Top Heart Rate Setting

Went for my six week checkup post implant and everything is good. I have a 1/2 AV heart block, so the top of my heart paces the bottom. They have my pacemaker set to not let my heart beat less than 60bpm or greater than 130bpm. So if I understand it correctly, if the top of my heart beats 140bpm the bottom will not exceed 130bpm.

Before my pacemaker I couldn't exercise very easily, now enjoy walking again. I'm 53 but ~30# overweight (although I don't look it according to my wife). I'm wondering if a top heart rate of 130bpm is typical? It seems a little low to me. Your thoughts are appreciated in advance.

7 Comments

Upper rate

by golden_snitch - 2014-10-03 05:10:16

Hi!

A maximum rate of 120-130 often is the nominal/standard setting of a pacemaker. It's for the average pacemaker patient aged 70-80. Some doctors don't adjust this rate to the younger or more active patient's need.

If you did not exercise much before the pacemaker, and now just started, 130 should be fine for things like walking, a little bit of cycling or slow running. But as soon as you feel like it's not enough, have them change it to a higher setting. Some people do well with the 130 limit, for others it's too low. It depends on how active you want to be.

Inga

Upper Rate

by JimtN01 - 2014-10-03 05:10:38

I have always thought that the PM does not limit the heart to a maximum rate but it does keep it from going too low. The upper rate is the point at which it records data and calls it an"event". Probably I am wrong.

Upper limit

by Roys - 2014-10-03 06:10:23

Hi
How can a PM stop the heart rate going above the PM top rate?? Unless you are PM dependant.
Cheers Roy

Clarity

by stricsm - 2014-10-03 07:10:57

Roys, I don't think I was clear. What the tech told me is that the PM wouldn't pace above 130. My PM is set to sense the rate for the top of the heart and pace to that but not above 130. If I go above 130 the bottom still only beats at 130. It won't go higher without adjustment. I am only PM dependent every other beat or 50% of the time.

Snitch, thanks I think I'm fine for now considering my physical condition. Hopefully that will change since my energy level is higher.

Upper limit issues

by Dee224 - 2014-10-04 11:10:50

Hi,

We are probably a different because I have complete heart block. I am also 59 and swim laps regularly. Like you, they started my pacer out at 60 -130. For me this caused BIG problems. Every time my heart rate got close to 130 my pacer stopped pacing. For me this meant having my actual heart rate drop from 130 back to my lowest possible rate of 60. It feels pretty bad when it happens to you halfway across a pool. After resting a few minutes my pacer would then start pacing again and my heart rate would suddenly jump to 125 or so...again not a great feeling. It took me several trips into the tech to get things straighten out to where I can now swim laps with no issues. Be sure you ask questions of your doctor and tech and TOTALLY understand what will happen to you if your heart rate gets over 130.

My pacer is now set to 60 - 150, and they wound up turning on a rate adaptive feature (I have a Medtronic Revo pacer). Life is much better now!

Good luck! Dee

Limit

by golden_snitch - 2014-10-04 12:10:00

Hi!

If the block is not complete, but intermittent, there will probably be times when you are exercising when your heart rate gets higher than 130. If your sinus node does faster, and the AV-node is not blocking, then there is no limit for the upper rate; the limit then is how much your sinus node can do. When there is a block, the limit is what's programmed.

Top heart rate setting

by denzo - 2015-01-08 06:01:43

I am a 70 year old recent Medtronics Sure Scan pacemaker recepiant. The Medtronics tech told me the 60 low and 130 high works like this. If your natural heart beat falls below 60, it will add beats where and when needed. It is monitoring the atrium. If you are exercising it will add beats where needed up to 130. After that it is on standby and just monitors. However,, it is a smart device. It knows when you are in a-fib and will cease monitoring the Atrium and will switch control to the (ventrical) bottom part of your heart, not allowing over 130 beats per minute.
Check with the tech support of your pacemaker manufacturer. They are polite and very knowledgeable. I am an engineer and I hope I got most of that correct. It made sense to me. It is a very smart device.

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