
• Ultrasound examination of the heart.
• Stress Testing.
• Examination of specialized narrow specialists – endocrinologist, nephrologist, cardiologist, rheumatologist - and analyzes according to their appointments.

Further tactics depend on the results of the examinations. Some will need lifestyle changes, some will need medication, and some will need more. major interventionsClinical guidelines: "Bradyarrhythmias" / Ministry of Health of the Russian Federationup to the installation of a pacemaker.

The only case when you need to act immediately is a faint. If the pulse has slowed down so much that someone near you has lost consciousness, lay the person down so that blood flows to the head. To do this, raise your legs 30 cm above your head. Ensure free breathing, let the smell of ammonia. If the fainting lasts longer than a minute, call an ambulance.

How to increase the pulse without a doctor

Unfortunately, there aren't many ways. Bradycardia appears due to causes that we have little control over, and no traditional methods will change the heart rate on a permanent basis. It is up to the doctor to decide on the treatment. And without specialist appointments, you can only studyPrevention and control of noncommunicable diseases: recommendations for primary health care services in low resource countries / WHO health in general.

• Exercise regularly. The minimum is 30 minutes of light activity per day. A good walk in the fresh air is enough if you don’t want to think about exercising and the gym.
• To eat healthy food. The recipe is here too. 400-500 g of fresh vegetables and fruits every day, less salt and sugar.
• Maintain a healthy weight. If the first two points are observed, the task becomes not so difficult.
• Do not smoke. Drink in moderation.
• Deal with stress. Strong emotions affect the heart rate.
• Control blood pressure and cholesterol levels. How to do this, we told separately.