When To See A Doctor
A person should speak to a doctor if they notice their heart rate is slow.
When a baby has a low pulse, a parent or carer should take them to the emergency room.
Adults and children who have a low pulse and experience severe symptoms, such as chest pain or fainting, should also go to the hospital.
A person should see a doctor for bradycardia when:
- they experience an unexplained change in heart rate that lasts for several days
- they have bradycardia and other heart health risk factors, such as diabetes or smoking
- they have heart disease and bradycardia
- they experience bradycardia and other symptoms, such as fainting spells
- they experience episodes of bradycardia and tachycardia
High Sleeping Heart Rate
With the possible exception of REM sleep, your heart rate should typically be lower during sleep than when you are awake. High heart rates are connected with taking longer to fall asleep and experiencing lower sleep quality, as well as an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Stress and anxiety: Anxiety leads to an increased heart rate and higher blood pressure . Prolonged stress and anxiety can increase heart rate during sleep. Poor sleep, in turn, can negatively impact heart rate and blood pressure during the day.
- Sleep behaviors: Poor sleep hygiene can also contribute to a higher sleeping heart rate. One study found that shifting bedtime just 30 minutes later can raise resting heart rate during sleep, with effects that last into the following day. Waking up in the middle of the night can also increase your sleeping heart rate, as can nightmares.
- Pregnancy: As pregnancy progresses, heart rate may climb as it adapts to supply vital oxygen and nutrients to the growing fetus. Regular exercise may help lower resting heart rate and boost heart health during pregnancy.
- Other factors: Being sick with a fever can increase your heart rate. Certain medications may also increase heart rate. Caffeine and exercise can also trigger an increase in heart rate.
Causes Of Low Heart Rate Problems
The most common cause of a low heart rate is a malfunction in the hearts sinus node, its natural pacemaker. This area sends our electrical signals telling the top and bottom heart chambers the timing of when to pump blood through the body.
Other causes of low heart rate include an atrioventricular block, age, and certain conditions such as inflammation of the heart muscle, low thyroid function, electrolyte imbalance, obstructive sleep apnea, or heart attack due to coronary artery disease.
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Scientists Discover Why The Heart Slows Down At Night
A consensus more than 90-years-old on the mechanisms which regulate the day-night rhythm in heart rate has been fundamentally challenged by an international team of scientists from Manchester, London, Milan, Maastricht, Trondheim and Montpellier.
The vagus nerve – one of the nerves of the autonomic nervous system which supplies internal organs including the heart – has long been thought to be responsible for the slower night-time heart rates.
But the University of Manchester-led study on mice and rats discovered thatthevagus nerve is unlikely to be directly involved and instead thesinus node – the hearts natural pacemaker – has its own clock, a biological clock.
The sinus node, they find, knows when it is night and slows the heart rate accordingly.
The British Heart Foundation funded findings, published inHeart Rhythm,shine new light on this fundamental biological question of why the heart rate is slower at night and why dangerously slow heart rates – called bradyarrhythmias – can occur when were asleep.
The team behind the study demonstrated that changes in the funny channel also known as HCN4, a key protein that controls the heart rate – at different times of the day and night can explain the changes in heart rate.
The team found that blocking the funny channel with ivabradine, an angina treatment, removed the difference in heart rate between day and night.
Our study shows that in mice, this is indeed the case and that explains why the heart rate is slower at night.
The Conduction System Of The Heart
The heart has its own natural pacemaker made up of a specialized collection of cells in the top chamber of the heart known as the SA node. This generates an impulse that travels through another collection of cells in the middle of the heart known as the AV node. The pathways taken by the impulses are known as the conduction system.
Problems with a low heart rate can be caused by dysfunction of the SA node, the AV node or the conduction system! It gets even more complex. The conduction system of the heart has many nerves attached to it some of these nerves decrease the rate of conduction whereas others increase the rate of conduction. The nerves that decrease the rate of conduction and therefore lower heart rate are known as parasympathetic nerves. An example is when someone vomits this can increase impulses in the parasympathetic nerves and slow the heart rate significantly for a while. This can even lead to passing out, which is known as a vagal event.
A balance of impulse from the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nerves determine a persons baseline heart rate. Interestingly, in experiments where a persons nerve supply is blocked, the heart rate is often higher this would suggest that the parasympathetic nerve impulses that serve to slow the heart rate down are the predominant force under normal resting conditions. This is particularly evident at night when most people have a significant drop in heart rate.
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When A Slow Heart Rate Is Normal
The sinoatrial node is often referred to as “the heart’s natural pacemaker.” It’s the part of the heart that produces electrical signals that trigger each heartbeat.
At rest, the sinus node typically generates electrical impulses for a heart rate between 60 and 100 times per minute, which is a normal sinus rhythm.
Sinus bradycardia is a heart rate between 50 to 60 beats per minute. While technically outside of the normal range, these values can be entirely normal for some people. A healthy body is very good at regulating the heart rate to support the bodys functions.
Physiological bradycardia is a form of sinus bradycardia. Among people who have itincluding healthy young people and older people in good physical conditiontheir resting heart rate may hover in the 40s or 50s. People also have lower heart rates when sleeping.
Slow heart rates without symptoms usually are no cause for concern. However, when the heart rate becomes too slow to pump enough blood, it needs treatment. Sinus bradycardia that produces symptoms is a sign you should seek medical care.
Is A Resting Heart Rate Of 44 Good
A resting heart rate of 44 is lower than the normal range of 60-100.
If the heart rate is low, it cant pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the body.
Bradycardia can be a serious problem if the heart rate is very slow and the heart cant pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the body.
People with bradycardia may experience a decrease in blood flow and feeling lightheaded.
If you have bradycardia, its important to see a doctor to check for other causes and to get treatment.
People with bradycardia can often improve their heart health by exercising and eating a healthy diet.
If you have bradycardia, its important to be aware of the symptoms and to seek medical attention if they develop.
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How Does Your Heart Rate Change While You Sleep
During sleep, the stimulation of your nervous system is reduced and most of your body processes slow down, says Dr. Lawrence Epstein, associate physician with the division of sleep and circadian disorders at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Womens Hospital.
Within about five minutes after you drift off to sleep, your heart rate gradually slows to its resting rate as you enter whats known as light sleep. Your body temperature drops and your muscles relax. People typically spend about half the night in light sleep. But during the next phase, deep sleep, your blood pressure falls and your heart rate slows to about 20% to 30% below your resting heart rate.
When you dream, you enter the sleep phase known as REM . Your heart rate can vary quite a bit during REM sleep because it reflects the activity level occurring in your dream. If your dream is scary or involves activity such as running, then your heart rate rises as if you were awake, says Dr. Epstein.
Does Sleeping Position Affect Heart Health
There is limited evidence linking a persons sleeping position with their overall heart health.
Some research that focuses on people with congestive heart failure has found that sleeping on your left side may change aspects of heart and lung function.
Congestive heart failure is a buildup of fluid in the lungs or other parts of the body that occurs when the heart isnt pumping blood effectively. Studies have found that people with congestive heart failure frequently avoid sleeping on their left side, and this effect is greater in people with larger heart dimensions. While the exact reason for this is unknown, it may relate to how this sleeping posture alters positioning of the heart, pressure on the lungs, and/or the sensation of the heart beating against the chest wall.
While studies have found that people with heart failure often avoid sleeping on their left side, it does not show that this sleeping position causes heart problems. Based on research to date, a persons sleeping position is not considered to be a risk factor for heart disease or other cardiovascular problems.
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How To Get Your Heart Rate Up
Its essential that some of your exercise make your heart beat fasterthan it does when youre resting.
Exercise is an important part of disease prevention and that includes cancer prevention, too. But not all exercise is created equal. Its essential that some of your exercise make your heart beat faster than it does when youre resting.
Getting your heart to beat faster trains your body to move oxygen and blood to your muscles more efficiently, helps you burn more calories and lowers your cholesterol. All of this can help you stay healthy and lower your cancer risk.
According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise each week can help lower your cancer risk. Its the vigorous exercises that can help you get your heart rate up.
How to measure your heart rate
So, how do you determine your heart rate? One of the easiest ways to measure your heart rate is with a monitor, says Whittney Thoman, exercise physiologist at MD Andersons Cancer Prevention Center. This is typically a watch or a strap that goes around your arm or chest that syncs with a watch or another device. Many wearable fitness trackers now include heart rate monitors.
Understanding your heart rate
Now that you know how to measure your heart rate, you can determine:
Check your pulse or your heart rate monitor while youre resting and then again while youre exercising to compare your resting heart rate to your active heart rate.
Keys To Getting An Accurate Result
Resting heart rate is determined with a pulse measurement when you are relaxed and at rest. Do not take resting heart rate after:
- Active exercise
Some common causes of low heart rates include the following:
- Heart medications like beta-blockers, certain calcium channel blockers, and even some eye drops
- Heart block
- Hypothyroidism
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How Can You Measure Your Sleeping Heart Rate
To measure your sleeping heart rate at home, you can use a smart watch. Some companies are also starting to offer smart sensors that integrate into the bed. If your doctor suspects you may have a sleep disorder, they may order an in-lab or at-home sleep study with professional equipment that delivers a more accurate heart rate reading.
To calculate your resting heart rate during the day, lightly press the tips of your index and middle finger over the artery on your neck, your chest, or the inside of your wrist. Count your heartbeats for the next 30 seconds and multiply by two.
More Faqs On Heart Rate
Is 80 a reasonable resting heart rate?
Your resting heart rate depends on a host of factors, including your age, how healthy you are, and your fitness levels. Hence, a good resting heart rate can vary from one individual to the other.
Nevertheless, for most people, an RHR of 50-80 will indicate proper heart function.
How accurate are fitness trackers for measuring heart rate?
The best way to get your resting heart rate is with a dedicated electrocardiogram reading. However, most wearable devices now include heart rate monitors that post passable levels of precision.
In one 2017 test, researchers found that wearable tech like the Fitbit provided decent results when measuring heart rate at rest.
In the test, the Fitbit Charge the best performer was accurate to within 5bpm 95% of the time compared to ECG reading, while the worst performer was within 22.6 beats per minute during the test.
However, all the wearable included in the test gave subpar performance when used to measure heart rate during intense activity.
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Can You Change Your Resting Heart Rate
If you run or do other moderate to vigorous physical activity regularly, you can lower your resting heart rate. Thats because exercise strengthens the heart muscle, allowing it to pump a higher volume of blood with each heartbeat. As a result, more oxygen gets delivered to the muscles, so the heart doesnt need to beat as many times as it would in someone who is less fit.
As people age, the resting heart rate stays about the same unless they are taking medicines that slow heart rate, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers.
To determine your resting heart rate, try taking your pulse when you wake up a few days a week over the course of several weeks. With your index and middle fingers, press lightly on the opposite wrist, just below the fat pad of your thumb. Or press gently on the side of your neck, just below your jawbone. Count the number of beats over a period of 30 seconds. Double that number to get your heart rate in beats per minute.
A resting heart rate that is too low , or one that is 100 or higher, could be a sign of trouble and should prompt a call to your doctor.
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Typical Heart Rates For Children
Children typically have higher heart rates than adults. As a child gets older, their heart rate progressively slows down. Specific ranges for ideal resting heart rates in children may vary. The usual resting heart rates for children are based on the 10th through 90th percentiles in a meta review of nearly 60 studies.
| Age | |
|---|---|
| 15-18 years | 58-92 bpm |
Research suggests that like adults, childrens heart rates are typically lower during sleep. For example, while children aged 6 to 8 years old may have resting heart rates of 74 to 111 bpm when awake, their sleeping heart rate might range from 67 to 89 bpm. Female children, younger children, and children with obesity tend to have faster sleeping heart rates.
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Do You Understand Heart Rate Variability
Heart rate variability can be an important indicator of your mental and physical health. Your HRV can also predict how well youre sleeping at night and warn you if you have a medical condition. Investing in a well-reviewed HRV monitor can help you make greater strides in your health journey.
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What Are The Harmless Causes Of Low Heart Rate
It is normal for our heart rate to fluctuate throughout the day. It naturally changes in response to what our body needs and what we are doing. Some harmless causes of bradycardia include:
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Sleep: Our heart rate is generally lower when we are asleep or in a relaxed state. This is also known as our resting heart rate. When we are lying down and resting, our heart doesn’t have to work as hard against gravity to get the blood everywhere it needs to go. When were sleeping, our bodies dont use as much energy, so our nervous system tells the heart to take a little bit of a break.
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Physical fitness: Cardiovascular activity strengthens our heart muscle. And a stronger heart can pump blood more efficiently. When the heart beats more efficiently in someone who has been physically training over time, their heart rate tends to be lower.
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Certain medications: Some medications lower the heart rate in order to decrease the amount of work the heart has to do. Some examples include blood pressure medications, like beta blockers or calcium channel blockers.
While these causes of bradycardia are expected, there are some concerning conditions that can also cause a low heart rate.
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What Is The Normal Heart Rate For Adults
During the day, when youre awake, your heart beats continuously. But the speed at which it beats varies depending on what youre doing and, importantly, who you are. That means while we can talk about a normal heart rate, it is only an average. In fact, a heart rate range is much more appropriate.
Lets start with your resting heart rate:
- Resting heart rate. This is when you are sitting still, quietly, and peacefully. Typically, its between 60 and 100 beats per minute .
What is a good resting heart rate? Most doctors suggest that the lower, the better. Generally, this is a sign of good health, as it puts you at a lower risk of medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease.
However, you wont always have a resting heart rate. When youre active, your heart rate goes up. To work out your target heart rate during exercise, you need to do a little calculation: