Fitbit low heart rate alerts - should I be worried?

[snickersbarchild]

I've been wearing a fitbit for nearly three years and have never received a heart alert before. This week I have received two alerts, both in the middle of the night triggered by heart rate dropping below 42 bpm combined with no activity for 10 minutes. Should I be concerned?

do you know what you resting heartrate is? It just might be low either naturally or due to fitness. Both dh and a friend have resting heart rates in the 30s. Dh runs ultra marathons so no surprise. Friend is less of an athlete and her GP sent her for a cardiac MRI which was normal. So don’t worry but maybe ask your GP.

I’m assuming your normal resting heart rate is a bit higher than this. My DH has a RHR in low to mid 40’s and has never had an alert. Were you in a deep sleep stage when it happened

This also happened to me. My usual resting heart rate is about 60 but it dropped to 47 while I was reading and my Fitbit started buzzing and had the alert on. Was quite scary. Interestingly i
looked back and saw it had been as low as that before but while sleeping so maybe hadn’t alerted me. My Fitbit has the little ecg test which reassured me a bit

What’s your fitness like? What’s your general resting heart rate? Are you on any meds that affect your HR? Do you have any symptoms? Your HR slows more when sleeping so I wouldn’t be concerned tbh unless you were having symptoms or were on medication. You can always discuss with your GP if worried.

Ah, thanks for all the responses, I was off making dinner for the troops!

I'm relatively fit as in I do a lot of walking. My resting heart rate varies I think dependent on hormones, which as I'm peri- menopausal is irregular and seems to be between 55 bpm and 65 bpm. At night my heart rate can drop to the mid 40s. I'm a little overweight (26 BMI) but during the last three years have been 23 BMI and have had no previous alerts ever.

I do have a banging headache that I can't seem to shift (started maybe 6 days ago) and have been taking paracetamol, but only once or twice a day. Both times the alert has gone off I have been asleep, but I woke up quickly and think I was more dozing. I don't want to bother my doctor unnecessarily.

I've just adjusted my alert setting for low heart rate from 42 bpm (which it had calculated based on age and fitness etc...) to 40 bpm as it frightens the life out of me every time it goes off. But is this a bad thing to have done without consulting a medical professional?

My RHR is usually 59-61 so similar to yours and the lowest it has ever been during sleep is 50 , I do a lot of exercise. It might be worthwhile checking with your GP as that is quite a drop from your RHR

With the stubborn headache, I'd get checked out as both are out of your normal range.

I do find health settings such as HRV, body battery and resting heart rate on my Garmin a useful additional layer of information if I'm going down with something like a cold.

Mine used to do that a lot when it dropped below 40 for more than 10 mins but I was really fit then. Since menopause and generally feeling crap, it’s not happened once. Any chance you’re less fit than before?

So I contacted my doctor yesterday requesting an appointment because of the long lasting headache. Then a few hours later it occurred to me that I should measure my blood pressure ( I have a machine at home) and it was through the roof. I measured it three times and the best I got was 180 over 120. So I sent a further message to the doctor and he's got back to me with an appointment this afternoon. I'm staying away from google!

I have high blood pressure. I have started on medication for it, with a review in a month's time. Chest x ray on Friday to check heart and lungs, which is standard procedure where I live.

Dr wasn't too interested in the low heart rate notifications!

I’ve also seen 42 while just sitting watching tv. Didn’t feel any different. I consulted gp who said no concern unless low for a long period and continued
i am also on meds for high bp

X-rayed at lunch time, in and out in 10 minutes. Told answers available next week from own doctor. Just received an email from Dr already, saying chest x ray normal and she'll see me in a few weeks' time. So relieved that there's nothing going on with my heart or lungs that's showing up!