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Can Fasting Cause A Rapid Decrease In The Heart Rate?
I am a healthy 79 year old male. I have a bowflew bench machine and a treadclimber along with a bicycle I use regularly. My normal resting heart rate has been 42-45 bpm forever since I was a runner for over 20 years. Recently I check my BP and as usual it is around 120 over 70-74. The last few days I checked and my rate was 39 in the AM . I use an OMRON Bp device. My Cholestrol is 215. I have been fasting for a couple days and usually I believe the heart rate slows when thee is nothing to digest because of lack of work,Yuor thoughts Thank you, Frank
Tue, 26 Jun 2018
Hello Frank!
Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service.
I understand your concern and would explain that your heart rate values are really low, but this finding can be quite normal in active and sportive persons.
Of course our metabolism (digestion) may have some influence on your heart rate.
But you should know that when we digest, the vagal nerve gets activated and it causes a slowing in heart rate.
Anyway, I would recommend performing a resting ECG and a cardiac ultrasound just to be sure that everything is OK.
Hope to have been helpful!
Wishing you good health,
Dr. Iliri
Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service.
I understand your concern and would explain that your heart rate values are really low, but this finding can be quite normal in active and sportive persons.
Of course our metabolism (digestion) may have some influence on your heart rate.
But you should know that when we digest, the vagal nerve gets activated and it causes a slowing in heart rate.
Anyway, I would recommend performing a resting ECG and a cardiac ultrasound just to be sure that everything is OK.
Hope to have been helpful!
Wishing you good health,
Dr. Iliri
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