Resting Heart Rate - Inexplicably Low

On Tuesday I had to go to the Doc and one of lovely tests they did on my was an ECG to measure my heartbeats.

I know that your heart rate is lower when you first wake up, but I had been up and about for over 3 hours at that point, and had driven FAST in heavy traffic to get there on time....

On my ECG printout, it said RHR = 66.  I asked if that meant resting heart rate and they said yes.  This is my 3rd ECG in 9 months and I'm not sure if the others showed the same heart rate or not.

But I am WAY out of shape.  My BMI is 49.5.  So it seems like my heart rate would be on the high end, not the low end, right?

I started looking online for info about heart rate and found this.

I do not want to be a hypochondriac -- I already go to the doc more than I'd like....  But this kinda sounds serious, kinda bad.... And in the back of my mind I can hear my Nana warning me (when I was a lil kid) about how getting fat meant you'd have a heart attack before you turned 40. 

Seems like I could resolve doubt by asking my family doc to do a stress test on me, right, because the rate at which your heart returns to normal is a better indicator of a problem?

Anybody have experience with heart stuff?

It seems your RHR is 6 beats above bradycardia status (according to Wikipedia at least). That's actually about what mine is usually. My family tends toward a slow heartbeat (my Dad's RHR is often in the low 50s, and he'll be 60 in October) and it's a genetic thing for us, and not really anything to worry about. Perhaps it's the same for you. But if your RHR is usually much higher, or if you feel kind of faint sometimes, it would be something to ask your Dr. about.

Yeah, I definitely don't have that condition -- I was looking at all the factors that can contribute to a slower than expected heart rate and it seemed scary.

I have no idea if my family tends toward a slow heart rate.

I have had high blood pressure in the past - but have gotten it down to normal with diet and exercise.

My granddad had a quadruple bypass when he was 55. (I'm 37.)

On the other side of the family, everybody is seriously alcoholic and diabetic - a very bad combo.

I am presently borderline diabetic.

I have felt faint a few times, but not that often.  Has probably happened twice in the last 3 or 4 months and I attributed it to low blood sugar because I was well past my usual meal times both times.

If you get a heart monitor, does it only work when you exercise or does it work anytime you wear it?

Was this a 12 lead?  Where they put the monitors on chest legs and arms or just a 3-6 lead?  If your test showed heart problems then I'd worry but if the dr says the test was ok then I wouldn't be concerned.  If you aren't having faintness dizziness or other complaints then your heart just may be in better shape than the rest of you - (said in a nice way ok!)

When I was @ 202 my RHR was 101 - After excercising and weight loss and quitting smoking my RHR now averages 48- 55 even after a few cups of coffee LOL

I had a stress test, sonagram of the currated ateries, and a weird sort of xray to test heart function because I was experiencing heart palps - about a year ago - heart was fine, and with a reduction in caffiene, the palps went away

...But checking did not hurt!!

I would think a HR monitor would work anytime (since my elevated HR may be someone else's resting HR, or vice-versa), but I don't have any experience with them.

I can answer. HR monitor works all the time, nomo.

That's how I figured out my resting heartrate on September 2 :)

yeah, they put the things on my arms, legs and 5 or 6 of 'em on my chest.  The result said "normal'

Wow -- I guess I thought that my heart had to be in bad shape if the rest of me is! 

oh kathy, a couple of years ago I was getting those palpitations too and had to cut out caffeine and they sure did go away, as did the caffeine headache, eventually  :)

That doesn't seem low at all.  I donate plasma twice a week, and my heart rate is typically between 55-65 bpm.  My blood pressure seems low some times, but the more in shape you are, the lower your rate will be.  My blood pressure is normally 115/60 for a comparison.

A resting HR of 66 is actually very good. The more athletic you are the lower it will become also.

I found this from the Mayo Clinic

About Bradycardia

Bradycardia describes a heart rate that drops below 50 beats per minute, compared to a normal heartbeat rate of about 72.

Although a heart rate below 50 beats a minute while at rest is considered a bradycardia, a low resting heart rate doesn't always signal a problem. A person who is physically fit may have a heart capable of pumping an adequate supply of blood with fewer than 50 beats a minute at rest. This slower heart rate also occurs in many people during sleep. However, if a slow heartbeat isn't pumping enough blood, bradycardia is possible.

Read more about bradycardia and other hear arrhythmias at
www.MayoClinic.com (opens in new window)
A service of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research