Q: I am 75 and have always been in good shape. Lately, I am experiencing some atrial fibrillation when at rest. My heart rate is very low (low 40th) when at rest. My blood pressure at rest is usually less than 100 over 60. Should I be concerned?
A: Yes, you need to be concerned. Make an appointment to see your doctor. Atrial fibrillation is a serious condition. It increases your risk of having a stroke and developing heart failure. To learn more about this commonly occurring irregular heart beat go to this page on the Cleveland Clinic site.
(7 votes, average: 4.86 out of 5)
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I agree with Dr. Rowena about your need to see the doctor. I would also add that if your heart rate is really near 40, you should ask your doctor if it would be wise to see a cardiologist. You may need a pacemaker, especially if you are sluggish and are having any dizziness or difficulty exercising. When one looses the normal electrical pathway between the right atrium and right ventricle, the heart does not receive the normal pacing signal from the sino-atrial node in the RA in which case your heart rate drops to the basal ventricular rate which is much lower than the typical resting rate of around 70 bpm. If this is the case, a pacemaker may be in order. Good luck.
This is confusing. I thought that Afib typically involved fast heart rates between 100-300bpm not low heart rates. HBP is also a risk factor for Afib according to the link to the Cleveland Clinic site above. The BP is normal in this case.
This lady must be wrong in saying she has atrial fibrillation, which is a fast heart rate. She has brachycardia–a low rate. So do I, and am followed by a cardiologist, even though it is not seen to be serious and goes up appropriately with exercise.
Thank you for clarifying. I didn’t know the name for slow heart rate, but from what I’ve heard it is not worrisome as some professional athletes have heart rates in the 40’s. If anything it supposedly means you could be very fit. My resting heart rate typically runs between 45-55. Is this considered brachycardia?
Atrial fibrillation is neither brachycardia nor tachycardia. During atrial fibrillation the heart quivers and is not in sinus rhythm and the interval between beats is irregular and usually rapid. Brachycardia is a very slow regular heart beat, whilst tachycardia is a very fast regular heart beat.
I went to a cardiologist yesterday. I have a very low resting heart rate of 34 and I have persistent Atrial fibrillation. I cannot receive drugs for the AF because of my low heart rate. My doctor is talking about zapping my problem.
I am pretty confused. All I can find on the net associated with AF is rapid heart rate, not low like mine. I am a jogger and outdoor recreationialist so I don’t know what led to this… it has been going on for over a year and getting worse. I feel like crap now.