It seems to me I heard somewhere that James wrote in article
<
[email protected]>:
>> > The blood pressure appears normal, but the pulse seems very slow? Is
>this
>> > OK?
>For a bit more info.
>I have a heart murmur from birth, but after extensive tests (echo, ecg etc) it was conculded
>that the murmur was innocent (small excess on heart flap) and no further follow up was needed
>after I was 15.
>I have only started checking BP at home this week after a visit to the doctors (antibiotics).
>Whilst I was there he did a routine check on BP, which he felt was high "154/88 p43" and repeated
>the test with similar result after a few mins. He did not mention the low pulse rate, but was
>concerned that the BP was "a little high for someone my age (30)" and recommended that I visited
>nurse in 5 weeks to test if it was still high.
>I have been through this before (aparantly high BP) and had a 24 hr test done which concluded that
>BP was normal and I have "white coat hypertension"
>My pulse has always been on the slow side (45ish) but only recently has it gone down to the lower
>levels. I have no other symptom. I do visit the Gym a couple of times a week, but I am by not
>particulary fit (just about average) and carry too many pounds.
The gym visits may not be contributing much to your lowered pulse rate--I think aerobic exercise is
more apt to be associated with slow pulse. I agree with Dr. Nadler that no one can say that a pulse
rate in the 30s or 40s is abnormal for someone doing aerobic exercises enough to maintain a rather
good level of fitness; elite endurance athletes have a wide range of resting and active pulse rates.
Like you, I have a naturally slow pulse and many years of running have lowered it even more--
routinely into the 30s when I am at complete rest and in the 40s at "active" rest such as reading
the paper or watching TV.
Has there been any significant change in your pulse rate? I think that would be more telling than
merely having a slow rate.
>I will visit the docs again after 5 weeks as recommended and mention this, but a) could it be
>normal? b) if not normal. what might it be?
Without other symptoms and with the regimen you describe I'd guess that it's within normal limits -
I am not a doctor, but an experienced runner and a heart patient, so I've had occasion to pay
attention to some of these issues. Nevertheless, if I were you I would discuss it with my doctor but
would not be surprised to be told it is not a problem. Good luck, and let us know what happens.
--
Don
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