subject: Factors That Cause Low Heart Rate [print this page] Does your heart beat faster when your loved one is around? Does crossing your heart fulfill your many promises? Does your heart break when love is gone? There isnt any doubt that heart is one of the most uttered words by many. We see and hear it everywhere, from heart-shaped candies to broken heart songs on the radio. Indeed, when one is excited and fired up because he caught sight of his special someone, the heart beats faster. But has anyone ever cared to ask, What makes the heart beat slower?
Bradycardia is the term used for low heart rate, which is a rate of below 60 beats per minute (bpm). Certain conditions and situations affect the heart, leading to a low heart rate. Age, weight, and exercise are some of the things that can bring about low heart rate.
Heart rate decreases with age. The SA node, or the hearts natural pacemaker, is what controls the heart beat. The SA node loses some of its cells as a result of the development of fibrous tissues and fat deposits that is a common part of aging. These changes lead to a slower heart rate. For people who are 75 years old and above, a low heart rate of 50 bpm can be considered normal.
Heart rate also decreases as the weight increases. The heart is less able to pump effectively when there is a great deal of fat deposits surrounding it. So it pumps even harder and faster to counteract the effect of the fats pressing on the heart walls. This initially increases the heart rate of obese people. However, far too much workload makes the heart grow larger. Sooner or later, the heart becomes exhausted and begins to pump slower. Theres no definite heart rate for overweight people but they are expected to have a lower heart rate.
Another reason to have a low heart rate is exercise. By being physically fit, you make the job of the heart a lot easier. Regular physical exercise makes the heart stronger and hence can provide the body with all the blood that it needs even with fewer beats per minute when it is at rest. This is the reason why well-conditioned athletes generally have a low heart of 40 bpm.
There is actually no heart rate that is too slow as long as the body is getting all the blood supply that it needs.
