What is dangerously low heart rate?

When the heart does not operate as it is supposed to and develops an abnormally slow heart rate that is less than 60 beats per minute, the condition is known as bradycardia. Bradycardia can be life threatening if the heart is unable to maintain a rate that pumps enough oxygen-rich blood throughout the body.

Is a low heart rate a cause for concern?

Unless you feel tired, dizzy, or weak, there’s usually no cause for concern, especially because it sounds like you’re in good physical shape. Endurance athletes and other people who exercise a great deal often have lower-than-average heart rates, sometimes even below 40 beats per minute.

Is a heart rate of 55 too low?

A normal resting heart rate for most people is between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm). A resting heart rate slower than 60 bpm is considered bradycardia.

Is a heart rate of 50 too low?

The normal range is between 50 and 100 beats per minute. If your resting heart rate is above 100, it’s called tachycardia; below 60, and it’s called bradycardia. Increasingly, experts pin an ideal resting heart rate at between 50 to 70 beats per minute.

What are the signs you need a pacemaker?

How to tell if you need a pacemaker

• Frequent fainting.
• Inexplicable fatigue (you get enough sleep and stay healthy, yet always feel tired)
• Inability to exercise, even lightly, without getting very winded.
• Frequent dizziness or lightheadedness.
• Heart palpitations or sudden, intense pounding in your chest (without exercise)

Is a heart rate of 40 bad?

For most people, a heart rate of 60 to 100 beats a minute while at rest is considered normal. If your heart beats less than 60 times a minute, it is slower than normal. A slow heart rate can be normal and healthy.

Can you get rid of bradycardia?

The good news is that bradycardia can be treated and even cured. Friedman explains that certain medications can slow down a person’s heart rate, and stopping that treatment can in turn stop bradycardia. Even if the condition can’t be reversed, doctors can still treat it with a pacemaker.

What should I do if my heart rate is low?

Call your doctor right away if your heart rate is slower than usual, you feel like you might pass out, or you notice increased shortness of breath.

What is the most common age for a pacemaker?

Surveys have shown that up to 80\% of pacemakers are implanted in the elderly and the average age of pacemaker recipients is now 75 ± 10 years. Although considered by many as “minor” surgery, pacemaker implantation complications may occur in up to 3\%–4\% of cases.

What is the life expectancy of a person with a pacemaker?

It included 1,517 patients who received their first pacemaker for bradycardia (slow or irregular heart rhythm) between 2003 and 2007. Patients were followed for an average of 5.8 years. The researchers found survival rates of 93\%, 81\%, 69\% and 61\% after one, three, five and seven years, respectively.

How do you fix bradycardia?

Bradycardia treatment may include lifestyle changes, medication changes or an implanted device called a pacemaker. If an underlying health problem, such as thyroid disease or sleep apnea, is causing the slower than normal heartbeat, treatment of that condition might correct bradycardia.

When should I worry about bradycardia?

Adults and children who have a low pulse and experience symptoms such as chest pain, fainting, or exercise intolerance should also go to the hospital. A person should contact a doctor about bradycardia when they: experience an unexplained change in heart rate that lasts for several days.

What are the common causes of a low heart rate?

Athletes

Sleeping

Myxedema

Jaundice

Emphysema

Pericarditis

Heart valve disease

Long term hypertension

more causes…»

When to worry about low heart rate?

Generally, you want a slow heart rate when you’re resting. It’s a sign of good health. But if it’s too slow, it could be a symptom of a condition called bradycardia.

What is considered a dangerous low heartbeat?

A slow heart rate gets dangerous if the heart isn’t able to pump enough blood to provide the body with necessary oxygen and nutrients. If your pulse rate drops too low, you may feel lightheaded, dizzy, confused or very tired. Fainting is also a risk. In severe cases, cardiac arrest or a sudden loss of heart function may occur.

How do you treat a low heart rate?

Implanting an artificial pacemaker is the most effective treatment for a chronically low pulse rate. An artificial pacemaker will regulate your heart rate, and therefore your pulse rate, and keep it at a normal level. Implanting a pacemaker requires surgery.