80 BPM -- BB - exercise ??

I am in my fifth week and doing very well. My PM is set so my heart rate does not go below 80. I am also taking BB for mild A-fib. Is 80 a normal setting? I will ask at next check up in a week,but curious. I do the treadmill and Doctor said at my age 74, do not go to much beyond 100 - or so. Here is the problem I have a hard time getting it up beyond 85 or so at 3.5 mph. and 5% slope - is the BB holding down rate. After reading other posts I think I have a pseudo problem,but any comments are welcome

5 Comments

Beta blockers

by dougiefresh101 - 2014-05-20 10:05:00

I do believe beta blockers hold down the rate. My doctor won't admit it but I believe my 14 years of Atenolol caused my chronotropic incompetence leading to this PPM. Just my 2 cents.

BPM

by Roys - 2014-05-21 01:05:24

Hi
I'm 83 and my PM is set at 60 to 130. If your RR is turned on beta blockers will not stop your PM from reaching the top setting, my RR was not turned on for six weeks after I got the PM. I get 85 just walking around the house and 110 walking up hill. 80 is high for the bottom setting! It could be set at 80 to stop you going into A-fib. Are you in permanent AF?
Cheers Roy

80 bpm ..it depends

by IAN MC - 2014-05-21 05:05:13

Hi JBM It is too easy to become obsessed by numbers; "how you feel " is the only thing that matters !

If you feel fine,then 80bpm could be OK for you ( the normal range for resting heart rates is 60 - 100 bpm ) BUT if you feel as though your heart is racing ,then 80 may be too high for you . It is an easy fix to get it turned down.

As Roy says,if you have Rate Response turned on , the PM will add extra beats when you exercise regardless of whether you are on beta blockers or not.

I am always suspicious of Drs who make statements beginning with " At your age you should/ or should not .. " . As an example, I am older than you and my top setting is 165 bpm . I am thinking about having it increased ! I do appreciate that we are all different though and your Dr may have good medical reasons for keeping you below 100, but I doubt it !!

I would be very concerned if I found it difficult to get above 85 bpm; you must be getting pretty breathless when you exercise and you need to explore getting your PM settings altered. It is possible to have it set so that you get extra beats added when you hit 85 bpm

Best of luck

Ian

Thanks and gratitude

by JBM - 2014-05-21 10:05:03

It is helpful to have the experiences of PMers - Thank you. I was in a local restaurant yesterday and the owner mentioned our waitress just came back to work after 4 weeks from a PM installation. She looked to be in her 30s - she said she has never felt better. So I guess two things: gratitude for medical technology and that I should be thankful I am in my senior years because of it

Ditto on Response

by donb - 2014-05-21 10:05:41

Hi JBM, Reading above numbers given by our friendly members I'm in the ballpark also at age 82. After being on Tenormin for years I was put on the stronger BB Sotalol (Beta Pace) after inheriting Afib. This is doing a fair job as my recent check showed 17% Afib. Guess I've also learned to kinda "cool it" at age 82 both mentally & physically. Glad you're doing your treadmill !! After a couple years of Cardiac Rehab I should know better & get on my basement treadmill & bike also.
DonB

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