Pulse 61-63

My mom says her pacemaker is set at 70 and her pulse is usually 68-70. The last 2 days it has dropped to 61-63. I looked at her literature but couldn't find any settings listed but through reading here I noticed there is a high and low setting. Could it be that her high setting is 70 and her low is 60 and this is normal?

Her blood pressure has been 160-170 / 80-90 the last 2 days which is high for her. Could that lower her pulse?

We live in the Philippines and Medtronic sends someone yearly to test pacemakers but the Rep is late and her Cardiologist is on Holiday. I will take her to see a Dr tomorrow but I'm not sure we can see a Cardiologist. It's late now.

I don't think this is an emergency so please tell me if it is. If this seems normal then a little reassurance would help me sleep. My mom is 87 and only take Tylenol and Ibuprofen for arthritis.

Sorry I know almost nothing about her pacemaker. I will study up.

Thanks alot!

4 Comments

Don't Worry It Is Not an emergency

by IAN MC - 2018-01-03 13:16:20

Hello Dave

I )    A resting heart-rate of 60 is absolutely nothing to worry about especially as you are not sure what her pacemaker settings are. Anything between 60 and 100 is considered to be within normal range. Her high setting will definitely be higher than 70.

When you eventually see the Medtronic rep find out exactly what her pacemaker high and low settings are and ask for an explanation of how they relate to your mother's numbers.

ii)   A blood pressure reading of 160 - 170 /  80 - 90 is also nothing to worry about in an 87 year old.     As you get older your blood pressure increases . In fact not that many years ago  doctors would only treat blood pressure if the top number ( the systolic) was greater than 100 plus your age.

You say that she is seeing her doctor within the next two days . He may try to lower her blood pressure a little with tablets but it really is not an emergency.

Let us know what the doctor says , and Happy New Year to you both

Ian

Great!

by DaveJavu - 2018-01-03 18:34:18

Thanks. Will let you know

All Is Well

by DaveJavu - 2018-01-05 10:40:32

Saw the Cardiologist. Low setting is 60 so no problem. Got a prescription for Losartan but her BP went down before she could take any so we will just keep them for later.  Thanks again for your advice, Ian.

Great News Dave

by IAN MC - 2018-01-05 12:08:09

Thanks for the update

Ian

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