Just found out today that a guy I went to high school died today of a heart attack, he was bigger than I was last year when I started this whole journey. He was 24 and it's freaking me out. I know I had an ECG last year to make sure everything was ok before I had surgery, I just wonder if there may be something wrong that I'm not aware of. I spent new years in the hospital for gallbladder surgery and they told me that I had a slow heart rate, nobody ever said anything like that to me before. Am I just freaking out over nothing?

The term for slow heart rate is bradycardio. I also have it. After surgery my heart rate was around 44 while I was in the hospital. The nurses had spoken to the doctor but he was okay with it. I did fine and never had any issues. I just recently started working out with a fitness trainer and we keep my heart rate average a little lower then what they usually suggest. I am doing just fine.

I also have bradycardia, I'm generally in the high 40s-50s when at rest, although I've clocked in as low as 38 at the doctor's office. Basically, the only thing that really matters if whether you have any symptoms, like chest pain or dizziness. If you don't, it's probably just physiologic bradycardia - your heart's normal rate.

Yup me too 44 is my average heart rate. My blood pressure too is usually lower 107 / 52 But at least it's not high! I'm sorry to hear about your classmate, deaths like that always hit home. But there is a saying that goes like this "If you don't have time for exercise and health now, be prepared to have time for illness later" Take care of your body now and it will take care of you later! Cheers!

Just found out today that a guy I went to high school died today of a heart attack, he was bigger than I was last year when I started this whole journey. He was 24 and it's freaking me out. I know I had an ECG last year to make sure everything was ok before I had surgery, I just wonder if there may be something wrong that I'm not aware of. I spent new years in the hospital for gallbladder surgery and they told me that I had a slow heart rate, nobody ever said anything like that to me before. Am I just freaking out over nothing?

Well, freaking out when someone of the same age dies is perfectly normal. It gives us a keen sense of our OWN mortality mixed with the grief we feel for our lost freind. You've choosen to do the right thing by taking charge of your weight and doing something about it.

Watch your heart rate closely as we overweight people usually have a tendency to have a RAPID heart rate as heart struggles to keep the blood flow to the massive body, this is typically paired with high blood pressure. These two can be a deadly combination in an overweight person. As your weight drops you may have to take medication to encourage your heart to beat faster. Consult with the doc on the next visit.

I think what you are really freaking out about is the fact that you never thought anyone at your age was really at risk of dying from something we generally think of as an older persons problem. This is probably the first time you have had to face mortality in a young person and you are realizing that you too could very much be at risk. It happens to all of us at different stages in our lives.

The very reason I finally had the umph to have WLS was losing my Dad to a stoke from his High blood pressure. It got me to thinking about my blood pressure and weight and other diseases right around the corner if I did not lose the weight. I wish I had the ability and desire to have done something in my 20's like you, that is wonderful you took control.

If you are really worried about your low heart rate go and get a work up, it can't hurt right? It is the unknown that harms.