Hi,
New on here but not new to heart worries! After the discovery of unusual heart beats over 10 years ago I was eventually diagnosed with a benign ventricular tachycardia - over the last years I have had episodes of palpitations and beats all over the place but have held onto the word 'benign' and got through it - have an echo every 3 years to check on heart health and those have been fine, although last one was just over 3 years ago now.
Anyway recently I have noticed my bpm has really dropped, it has always been relatively low at rest at around 60ish bpm, apart from when having palpitations. However recently I am recording it as low as 44 bpm at rest and it is now almost always between 45-50ish at rest and even after being active it drops very quickly back down to these levels. It does speed up when I'm active but not excessively and in fact now anything above 75bpm starts to feel like a palpitation run! I don't think I am symptomatic, as in no obvious dizzyness or weakness and can still walk at a decent pace for a 2-3km without issues (or dance on a night out), sometimes a bit lightheaded but as always when I am worried about
a heart thing my anxiety levels creep up and I am unsure whether symptoms I feel are heart related or anxiety. To add a bit more about
me I am mid 40's female, have a healthy bmi, not on any meds, am not unfit but do not do any exercise apart from trying to make sure I walk places rather than drive - so this is definitely not an athlete's heart.
Sorry realise this has turned into a mammoth post, just wanted to know if there is anyone else out there with a heart rate this low, who is not athletic/exercising, for whom it's just normal? My next echo isn't scheduled for another month, I am on holiday before then and am freaking out a bit... any support/advice/reassurance much appreciated
