Heart Rate

[derekpara]

I am male, 82, and have always been very fit and active with no serious medical problems.
My slight Hypertension is managed with Lansoprosol.

I check my blood pressure 2-3 times a week with a good monitor and my heart rate has always been between 59 -63 bpm and very strong Last week it recorded 95 bpm and in subsequent recordings never got below 82 ! Using my carotid artery the beat is fast for 4-5 beats and then pauses. What on earth could have happened ? I have a doc's appt next week.

By the way, I don't feel any different apart from very slight breathlessness.

Cheers.

D

[dunnitall]

Best ask doc of course...but have they checked vitamin B12 as that throws up symptoms every now and then?

[Patsy33]

My husband's is like that. His heart is out of rhythm but doctor said it's not the dangerous one! Please get it checked out with gp.

[Buenchico]

59 to 63 bpm is quite low (although not alarmingly so). Around 80 bpm is considered 'normal' (if there is such a thing), with quite a bit of variation not being unusual. (My own resting heart rate is usually in the low 80s but it's been anywhere between 77 and 97 over the past few weeks).

Fitness trainers generally regard an athlete's resting heart rate as largely irrelevant anyway, regarding the time it takes for the rate to fall back to that level after exercise as a far better indication of fitness.

So the raw figures you've been seeing don't, in themselves, seem to be a cause for concern. The arrhythmia clearly needs investigating though. While you're waiting for your GP appointment, here's some general info on the subject:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/arrhythmia/

[wolf63]

I can't answer your question sorry, but Lansoprosol is used for controlling excess stomach acid. What other drugs are you on?

[Buenchico]

As Wolf63 says, Lansoprosol is a proton pump inhibitor, not an ACE inhibitor (or similar), so it's unlikely to be used to control hypertension.

[Patsy33]

^^^^^^
That's what I thought!....

[choux]

derek, did you mean Lisinopril?

[Sqad]

At the moment it is no big deal IF your heart beat/ carotid pulse is regular.
If it is irregular, then it would indicate that your heart (left ventricle) is beginning to feel the strain.
Your GP might do or refer you for an ECG.

Don't worry.

[Peter Pedant]

well you have lasted very well Der'
( sorry using the Darzet short name)

Lansoprazole or lisinopril - doesnt much matter.
If your pulse is 60 then a beta-blocker would be involved. (my pulse is frequently around 90 and I get comments like - "time to start taking your beta blockers peter!")

if it is zooping up - and you dont say if it is irregular or not then it is likely that you are getting AF - which as the panel says is very very common at your age ( at least 30%)

which is intermittent to start with and then one day it stays and doesnt zoop back

GP will sort it out - a few of us have it as a few of us are er older than 70 - if you have had a ministroke ( I have) then he will start you on rivarozaban ( anti clog ) which I really DO advise you to take

[Peter Pedant]

oops sozza Doc got in first

[Sqad]

Ooops! I have just noticed this in your OP.

"Using my carotid artery the beat is fast for 4-5 beats and then pauses."

This puts a different light on the situation, as if these pauses come at irregular intervals, it supports my first post that your left ventricle (heart) is beginning to show some strain due to your hypertension.
Still no big deal or anything to worry about, but an ECG (heart test) will be necessary.

[Peter Pedant]

jesus thank god no one reads mine !

[derekpara]

Many thanks to you all.
Re my low heart rate. In my younger day I had a very standard of fitness and continued in sporting activities into my 70s. I was a PE teacher for 25 years and am still employed by a local education authority. My heart rate was always low ( 50bpm in my prime) so 63 doesn't surprise me.

And my mistake, I meant Losartin, not Lansoprosol. Sorry.

Thanks again.

D