AboutDavid Richardson Expertise Adult heart function and disease. Not very good about children lesss than 12. Hypertension is o.k. Heart rhythm a special interest.
Experience Certified in cardiology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Was chairman of division of cardiology at the Medical College of Virginia. Am now mostly retired.
Organizations Fellow of American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology and member of American Physiological Society..
Publications Circulation, American Heart Journal, Hypertension.
Education/Credentials M.D. from Harvard Medical School. Residency training at Yale Uhniversity School of Medicine and Medical College of Virginia.
Awards and Honors Gold Heartt Award from American Heart Association in 1995.
Question Thank you for such a prompt response. I have no faintness or dizziness. Also, no circulation problems. Could this just be an isolated case?
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The text above is a follow-up to ...
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I am 6'6", 245 lbs. and 54 years old. I went to a new doctor yesterday who said my pulse rate was low (did not say how low) and wants to do an EKG. I took the reading last night and got several readings of 37. A little while later the readings were in the low 50's. This morning they were between 57-62. What could cause the 37 readings? My blood pressure is okay. The only medication I take is Ativan, which I have taken for 22 years. I appreciate your insight.
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Dear Mr. Bent,
If your heart's rhythm was regular when it's rate was was 37, that's called sinus bradycardia, and it's normal, just a little slower than usual. 45 awake, 35 asleep are the usual lower limits for heart rate. But some people just go slower. If you had no dizziness or faint feeling, you're fine. If the heart dropped beats when its rate was 37, that might be heart block, block of impusles from atria down to the ventricles whose pumping makes the pulse. In that case you may or may not need a pacemaker. Wait a few days and see if your heart rate gets to 37 every single day. If so, a Holter monitor that records the EKG for 24 hours would provide the answer. If less than every single day, you'll need an event monitor that records your EKG for a few minutes before and after you push a button on the recorder. Probably all is well, but a little further study is needed.
Please write back if this note doesn't really answer your questions. I'll be very grateful if you let me know what turns up.
David Richardson
Answer Mr. Bent, I don't know what you mean by "isolated case". Plenty of people have heart rates as low as 37. Oh. Just that one period when your heart rate was 37. Sure, could be the only time that happens. If you keep checking your pulse, you'll be able to tell
