What Does Drop In Heart Rate Indicate?

Posted on Thu, 5 Feb 2015

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

Thu, 5 Feb 2015 Answered on

Thu, 5 Mar 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Everynight around 9-10pm my heart rate drops about 10bpm. Is this bc of melatonin?

Answered by Dr. Prabhakar C Koregol (50 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes it would be part of your circadian rhythm

Detailed Answer:
You are possibly right. Generally heart rate drop in the night by 10-20 but that usually occurs after 1-2hrs of sleeping. Even other time when you relax without being too much bothered about anything else also, heart rate can drop.
What's is your daytime heart rate and how much it drops to.? Please let me know. Do you have any symptoms during that?

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E

Follow up: Dr. Prabhakar C Koregol (2 hours later)

My daytime rate just relaxing watching tv is about 75. At night, about an hr or 2 becore I sleep even when doing same thing as day it drops about 10bpm

Answered by Dr. Prabhakar C Koregol (22 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Normal

Detailed Answer:
That is normal response and doesn't call for any concern

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju