What Causes Low Pulse Rate Its 40?

When your body emits a low resting pulse rate it can be a result of being extremely physically fit. But if you are not an athlete and your low pulse rate includes symptoms of weakness and dizziness, you may have some minor electrical issues with your heart.

Normal people have a heart rate of 60 to 100 beats per minute (BPM) when awake, however whilst at rest or when asleep this pulse rate lowers to 40 BPM. Having a high pulse rate is termed as tachycardia; the term bradycardia refers to the direct opposite - meaning that your heart beats very slowly. For most people, as explained above, a heart rate of 60 to 100 BPM when active is considered normal. If your heart beats less than 60 BPM it could be bradycardia and you should consider seeking medical advice.

Bradycardia can be caused by:

- Changes in the heart due to the results of ageing.
- Diseases that damage the heart's electrical system. Some include coronary artery disease, heart attack and infections such as endocarditis.
- Conditions that can reduce electrical impulses through the heart ventricles (such as having a low thyroid level, 'hypothyroidism') or an electrolyte imbalance (such as a concentration of potassium in the blood).
- Some medicines in the treatment of heart issues or high blood pressure, such as beta-blockers, antiarrhythmics and digoxin.

My husbands heart rate is usually 78, for the past two days it has gone down to 44-46.  Blood pressure is 120/64.  He has had a heart attack(5 years ago) and 3 stints put in.  Is this low heart rate anything to be concerned about?

Could   be  a   start  of   a  heart  disorder  called
Brachycardia  ,  Another  term  used  for  slow
heart  rate ,  I  would   seek  a  doctors    advice
Cause   you   could  also  be  having   congestive
heart  failure   as  well  ,  Ask  the  doctor  for  
a   echo cardiogram  ,   a holter monitor  and  Ekg  
also  cardiogram  ,  These  test  can  reveal   any
heart  condition   or   a   start   of   one  

I am 39 and have high blood pressure (usually around 230/130 but am on 5 bp tablets including water tablets, they have been put to full dosage and my BP is now 130/70 which for me its fantastic as I have had high BP for 19 years..... But my pulse rate has reduced to 40 beats per minute, is this normal or do I need to seek medical advice.... I'm very tired all thetime and my muscles do ache..

The good news? A resting pulse of 40 could mean your heart is in excellent condition and operating at peak efficiency pumping the needed volume with fewer pumps.  The bad news? Technically anything below 60 is considered "Bradycardia" a fancy word from Greek meaning a slow heart.  Slow being a relevant term...a comparison to normal or average.  If you're not in great athletic shape that heart rate is almost certainly too low...meaning your heart isn't beating fast enough to keep up and since the question is about a year old, you may not even be with us at this point.  The cause?  It can be anything from medications, heroin, thyroid problem, head injury, heart problems and a whole host of other issues.  www.squidoo.com

My mother will be 85 on July 15th 2010 and she was in intensive care 3weeks ago but 3 weeks later she is at home, is very feeble complaining of head and face pain which has been ongoing for more than one year she has arthiritis and suffers from   panic attacks and breathing problems her pulse is only 40 and she is very sleepy also very argumentive with her husband who is 66 and her full time carer.

My blood pressure and pulse to day when I go up was
92 / 56 pulse was 44. Is this a good read. I'm very tired, nauseated
shallow breathing.

Iwent to see a cardiologist the other day my pulse is 44 to 49 I didnt think he asked enough questions I feel dizzy slightly breathless ,I do go for a walk most days for an hour but I don't
think that constitutes having ahealthy heart I do little else alday only clean the house

My heartbeat has been feeling pretty feeble lately. Took my pulse and got 39. Went to the doctor and got an EKG and have bradcardia. Have to wear holter monitor for a month. It is hard to breath most of time and went in to a cardiologist and she said that I have to get a pacemaker. Hopefully you are doing better then I am right now. (By the way, I am 21 and don't drink or anything.)