What Causes Low Heart Rate And Extreme Lethargy In Elderly?

Posted on Thu, 9 Apr 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 9 Apr 2015 Answered on

Sat, 25 Apr 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : My mother is 103 and recently had a bout of extreme lethargy. It lasted about 7 hours Her heart is good and she takes no medications for heart. She has diabetes and takes no medication. Keeps it under control w/diet. At times during this bout she could not stay awake and had a hard time being woken. Her blood pressure dropped to 60 over 32. What could be the causes?

Answered by Dr. Prakash H Muddegowda (28 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
dehydration, autonomic neuropathy, blood distribtn

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking.
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I will be answering your query.
Based on your query, my opinion is as follows:

1. Bed rest due to lethargy leading to distribution of blood, leading to reduced cardiac out and low heart rate, which could have affected the blood pressure. Low nutrition could have led to lethargy.
2. Reduced fluid intake could have contributed to dehydration and hence low blood pressure.
3. Diabetes induced autonomic neuropathy leading onto vaso dilatation and hence peripheral pooling of blood, could have led on to low blood pressure.

Maintaining adequate hydration and being moderately active could be helpful.

Hope it helps.
Any further queries, here to help again.

Dr. Prakash HM

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar