Heart rate and Hospital visit

[Stagger]

Having just spent 3 nights in hospital all wired up to heart machines because my pulse on Sunday was down as low as 28 bpm I wonder if anyone else has had similar experiences?

Normally 45 to 48 bpm is my resting heart rate. Max is 180 bpm
Sunday night was when I was woken a good number of times, almost sighing or yawning to take maximum oxygen into my body. I put on my Garmin chest strap and checked my HR. Readings were 34 to 37 bpm.

I phoned NHS Direct and had a paramedic here very quickly followed by an Ambulance and then off I went to hospital. (No pain anywhere though)
Same readings in Hospital over Monday (blood test for heart attack proved negative) Just bed and monitored.
Tuesday I had an ultrasound scan which revealed nothing, then all wire up I did a treadmill test, regular increase in speed and incline. I got to the next to last stage and HR max was 174 bpm although I could still hold conversation they would not allow me to max out because they had got the readings they required.

I have seen 3 consultants and their verdicts were a virus, along with tiredness and an increase in fitness had all conspired to lower my HR.

I am back some where round normal pulse rate now having had no drugs what so ever.
Just a bed, rest and 3 days of boredom + worry that I may never run or cycle again.

I have now been told to build slowly again. Max HR 70% this week, 80% next and so on.
No racing for a month. Ireland looks like my come back.

Has anyone any thoughts or info on such hapenings?

[Mike T]

What were your actual symptoms? How much training had you done in the days leading up to this? In a well trained runner I would not regard a pulse rate in the high 20s as necessarily abnormal.

[ydt]

When I was younger and fitter my resting heart rate was in the low 30s. As yours dropped from the mid 40s suddenly, you did well to seek medical advice.
Yiannis

[Rodders]

Stagger, glad to hear you are back home. Hospitals are not always the most restive of environments. Good move to get it checked out.

[stevefoster]

Rest up mate, hope that's the last of it

[Fleeter]

Glad to hear your home and on the mend mate

[Big Compass]

Sounds rather pointless! I suspect many people who run/bike/swim several times a week have a heart rate below 50; presumably it was a nurse/technician who checked your BP, and now they are just following a protocol.

Spot on, after the nurse had done the test she said "on your bike"

[Big Compass]

Going to the Docs on Monday for low H/R 45bpm(65years old in June??) after blood pressure test, told them it was normal for me as I have used a monitor for the last twenty years, but they still insist I go in for a check

[Mike T]

Going to the Docs on Monday for low H/R 45bpm(65years old in June??) after blood pressure test, told them it was normal for me as I have used a monitor for the last twenty years, but they still insist I go in for a check

Sounds rather pointless! I suspect many people who run/bike/swim several times a week have a heart rate below 50; presumably it was a nurse/technician who checked your BP, and now they are just following a protocol.

[phil tree]

Take it steay Trev , BOFRA season shortly ! Glad you're ok.
Pete