Bradycardia

Hi I'm Jimini and new to the site...

I am now on a 24/7 heart monitor for the next thirty days. I have dizzy spells; some chest discomfort; headaches and forgetfulness. I am 60 and male. I have had a major heartattack in Utila, Honduras in 2001 and one stent placed in my heart. 2007 I had another stent placed... I have noticed with the heart monitor that when the dizzy spells and chest discomfort appear my heart beat is in the low 60 and while sitting at lunch the heart beat drops to 49 (maybe lower?) this morning before getting up I notice my heart beat was again 50 but worry that during sleep the heart beats much less than that... I have done some research on my condition and think just maybe I have Bradycardia.. is that possible... My only sister who is 65 is treated for high heart beats via medicine... I am worried that this condition will only get worse and there's so much more I want to do and less time to do it with... any thoughts would be appreciated...

thanks!
jimini

5 Comments

bradycardia

by Tracey_E - 2009-04-18 09:04:11

Bradycardia is just a slow heart rate, many things can cause it but it's a fairly generic label they put on any hr under 60. I'm no doctor, but your symptoms sound like Sick Sinus Syndrome. Sometimes they don't know the cause, for some reason your heart just slows down at times.

Medications can slow down a fast hr. They don't have any meds to speed up a slow hr effectively, but a pacemaker can fix it easily. They have a minimum setting, usually around 60, and it will never let your heart drop below that. It monitors your heart all the time, and if your heart goes more than a second (or whatever they've programmed) without beating, it generates a pulse which causes a beat. So our own hearts are still doing the work, they just have a guardian angel keeping an eye on things.

My hr is in the 20's without my pm. I've had one for 15 yrs now and feel terrific! I hike, ski, work out, anything I want! Bradycardia is not a death sentence, I promise, you'll still have plenty of time to do what you want.

I agree - live and have fun

by steveg - 2009-04-19 07:04:21

Like TracyE, I too have Bradycardia. Mine was usually in 30s and at least one check showed it in the high 20's. I lived with it for over 10 years with no ill effects until last Nov when it combined with a bit of Atrial Fibrillation to give me dizzy spells. Rather than risk passing out one day I had the PM put in and was back jogging 10Ks within a month. Even with the PM, my doctor set the lower limit to 50 (and down to 40 for sleeping) as that works best for me.

Your previous heart attack and stent is probably what you need to worry about. Don't let worry of Bradycardia stop you from living and enjoying life.

Bradycardia and A-Fib

by Bionic Man - 2009-04-19 09:04:56

I also had a low heart rate. Everytime I went to the Dr. I was told how great my heart rate was. I was told I had the same heart rate as Lance Armstrong. The only problem is I'm no Lance Armstrong. I started to have chest pain and dizziness and also developed A-Fib. If my heart rate was at 42 - 45 bpm I felt fine. Sometime's it would drop to the high twenties and low thirties. That's when I'd feel miserable. I was given a pacemaker and put on meds for my A-fib. It's been 10 mos. and I'm feeling fine. I was told my problems were not life threatening. The pacemaker would give me a better quality of life. At first I was hesitant but now I realize it was the right decision.

Welcome Jimini

by Wrenbrandt - 2009-04-20 01:04:37

Welcome! My Dr. said that a HR under 40 is the cut off point where a Pacemaker may benefit one. I had a PM put in on Feb 24th.for Bradycardia primarily. I recently purchased a heart rate monitor wrist watch.( that also had a chest belt that allows the watch to monitor the Hr constantly..) I have learned when wearing both the watch / the belt that the HR can vary to significant degrees in short periods of times . This is normal. Your heart monitor will be telling you and your DR. lots. Hang in there and know you'll be having answers soon. This is a great site for both learning and support. Welcome to the club. We are here for you....... Wren Brandt

Research

by ted - 2009-04-20 06:04:12

As you will be wearing a monitor for the next 30 days, your doctors will soon know a lot about you and you won't have to attempt to diagnose yourself. I have a friend who has had a pacer for seven years, and who drives himself crazy watching his wrist watch and chest pulse monitors every minute. I made the mistake of listening to my friend and buying different pulse checking devices. I had no life just thinking about my pulse. I believe that it is healthier to let my pacemaker do it's job without me checking on it constantly. Good luck.

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