Do I need to worry about a slow resting heart rate?
Ask the doctor
Q. I am a 66-year-old woman. My heart rate is in the fifties at times. Is this normal?
A. Yes, a heart rate of 50 and above is quite normal. Many young people who exercise regularly have a resting heart rate that is often in the fifties.
However, before you accept that everything is fine, there are some basic questions that need to be asked.
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Do you have any symptoms when your heart rate is slower than usual?
Call your doctor if you have chest pain, shortness of breath or lightheadedness with a slow heartbeat. -
Does your heartbeat feel regular, like a clock ticking?
If the answer is yes, that is very reassuring. If it feels like it is skipping around, you may have a mild arrhythmia. Usually this won't need any special treatment. But you should get an electrocardiogram to identify the type of arrhythmia. -
Are you taking a beta blocker like metoprolol or a calcium channel blocker like diltiazem or verapamil?
These drugs slow the heart rate, and a rate of 50 to 59 is fine. Sometimes doctors want the heart rate to stay in that range. -
Do you have more fatigue than usual?
A slow heart rate can be a sign of an underactive thyroid (called hypothyroidism). Hypothyroidism in females is quite common. A simple blood test can determine if you have it.
Image: © Gabrijelagal/Getty Images
About the Author
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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