im scared!!!! resting heart rate?

hi all

i am currently on the road to recovery, but just started increasing my calorie intake and taking a hold of my life. i realised how many people i was hurting and that i didnt even no who i was anymore. i was this ED controlled person , boring, no fun, anxious and ew. now i want to be a WOMEN, who can hav fun and enjoy all the yummy food i have denied myself for 3 years.

ANYWAY. in class we had to do an ECG for a lab report and my resting heart rate came out as 20bpm!!!!!!!! is this really unsafe? it scared me so much! everyone stared at me funy, i'd hate to know what they were thinking?

it really really worries me :(

Yes, that resting heart rate is extremely low.  I would recommend you go see your physician as soon as possible.  Did they take your blood pressure by chance?  A normal bp is around 120/80, and there are many factors that can change this and your resting heart rate, age, activity level, etc.  I'm 49 and fairly active and my resting heart rate is 65.  Please go see a doctor soon.

I would be scared too - the level you are talking about is extremely low, to the point of being dangerously low. Assuming you did not make a mistake in measuring.  I'm 42 and an athlete. My resting heart rate (e.s. when I first wake up in the morning) is between 46 and 48 -- which is extremely low but not dangerously so. 

Please go see your doctor. An ED puts undue stress and strain on your body. Functions shut down and your primary organs are put at risk. It may be as simple as you measured wrong, but it is better to be safe than sorry.

Go to your doctor immediately. If not your doctor then your hospital. What you are describing is severe bradycardia. Untreated this can result in a variety of complications.

As has been said, your organs could potentially be so damaged they are at risk of shutting down. Coupled with such a low reading, mistake or no, you have every reason to be very concerned. Again, go to your doctor.

i can't believe you're conscious.

I'm thinking you made an error (and we ALL have in science!).

Your hr is probably low, since you said you were anorexic, but you'd be in a coma or unconscience if it was in the 20's. The fact that the teacher didn't send you to the nurse also tells me he/she didn't think it was super serious, thus just an error in your calculations. 

yikes! go to your doctor! when my heartrate was that low, i was in the hospital.