Firstly, I know see a Doctor… It’s Friday, I’ve just got off the phone from the local health advice and they tol me to call back if nothing changes.
In the meantime however, has anyone here experienced it?
Age 40
My normal morning HR is 44-50.
During my fever phase of the 'flu it was 80-90
Now, 36 hours after fever has abated I’m getting 36-46.
I’ll be following this up either way, but anyone experienced this?
To answer your question I haven’t experienced this but thought I could add some useful background.
Influenza (real 2 week feeling horrible flu) as well as other viral infections have been associated with myocarditis which can cause bradycardia. This could help to explain what you are seeing.
If you are symptomatic it may be worth seeing a doctor sooner rather than later, 36 is getting pretty slow.
Agreed - see a doc AND it could indeed be viral myocarditis.
Good news is the viral myocarditis is usually reversible in due time. Just need close monitoring for symptoms – if your low HR is causing you to pass out, etc… then something needs to be done.
But…
This could also be a dilated cardiomyopathy, which would in a sense “stretch” the walls of the heart chambers. The “wiring” of the heart lives in said walls. So, if the walls are stretched the circuit may also be affected. Hence, a low HR (or other dysrhythmias).
You need an EKG at a minimum. Maybe escalate it to a Holter monitor (ambulatory EKG you wear for 24+ hours) and an echocardiogram (echo). The echo will reveal any structural abnormality such as a dilated cardiomyopathy.
In my practice, top three causes of secondary (from an exogenous cause – i.e. NOT hypertension, NOT genetics, NOT coronary artery disease, NOT valvular dysfunction, NOT hormonal imbalance) cardiomyopathy are as follows:
Toxins – documented alcohol and/or cocaine ABuse – seldom reversible
Pregnancy – reversible
Viral – mostly reversible
Viral causes are hard to test for ex post facto so it is usually a diagnosis of exclusion for most folks. Basically, if a patient has no evident primary cause to their cardiomyopathy AND they were not recently pregnant AND they have never abuse alcohol/cocaine then we consider “viral” causes. Further questioning usually reveals that the patient had some sort of a lingering “cold” or “flu” for a few weeks which they remember having “a couple months ago.” These patients usually can temporally relate their symptom onset to soon after said bout with their viral infection. Good news is that it is reversible most of the time, it will just require an Rx to do it.
See your doctor. Maybe see a cardiologist.
Thanks to both of you JG and ladnday.
I will begin investigations with my doctor on Monday.
HR now constantly above 50 and appetite back; lost nearly 3 kilos since Tuesday! (down from 62,5-59,7)
I wonder if eating almost nothing for three days could have been the cause…
Thanks again guys.
I usually have an elevated HR for about a week following a viral infection. The three or four times I’ve had true influenza, I’m on back back for about 10-14 days w/ slightly elevated HR. The hallmark for true flu compared to all the other nasty viral infections is the fever (which you have). Also the muscle aches (hamstrings, gluteus, back).
I wonder if eating almost nothing for three days could have been the cause…
There might be a correlation. RHR is often low in anorexia patients.
Let us know what you learn.
Please correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t there a suspected link between training during viral infection and permanent bradycardia? If so, it would be wise for the OP to avoid training until exam is done.