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What Causes Low Resting Heart Rate, Weight Loss And Extreme Anxiety?
Question: Hi I have had several tests done on my heart. Stress tests , 2 echos, 10 ecgs, 2 holter monitors. My tests all came back normal. The holter monitor showed 200 PACS and 15 isolated PVC. I am worried because my resting heart rate is 52-55 . I am not an athlete. I have lost 75 lbs over tthehe last 10 months through. I don't feel fine. My heart rate went down to 41 during sleep at 2:45 AM. Doctor still says this is all normal and I shouldn't worry. That is not easy for me as I suffer from extreme anxiety. I got a second opinion from another cardiologist who also says I have a healthy heart. One thing I noticed that happens sometimes is when I stand up from sitting or just start moving I will have 5 or 6 slow heart beats that are strong and then the heart rate speeds up. What can this be? One doctor said it could be vagal dystonia. I've never heard of this
Brief Answer:
Tilt test will rule in or out vagal dystonia...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I have gone through your medical history carefully and understood your concerns.
1. It is normal to feel dizziness when standing up from sitting or laying position, especially if you have been sit for long time.
Furthermore, if you have PACS and PVC, it is normal to get dizziness episodes more often.
2. With regards to vagal dystonia, it's usually associated with a drop on bp and HR which lead to presyncope and syncope (faint).If I was your caring doctor would advise to run tilt test to rule it in or out first.
3. Regarding having low HR while resting or sleeping at around 52-55, and as low as 41, that is also normal and nothing worrisome.
This is because the function of body organs including the heart are slowed down. If no organic problem has been caused so far, there is nothing worrisome.
Hope it was of help!
Dr.Benard
Tilt test will rule in or out vagal dystonia...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I have gone through your medical history carefully and understood your concerns.
1. It is normal to feel dizziness when standing up from sitting or laying position, especially if you have been sit for long time.
Furthermore, if you have PACS and PVC, it is normal to get dizziness episodes more often.
2. With regards to vagal dystonia, it's usually associated with a drop on bp and HR which lead to presyncope and syncope (faint).If I was your caring doctor would advise to run tilt test to rule it in or out first.
3. Regarding having low HR while resting or sleeping at around 52-55, and as low as 41, that is also normal and nothing worrisome.
This is because the function of body organs including the heart are slowed down. If no organic problem has been caused so far, there is nothing worrisome.
Hope it was of help!
Dr.Benard
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi Doctor Thank you for your response. I usually do not have dizziness. Only a feeling sometimes when I stand up I get 5 or 6 slow hard beats then my heart rate speeds up naturally with movement. Is this normal? Also he said that dystonia of the vagus nerve can be caused by abdomen tumor or brain lesion. I've had all blood work come back normal. Do you think this is the case. I don't even know what the brain lesson is
Brief Answer:
Answers below...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
1. It is normal to have that feeling sometimes when you stand up and having your heart rate speeding up naturally with movement. As mentioned above, in people with PACS and PVC, this is quite often and considered normal. And this symptoms aren't related to vagal dystonia.
2. Once again, I don't want to precipitate in final conclusions. As long as your diagnostic tests did not find anything wrong so far, then, I still think you should run Tilt test to rule out vagal dystonia. Keep in mind that vagal dystonia isn't a medical diagnosis. Tilt test will exclude any vagal dysfunction which may be the cause of your symptoms.
If even the tilt test is normal than your symptoms are related to anxiety and not to any vagal nerve involvement. otherwise you should run further examinations to find out the right etiology.
All the best!
Dr.Benard
Answers below...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
1. It is normal to have that feeling sometimes when you stand up and having your heart rate speeding up naturally with movement. As mentioned above, in people with PACS and PVC, this is quite often and considered normal. And this symptoms aren't related to vagal dystonia.
2. Once again, I don't want to precipitate in final conclusions. As long as your diagnostic tests did not find anything wrong so far, then, I still think you should run Tilt test to rule out vagal dystonia. Keep in mind that vagal dystonia isn't a medical diagnosis. Tilt test will exclude any vagal dysfunction which may be the cause of your symptoms.
If even the tilt test is normal than your symptoms are related to anxiety and not to any vagal nerve involvement. otherwise you should run further examinations to find out the right etiology.
All the best!
Dr.Benard
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I understand doctor. Is vagal dystonia dangerous? Am I in danger right now? Also is it a disease that can be cured?
Brief Answer:
Following answer to your queries...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
Vagal dystonia isn't a disease, it's only a finding. It should be confirmed with other test (tilt test). For the moment you aren't in any danger. If tilt test is normal than you haven't vagal dystonia and all your symptoms are stress related.
Wish you health!
Dr. Benard
Following answer to your queries...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
Vagal dystonia isn't a disease, it's only a finding. It should be confirmed with other test (tilt test). For the moment you aren't in any danger. If tilt test is normal than you haven't vagal dystonia and all your symptoms are stress related.
Wish you health!
Dr. Benard
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for the quick reply. I'm just confused because I don't know what vagal dystonia is. Is it a lifelong problem? What exactly is it?
Brief Answer:
Vagal nerve dystonia is vagal nerve inappropriate function...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
Vagal nerve dystonia is vagal nerve inappropriate function and it shouldn't be mistaken as dystonia which is a neurological sign. Dystonia is characterized by persistent muscle contractions causing abnormal, often repetitive, movements, postures, or both.
In vagal dystonia there's hyper stimulation of vagal nerve which interferes with the systemic functioning of organs and heart causing bradycardia and low BP.
For the moment there's no signs for vagal nerve dystonia, however you should do tilt test to ease your concern.
Wish you health!
Dr. Benard
Vagal nerve dystonia is vagal nerve inappropriate function...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
Vagal nerve dystonia is vagal nerve inappropriate function and it shouldn't be mistaken as dystonia which is a neurological sign. Dystonia is characterized by persistent muscle contractions causing abnormal, often repetitive, movements, postures, or both.
In vagal dystonia there's hyper stimulation of vagal nerve which interferes with the systemic functioning of organs and heart causing bradycardia and low BP.
For the moment there's no signs for vagal nerve dystonia, however you should do tilt test to ease your concern.
Wish you health!
Dr. Benard
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you so much!!
Brief Answer:
Wish you health!
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
It was a pleasure to assist you with my advice.
Wish you health!
Dr. Benard
Wish you health!
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
It was a pleasure to assist you with my advice.
Wish you health!
Dr. Benard
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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