Bradychardia, effects on walking speed, reactions to cold conditions.

Anonymous, Thank you for your Reply. I feel that it may lie in the fact that I do not have any of the normal markers used to warrant a Pacemaker. I do not get light headed, shortness of breath, lassitude,etc. My physician tells me I am not ready for a Pacemaker.

  In my youth I was highly regarded as a track athlete. In my early fifties I retired as a TAE KWON DO MASTER due to irregular travel requirements in my employment. In my late 60's I took up JU-JITSU and I loved getting thrown around. At this time I knew of my Bradycardia but it never entered my mind. I somehow knew I could drop dead in an instant. I visualise my slow walking as the slow movements of a Heron stalking fish in shallow water. I am clear headed enough to analyse and look back at my tracks for straightness,etc.  My reactions to cold is that I feel that every cell in my body is singing, resonating and touching very cold objects is an assault. Taking a pack of Butter or two eggs from the fridge means getting them down on the counter in a hurry as my fingers turn white in an instant. This year I have my Thermostat set 3 deg. higher.

  My phsyician regularly tells me that he keeps overlooking that I am much older than my appear suggests.

  
 

Still, I am very curious to know how you might feel if your heart rate was in the 70's or 80's...

Anonymous, Thank you for your continued interest. Without Atenolol my bpm was in the high 60's, low 70's and I regarded this as normal. A regular heart beat in the low 80's would ring alarm bells. Basically the reason for the post was to try to get a background feel from the experience of others. I have no hang ups as to a moderate shift from the 'standard 72-bpm'. I have lost my drive for conditioning and exercise.

    Is there another system, theory or postulate whereby bradycardia is eliminated by establishing a heart rate above the 'norm'?

    I have fainted before when my heart raced out of control.

Thank you for your interest. 

SUE, Thank you for your thoughtfulness, it is much appreciated. When I asked my doctor as to the possibility of a Pacemaker he replied that I was not 'ready for that yet". I feel that there is a 'tick off list' and if without sufficient 'ticks' there is no 'justification' for an implant. In my reply to an earlier post I amplified my excellent athletic conditioning and I used to do Harvard step tests on a two weekly basis. My resting heart rate was in the 55-57 range. I no longer do heavy conditioning but I can still touch the ground with the backs of my hands or reach to 12 ins. behind my heels without warm ups. I do not feel or think as an older person (72+). 2 yrs. ago we vacationed in Watkins Glen, N.Y. and without thought I challenged my 10 yr. old granddaughter in a race to the top. Tremendous fun, big laughs. What is my worry? A little 72 yr. widow, full of life, known to have Bradycardia, spent the Sunday with her family then went home. 2-3 days later she was found wandering, totally disoriented with a heart of 25 bpm. She is now in a nursing home due to her brain being deprived of sufficient oxygen. At 36 bpm the heart would pump 50% of normal volume. I have read that the heart takes its regular share and with other essential organs taking their share there cannot be much blood remaining for the skeletal system. I do not want to finish up in a unnecessary 'non compos mentis' state.