Low pulse is a physiological condition caused by a natural decrease in heart rate as a result of the development of complex vascular pathology, infection, changes in the functioning of the heart muscle. Only a competent specialist will tell you what to do.
Low heart rate: causes
The pulse changes depending on the state of the person. A low heart rate signals a heart rhythm disturbance. Bradycardia is observed in people of different ages. Doctors identify several causes of low heart rate, affecting a decrease in heart rate:
- Arterial hypertension, endocarditis, myocarditis;
- Malnutrition and diet;
- Stress
- Lack of physical activity;
- Long stay in cold water;
- Improper medication;
- Frequent change in weather conditions;
- High levels of calcium in the blood;
- Pregnancy;
- Organophosphate poisoning;
- Congenital heart changes.
What heart rate is considered low?
Heart rate indicators in adults and children differ:
- Newborn children - the norm is 140.
- Pensioners - 65.
- Children not older than seven years - pulse up to 100.
A dying jump in heart rate can reach 160 beats per minute. In children after seven years, the frequency of heart beats per minute decreases. Upon reaching adulthood, blood pressure normalizes to 80 beats per minute. Low blood pressure is considered when the number of heart beats is 50-55. When the pulse decreases due to physiological reasons, they do not pay attention to it. In cases of lowering the pulse for no apparent reason, they turn to the clinic for examination by a cardiologist.
Least hit
The lowest pulse in a person can be in the range of 40 beats per minute. In this case, there is a strong oxygen starvation. A pulse below 40 beats per minute can lead to cardiac arrest. The causes of a sharp drop in heart rate can be heavy blood loss, postoperative conditions, severe heart disease. Also, strong intoxication of the body and psychoemotional shocks can lead to low rates of heart rate. Such a condition requires immediate medical examination and, if necessary, urgent hospitalization, as it poses a threat to life.
Symptoms
In medicine, there are many cases where a low pulse practically did not manifest itself in a person, since the physiological peculiarity of the body can affect this. It is worth noting that you don’t really need to worry, because this condition will not pose any danger to the patient. Usually, a decrease in heart rate appears as a result of impaired functioning of the heart, and usually it manifests itself in the form of dizziness or fainting, which indicates the development of oxygen starvation of the brain. In addition, the patient may experience chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, and increased fatigue.
With the causeless and sudden onset of the above symptoms, the patient may develop bradycardia, dangerous complications of which are repeated fainting, and in some cases heart failure. As soon as the patient begins to be disturbed by the symptoms of a low pulse, it is necessary to go to the hospital as quickly as possible, in order to avoid quite serious and dangerous consequences!
Low temperature
Low temperature and low heart rate are observed with the following diseases:
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system.
- Chronic overwork.
- Depressive conditions.
- Endocrine diseases, including diabetes.
- Liver disease.
- A similar condition may accompany pregnancy.
Often, a combination of these symptoms is found in athletes who have exceeded the allowable load for their body. If the temperature and pulse are below normal, then in any case this is a sign of a malfunction of the circulatory system and an imbalance in the processes of thermoregulation. Before the diagnosis is established, the patient should be provided with peace and warmth. You can drink it with weak tea.
Headache
With a low pulse, the head hurts due to the fact that oxygen began to flow poorly into all organs, including the brain. The pain is not acute, aching, dull, sometimes a manifestation of brief pulsations. Headache attacks begin after severe nervous tension. Excessive mental stress can also be the cause. Symptoms of a headache attack with low blood pressure:
- Pallor of the face.
- A rare pulse that is hard to feel.
People with a low threshold of sensitivity, overly emotional, unstable to stressful situations suffer from this ailment. If a headache occurs, it is recommended that you sleep on a low pillow so that it is firmly in contact with the neck.
Low pressure
The causes of low blood pressure and low heart rate in humans are very different, and they need to be considered in great detail. These phenomena can either be a physiological feature of the body, or indicate a life-threatening condition. If a person is healthy, low blood pressure will not contribute to a low pulse, but otherwise the patient needs emergency care. It is strongly not recommended to self-medicate, since taking certain medications can further reduce the pulse. This is especially true for beta-blockers, which should be taken only after examination by a specialist!
Normal pressure
A low pulse under normal pressure can be observed in the case of severe overwork, with various pathologies in the myocardium, including inflammatory ones, as well as with an increase in intracranial pressure. Thyroid diseases, in particular hypothyroidism, can also be the causes of this symptomatology. The use of narcotic drugs, cardiac glycosides and psychotropic substances leads to a decrease in the pulse rate. To correct this condition, you need to establish the cause and find out what to do with a low heart rate. Before visiting a doctor, the patient should avoid physical exertion.
High pressure
If a person rises in pressure, in some cases he may notice the appearance of a low pulse. This usually indicates the development of heart failure or other equally dangerous conditions and pathologies. It is very important to know that doctors categorically prohibit the use of drugs, which are usually prescribed for the detection of heart failure.
When using funds that increase the pulse, an increase in pressure may occur. If the patient’s heart rate decreases only once with high blood pressure, this is not a reason to look for a pathology. But if, after a 2-3-fold measurement of pressure and pulse, the indicators have not changed, we can talk about the beginning of the pathological process.
Pregnancy
Low heart rate in pregnant women is not common. Symptoms may include nausea, frequent dizziness, fainting, difficulty breathing. And if this is revealed, then you need to look for the reason for this feature. There are various options here. The main reasons may be:
- Chronic diseases of the circulatory or endocrine systems.
- Not enough potassium in the body.
- Violations of the nervous system.
You can maintain a normal heart rate in the following ways:
- Walking on the street.
- Healthy and proper nutrition.
- Daily gymnastics.
- Seek medical advice.
Bradycardia in a child
Causes of bradycardia (low heart rate) in a child:
- Arterial hypertension.
- Malnutrition, non-nutrition, skipping one or two stages of food intake.
- Pain syndrome.
- Taking medications that are taken incorrectly, not as prescribed by the doctor or with a derogation of the rules of admission.
- Long stay in cold water (pool, sea, river, shower).
- Stressful situation.
- Intense physical activity without breaks for relaxation.
- Oxygen starvation with a sedentary lifestyle.
When a child has a decrease in the frequency of heartbeat (a reference on the pulse), it must be shown to a cardiologist for examination.
Why is a low pulse dangerous?
If a decrease in heart rate begins to occur with small deviations from the desired norm, then a person can not worry, as this is not dangerous. But if a person’s heart rate starts to drop to a low mark of 40 beats / min, then the person is under serious threat. The threat is great, because there is a great chance that the heart can stop, or suddenly and often lose consciousness because oxygen deficiency can occur in the body. And it can also affect the high risk of injury in the fall. Also, with a decrease in heart rate, a person may feel symptoms such as fatigue, increased sweating, migraine and dizziness.
Low heart rate drugs
Treatment of insufficient pulsation is carried out strictly in the hospital with the use of many drugs. These include:
- “Atropine” - helps to eliminate the effects of poisoning with salts of heavy metals, stimulates the healing of stomach and duodenal ulcers, normalizes blood flow, and has a general anti-inflammatory effect. It is administered intravenously every 3 hours.
- "Alupent" - has a significant effect in the treatment of bradycardia, "angina pectoris", normalizes the functioning of the lungs and bronchi, improves blood circulation to the respiratory system. It is used in combination with a chloride compound or in a purely tablet form of 20 mg.
- "Isoproterenol" - this drug improves hematopoiesis, increases blood pressure and eliminates the negative effects of low heart rate - hypoxia. It is prescribed for the treatment of complex vascular diseases of the brain, lung tissue, as well as for the correction of pre-infarction conditions. It has a significant effect on the cardiovascular system in the treatment of "angina pectoris", bradycardia. It has a general tonic effect in the presence of frequent attacks of epilepsy. It is applied by infusion.
Folk remedies
If you have a low pulse, what to do at home? This question interests many. If the pulse rate has decreased, then there are the following folk remedies for raising it to the optimal level:
- The most common way is to consume green tea and strong but cold coffee, as these drinks contain caffeine. It contracts the heart muscle. If the problem manifests itself often, then drink coffee or tea in the morning every day.
- Chocolate. He must very quickly solve the problem. And you need to use only dark chocolate.
- Physical exercise. They are used if the pulse drops to fifty beats per minute. The most effective exercise is running.
- The next way will be the most enjoyable, this is taking a hot bath. Essential oil can be added to water.
- Compresses from mustard plasters. Mustard plasters must be applied for ten or fifteen minutes to the back of the head. This will contribute to the fascination of blood flow to the heart.
- Ear lobe massage. Also, the method helps to eliminate pain in the heart.
- Walnut tincture. To make it, you need four lemons, sesame oil, a pound of nuts, sugar and water. Finely chop the lemons in a bowl and fill them with boiling water. Next, pour all this into previously mixed walnuts, sesame oil and sugar. It is necessary to take three times a day. The dose is one spoon.
- Pepper. Spicy foods increase the frequency of heart muscle contraction. Therefore, this is the best option to quickly raise the pulse.
Before any treatment, a specialist consultation is necessary. He will establish why the patient has a low pulse, and will select effective drugs to overcome the pathology.