slow heatbeat

[fruitsalad]

my husband had an ecg today and was told his heatbeat is slow and will have to have a machine fitted for 24-48 hours to test his heatbeat, and yet when he had his blood pressure taken a couple of days ago it was normal, i always thought the blood pressure test told how your heart was working.

[Pigletion]

No, your blood pressure is just the pressure of your blood circulation, but as the heart is the pump for the circulation high blood pressure can cause it problems. High blood pressure is often associated with narrowing/hardening arteries, again things which will also adversely affect your heart.

This might help

http://www.bpassoc.org.uk/Home

[sqad617]

Pigletion is quite correct.

Slow pulse rate (Bradycardia) has many causes and I would have thought that a "treadmill" ECG would be the next step.

However do not worry as most of the causes are not life threatening.

[ethandron]

my husband runs about 20 kms a week on a treadmill, his resting heat rate is usually between 50 - 53 but has been as low as 48. he's fine.

[fruitsalad]

thanks for your replies, the problem he seems to be having is feeling light headed and dizzy spells, and he did blackout a couple of times. but i presume he has always had a slow heatbeat and they dont just appear or do they?

[sqad617]

Yes, the might just appear 2y to underlying disease....apart from cardiac problems, the other that comes to mind is hypothyroidism....an under active thyroid.