I got a smart phone a few weeks ago, and I've been trying out apps like a mad woman. One app I got was a heart rate checker. You put your finger tip over the camera, and it counts the pulse. Well I did that several times after laying around (so I'd be sure it was a resting heart rate), and it kept showing up as 48-52bpm. I didn't think much of it since I thought there's no way it would be accurate. Well my hubs tried it, and got 80. He said that he's always had a high side of average heart rate and 80 sounded right. I tried it again, and I was still at 50. So just for kicks and giggles, we used a stopwatch and counted my pulse (two fingers on the neck/carotid artery). We did it several times, watching the stopwatch for a full minute, both of us took turns counting. Every time, I was still around 50. So I have to conclude that 1) that little app is surprisingly accurate and 2) I have a very low heart rate.
I know that very fit people can lower their resting HR, but I wouldn't consider myself very fit. I walk everyday for about an hour, but...that's about it, lol. I eat clean whole foods for the most part, avoid excessive sugar or salt. But I really wouldn't consider myself to be in great shape.
So I am somewhat concerned. Why is my heart rate so low?? Anything below 60bpm is considered bradycardia (low heart rate). I don't really have any other symptoms. No shortness of breath, palpatations, fatigue or anything of that nature. I get fainty sometimes, but it's usually in fairly appropriate situations. Needles and the sight of blood have always made me fainty. Sometimes I get a head rush if I stand up too fast...but nothing that seemed abnormal.
Think I should do anything about it? I generally know enough about anatomy, physiology, and diseases that I know of all the things that could possibly go wrong and I end up stressing myself out. I wish I was more blissfully ignorant on health issues, lol.