Very Slow Heart Beat From Blood Pressure Pills

[khunsook]

I got very good advice from Sheryl and others before so I decide to try again. I have been taking atenolol pills 50 mg 2X a day for about 1 year. Also I have been working out in gym six days a week for last 9 months and lost over 30 pounds to help with the blood pressure. Now my heart rate is sometimes 40 or 41 beats per minute. When I first started pills it was like 46-51. My daughter who is RN says this is too slow. I think maybe it is also slower now from all the exercise because dosage of pills is the same. I feel okay since I can go to gym every day and recently took physical fitness test and I finished in upper 10 per cent for 20 years old and I am 56.but sometimes I get dizzy when I stand up quick and sometimes I am tired but not always. My blood pressure is much better but sometimes still too high. Went to doctor but this did not work out very well and that is another story. Just wondered if maybe people with medical knowledge or same experience would give me advice. Thank you.

[FBN]

Slow heart rate is a side effect of the Beta blocker group of BP medications such as Atenolol.

But you mention that your BP is still high at times so you do still need some form of medication.

Clearly the beta blockers are not ideal for you and you need to change to an Ace Inhibitor or other appropriate alternative which will not affect the heart rate. Yes, 41 is too slow and will be the cause of dizziness. Another side effect of the beta blockers is that they prevent the heart rate from increasing "on demand"; in other words, when your heart rate would normally go up as a result of walking fast, running or even just getting from a supine to an upright position.

But you do need a good workup by a good cardiologist; BP taken in supine, sitting and standing positions as well as cholesterol profiles and ECGs etc.

Changing BP medication must be done under careful supervision; do not try this on your own!!

[khunsook]

Yes BP that is good advice I will see doctor. It is true about the heart rates because no matter how hard I work at gym heart rate never goes up too much. Thank you.

[phetaroi]

Slow heart rate is a side effect of the Beta blocker group of BP medications such as Atenolol.

I would say it a bit differently. For many people like me, we are prescribed that class of drug specifically to slow down our hearts. And, correct me if I am wrong, you should not just stop taking this class of drugs due to the heart aspect.

But you do need a good workup by a good cardiologist; BP taken in supine, sitting and standing positions as well as cholesterol profiles and ECGs etc.

Changing BP medication must be done under careful supervision; do not try this on your own!!

Excellent. Thank you for writing this! Bravo!

[BAYBOY]

Recently went to the local Government Hospital for a check up and found the Blood Pressure was a little high and the heart rate slow...........43pm

Have been taking Atenolol for some years 50mg x twice dailly. Doctor suggested that I reduce to 10 mg x twice dailly.

Five days later BP was back to " normal" and heart rate was up to 55 pm.

Now feeling much better and more alert. For the last few months have had a feeling of being tired all the time which I put down to age (64) and that I work hard in the garden most days.

Used to feel so tired, that as I made the bed in the morning, I wished I could hop back in again!!

BUT.. I would never advise changing medication esp. heart medication with out consulting a Doctor, and one you are comfortable with.

BAYBOY

[endure]

You MUST NOT stop taking any beta blocker (which Atenolol is) other than under the supervision of a Doctor.

[mommysboy]

I'm a bit confused! How can someone seemingly so fit have high blood pressure?

Has white coat syndrome definitely been ruled out?

[khunsook]

Thank you all. To answer the question about fitness, I was not always fit. I always lifted weights but this did nothing for my heart or blood pressure and actually made blood pressure worse. I was first diagnosed with high blood pressure and figured it was because I had a very high stress job. I thought when I retired it would improve but it got worse. However I was overweight, I drank too much and ate a lot of salt. After I retired and moved to Thailand I was 242 pounds which is most I ever weighed. Now in addition to pills I have quit drinking alcohol entirely and do not lift weights anymore but do aerobic exercise an hour a day, six days a week. I now am down to 200 pounds, and basically I feel good except sometimes I am tired, but also I do not sleep much at night. There is one other important information I forgot to mention is that I also have tachycardia and was in hospital for this last year and this is other reason for beta blocker. Also maybe I do have this white coat syndrome. Once I had surgery without anesthetic and the reason for this is a long story but the fact is ever since this episode I have almost a phobia of doctors and medical stuff.

[phetaroi]

I'm a bit confused! How can someone seemingly so fit have high blood pressure?

Has white coat syndrome definitely been ruled out?

Do a Goggle search. Physical fitness is not the only factor in high blood pressure.

[phetaroi]

Thank you all. To answer the question about fitness, I was not always fit. I always lifted weights but this did nothing for my heart or blood pressure and actually made blood pressure worse. I was first diagnosed with high blood pressure and figured it was because I had a very high stress job. I thought when I retired it would improve but it got worse. However I was overweight, I drank too much and ate a lot of salt. After I retired and moved to Thailand I was 242 pounds which is most I ever weighed. Now in addition to pills I have quit drinking alcohol entirely and do not lift weights anymore but do aerobic exercise an hour a day, six days a week. I now am down to 200 pounds, and basically I feel good except sometimes I am tired, but also I do not sleep much at night. There is one other important information I forgot to mention is that I also have tachycardia and was in hospital for this last year and this is other reason for beta blocker. Also maybe I do have this white coat syndrome. Once I had surgery without anesthetic and the reason for this is a long story but the fact is ever since this episode I have almost a phobia of doctors and medical stuff.

I do wish you the very best. I think it's good that you realize your health factors. Reminds me a little of me, although I don't smoke or drink. But as I have moved to Thailand on a retirement visa, the opposite is happening for me. I am gradually losing weight -- about a pound per week -- because I do long "photography walks" (usually 3+ hours at a time) and I am definitely eating better.

One comment about the salt. I had one meeting with a doctor who specialized in nothing but hypertension. I mentioned to him that I was sure he was going to say that I needed to cut out or reduce my salt intake. He said no, not at all. Told me that while many people do have a relationship between salt intake and high BP, not all do, and that can be determined by their sodium levels. He looked at my data and said that my sodium levels were ideal, so that -- for me -- it was not a factor. Then he went down a short list of what he did think were key factors in my case, and weight (at that time at 240 and 5'7") was number 1.

[khunsook]

Thank you phetaroi. I am not sure about salt in my case but to be safe my wife now cooks without salt or MSG but as usual she still uses nam pla so I am sure still there is plenty of salt in food. I do notice though BP is better when I eat home than restaurant. You have given me good idea though for friend. He also has high bllod pressure and overweight but does not like exercise. However he is professional photographer and maybe he could get exercise form photography walk as you do.

[phetaroi]

Thank you phetaroi. I am not sure about salt in my case but to be safe my wife now cooks without salt or MSG but as usual she still uses nam pla so I am sure still there is plenty of salt in food. I do notice though BP is better when I eat home than restaurant. You have given me good idea though for friend. He also has high bllod pressure and overweight but does not like exercise. However he is professional photographer and maybe he could get exercise form photography walk as you do.

Tell him to do what I do. I pick one "site" that might be interesting, but then take in the rest of the neighborhood. Sometimes find some pretty interesting photo topics, and it makes me forget what I see as the drudgery of exercise.

[KhunOr]

I had one meeting with a doctor who specialized in nothing but hypertension.

Please can you give the contact details for this specialist? Or PM them to me please.