my heart beat is generaly about 43.my age is 78.it has been this rate over about the 9 months,while i have been doing pressure checks.surely if your body needs a certain quantity of blood pumped around it a minute and your heart is pumping slower than it should then to pump that quantity it must pump at a higher rate.this higher rate equivalents to the high blood pressure i have.i must add i am pretty fit and walk every day and do 4 mile walks twice a week.i have never smoked and weigh 76 killo,s.my heighth is 5 feet 6 inches.I am a English white male.My question is.what action do i need to take.how do i get my blood pressure down to a normal figure if possible without tacking harmfull doctors pills,which so far i have kept away from.Thanks for any advice,Stan,
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Q: does a slow heart beat automaticaly mean you have high blood pressure?
Stan H,
Thanks for your question. To compensate for a slower heart rate, the pressure could possibly rise, but this reaction is not always observed. The more important question is: why is your heart rate so low? Pulse rates in the 30's and 40's are often seen in very athletic individuals such as professional basketball players, but in most patients, a pulse of 43 may indicate a problem. Are you experiencing any dizziness, light-headedness, fatigue, vision changes or other unusual symptoms?
I suggest you contact your physician for an appointment to have this checked out. You definitely need an electrocardiogram to be sure your heart's electrical activity is normal. I am concerned about a possible block in the electrical pattern of your heart, or an abnormal rhythm. At this point, everything is just a guess, and the only way to be sure is to see your doctor who will take your history, examine you, and perform an electrocardiogram. He may request further testing. The good news is that most of these problems are correctable or controllable. So call for an appointment as soon as possible.
Feel better.
Martin Cane, M.D.
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