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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Does The Heart Rate Of 49bpm Suggest?

I just had an ECG done for a physical. I am a very active person but my heart rate was 49bpm. I have always had a low heart rate and work out 4-5 times per week on average. My doctor is concerned but I am not feeling any pain or anything out of the ordinary. Should I be concerned?
Thu, 6 Aug 2015
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Cardiologist 's  Response
Hello. Thank you for your question and welcome to HCM. I carefully read your query.

The normal heart rate in the world population is standardized to 60-100 beats per minute. However, in trained athletes and in people who have vigorous or strenuous physical activity, it is accepted down to 48 beats per minute as a normal finding. Anyway, there are certain classes of high blood pressure-lowering medication that also affect on the heart rate, by slowing it down, such as beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers. If you are taking these drugs, then I would suggest lowering their dosage and/or switching to another blood-pressure lowering drug that does not affect the heart rate. Also, to minimize my suspicion, I would recommend you to be put on a 24-hour Holter rhythm monitor, to check if figures lower than the ones you provided, are registered throughout a day.

I hope I was helpful with my answer. Feel free to ask again. Take care.
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Cardiologist Dr. Ilir Sharka's  Response
Hello!

Thank you for asking on HCM!

Regarding your concern, I would like to explain that as you are a physically active person, without any current complains, usually with a low heart rate, and if your ECG shows a persistent normal sinus rhythm, there is nothing to worry about.

From the other hand, if your resting ECG reveals any kind of sino-atrial, or atrio-ventricular block, or other pathologicall changes, then further investigation is required (Holter monitoring, cardiac stress test, etc).

If you could upload your ECG recording, I could give you a more precise conclusion. Greetings! Dr. Iliri
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What Does The Heart Rate Of 49bpm Suggest?

Hello. Thank you for your question and welcome to HCM. I carefully read your query. The normal heart rate in the world population is standardized to 60-100 beats per minute. However, in trained athletes and in people who have vigorous or strenuous physical activity, it is accepted down to 48 beats per minute as a normal finding. Anyway, there are certain classes of high blood pressure-lowering medication that also affect on the heart rate, by slowing it down, such as beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers. If you are taking these drugs, then I would suggest lowering their dosage and/or switching to another blood-pressure lowering drug that does not affect the heart rate. Also, to minimize my suspicion, I would recommend you to be put on a 24-hour Holter rhythm monitor, to check if figures lower than the ones you provided, are registered throughout a day. I hope I was helpful with my answer. Feel free to ask again. Take care.