What does it mean to have low blood pressure and a slow heart rate?

Doctor's Answers 3

Human has provided you with an excellent answer and my only additional advice to you would be to get an assessment if you are remotely symptomatic.

As mentioned, symptoms typically include light headedness, dizziness, chest pain or breathlessness. That said, if you are very active and sporty, this might be "normal" for you.

If you are concerned, seeing a Physician or GP might be a good starting point, and they can take a more in depth history/clinical assessment, obtain basic investigations and then refer onwards if necessary.

I hope this helps.

BW
Dr Dinesh

We always check blood pressure and heart rate when we see a patient at clinic, and trust me, a low heart rate and low blood pressure is a fairly common incidental finding - especially amongst slim, smallish Asian women.

Your blood pressure is linked to heart rate - because your heart acts as a pump that pumps blood around your body, a slower "pump" will result in a lower heart rate as well.

Doctors consider a heart rate of < 60 beats per minute to be low. The typical heart rate range is from 60 to 100 beats per minute while awake.

If your heart rate is slow, but you don’t have symptoms, there’s no reason to worry.

A low heart rate can be completely normal and healthy in people who exercise heavily.

What are the risks of a low heart rate?

One of the biggest concerns of a low heart rate is a condition called syncope, or fainting.

This means a loss of consciousness due to insufficient blood flow to your brain.

How slow is too low a heart rate?

If your heart rate drops into the 30s, you might not get enough oxygen to your brain, making fainting, lightheadedness, and shortness of breath possible.

Otherwise, even if your heart rate is in the region of the 40s - 60s, but you experience any of the following symptoms with your low heart rate, you should have a discussion with your doctor:

  • Feeling faint
  • Dizziness
  • Weakness
  • Chest discomfort
  • Heart palpitations or flutters

There could be other medical causes behind your low heart rate, which may necessitate medical treatment, according to the cause of your low heart rate.

Hope this helps!

We always check blood pressure and heart rate when we see a patient at clinic, and trust me, a low heart rate and low blood pressure is a fairly common incidental finding - especially amongst slim, smallish Asian women.

Your blood pressure is linked to heart rate - because your heart acts as a pump that pumps blood around your body, a slower "pump" will result in a lower heart rate as well.

Doctors consider a heart rate of < 60 beats per minute to be low. The typical heart rate range is from 60 to 100 beats per minute while awake.

If your heart rate is slow, but you don’t have symptoms, there’s no reason to worry.

A low heart rate can be completely normal and healthy in people who exercise heavily.

What are the risks of a low heart rate?

One of the biggest concerns of a low heart rate is a condition called syncope, or fainting.

This means a loss of consciousness due to insufficient blood flow to your brain.

How slow is too low a heart rate?

If your heart rate drops into the 30s, you might not get enough oxygen to your brain, making fainting, lightheadedness, and shortness of breath possible.

Otherwise, even if your heart rate is in the region of the 40s - 60s, but you experience any of the following symptoms with your low heart rate, you should have a discussion with your doctor:

  • Feeling faint
  • Dizziness
  • Weakness
  • Chest discomfort
  • Heart palpitations or flutters

There could be other medical causes behind your low heart rate, which may necessitate medical treatment, according to the cause of your low heart rate.

Hope this helps!

Similar Questions

Could my dizziness be due to excessive exercise and diet changes?

Hi, as suggested by Dr Gan below there are many reasons for your symptoms, but the likely cause in your situation is either related to your recent change in diet (drastic drop in calories even if intentional) and/or the onset of menstruation (if heavy blood loss) Occasionally, there are uncommon types of "dizziness" which can be caused by posture as your internal "thermostat" for blood pressure maybe a bit more sensitive . This causes postural hypotension (i.

Photo of Dr Nandakumar Ramasami

Answered By

Dr Nandakumar Ramasami

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What could be the cause of a low heart rate, and is treatment necessary?

Well, it depends. An average HR close to 45 may be the norm for someone like Usain Bolt but for the vast majority of us who are not professional long-distance runners (or athletes of any sort) it may be a tad low. Therefore you need a one-to-one consult to look at individual factors such as your age, other medications or coexisting conditions, family history and fitness levels. Though the vast majority of causes for "fainting"is benign, certainly low heartrate combined with low BP and symptoms will need to be looked at further.

Photo of Dr Nandakumar Ramasami

Answered By

Dr Nandakumar Ramasami

Cardiologist

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