Slow Heart Rate Does Not Increase Risk of Heart Disease

Bradycardia is a condition where the heart beats slower than normal (< 50 beats/minute in an adult at rest). A normal adult heart usually beats between 60-100 beats/minute at rest. It can cause dizziness, breathlessness, fainting or chest pain due to the lack of oxygen-rich blood through the body.

A ten-year analysis of 6,733 participants with no history of cardiovascular disease, showed that a heart rate of less than 50 was not associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

However, there may be a possible association between bradycardia and higher mortality rates in people who take heart rate modifying medicine, such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers.