How to raise heart rate naturally

[Songwriter]

My heart rate is pretty low. Docs always make the comment about it. It averages about 53, sometimes in upper 40s, sometimes 60 but usually low 50's.

All my life, I have had what I call "poor circulation." Even as an athlete. I was bigtime into sports. Some docs will say, Ah, an efficient heart. Nah, I don't think that's it, I think it's just what it is... slower than normal.

I even had one strange episode last year where I spent six days in the hospital with them trying to figure out why I passed out unexpectedly. They first were talking pacemaker. My heartrate in the hospital went as low as 33 several times and I'd almost pass out. At the end, after six days of tests, they ruled out everything and said just go home and no need to come back unless something else happens. (Stent place two years ago.)

Even as an athlete in tiptop shape, when I'd go duck hunting, my hands and feet would freeze even with the best socks and boots. My hunting companion would not experience this. Mind you, it was pretty cold. Below freezing.

Nowadays, at age 54, my extremities get cold really easy. Like, just now, I go out to gather leaves with the lawn sweeper. It's 55 degrees! And my fingers and toes are cold and numb after just 15 minutes. And I had gloves on.

I have zero problems in the romance department. Thank goodness!

Just wondering if there is anything one can take that speeds up heart rate. A natural supplement or even a drug. Yes, I will ask the doc when I see him next but in the meantime, anyone know?

P.S. If such a supplement or drug exists, it would have to do it without raising blood pressure. And that would seem to defy the laws of physics.

[lczeledoc]

I don't think having a lower than average pulse rate is indicative of anything abnormal. Many of the top endurance athletes have resting pulse rates lower than 50 bpm. A co-worker of mine has a resting pulse of 35 bpm.

[Ottawa]

How to raise heart rate naturally ...

Sex
Sports
Aerobic Exercise
Spicey (hot) food can do it for up to 3 hours

I'm sure there are lots more but agree with lczeledoc. Unless you bp is too low I don't think it is a problem.

[Songwriter]

It IS a problem. My fingers and toes freeze. It would be awesome if I could figure out how to fix that. I get cold SO easily! My hands are like icicles. When on a date, a girl can't stand that! No matter what they say about cold hands = warm heart.

I doubt there is anything that would work without raising BP.

P.S. Every doc has always commented on it being slow. And I am not a trained athlete anymore. I walk briskly 2-3 times a week for 4 miles but that's it.

[laughingW]

If I were in your shoes I would keep looking for a diagnosis before looking for a symptom management solution.

If the MDs are baffled, maybe a bodyworker, sports orthopedist, or physical therapist could help.

It really does sound unpleasant. I'm a girl and if you gave me that hand I would say, ew.

For exercise: just for fun, have you seen the 3-minute move called Hoe Downs by Teresa Tapp? It can get your heart rate up to at least 75% of max in very little time. Basically because you're tensing just about every major muscle in the body while high stepping. There's a little video about it here:

http://www.t-tapp.com/try/

[Ottawa]

Wish I could help but it looks like a job for the Body Mechanics.:eek:

Just press them next time to see if there is some type of therapy to treat it.

[Karole]

Earlier this year I had a big spike in my bp. It was 228/212 and I had to make a trip to the er because of it. doc increased (doubled it) the meds I was on--Atenol and then 2 weeks later I had to switch docs and the new one saw my pulse was in the low 50's and said-- that's almost pace maker time. He noted that I was on a large dose of Atenol and switched me to a different med as Atenol is a beta blocker (I think he said) and they tend to cause a lower pulse rate. Surely tho, your docs would have not prescribed a med that would lower the heart rate more--but hey, that first doc of mine put me on a heavy dose of it.

Are your docs cardiologists or general practioners ?? Might get a second opinion or something.

[maxlharris]

The ADD medication I take (amphetamine salts) raises my resting heart rate from the 50's to the 60's.

Caffeinated beverages will also raise your rate.

Jumping Jacks. Yerba Mate. Green Tea.

My heart rate is generally, unmedicated, in the 50's to 60's, medicated in the 60's - 70's. When I give blood, they ask if I run. I am frequently over warm, body wise (wife will shove me off in bed), but get cold hands and feet from typing or sitting at my desk.

All things considered, I'd rather have it low and steady than real fast all the time.

I agree with Laughing W (probably a sign that it's great advice if we both agree), that you should probably look for an actual problem that is causing the symptom, rather than treating the symptom. That thinking led to the low fat diet, among other bad solutions.

[laughingW]

I agree with Laughing W (probably a sign that it's great advice if we both agree)
Oh that made me laugh. Thanks for the lift, Max.

In anatomy class we just went over the interaction between BP and heart rate, and how circulation is helped by skeletal muscle.

Karole's comment is a good clue and also - how is your strength training regimen nowadays? Do you do walking only, for BP reasons?

[Gaelen]

and in the spirit of trying to find the problem, not just fix the symptom:
A lot of us have cold hands or feet and simply put up with it. For some people it can be a serious problem - especially if they get very cold. Some people wear mittens and heavy socks all year round, even in warm weather, indoors and out. Their hands and feet are always cold. A number of things cause this, such as:

- Poor circulation due to coronary heart disease
- Raynaud's disease (disorder that affects the flow of blood to the fingers and sometimes to the toes)
- Frostbite
- Working with vibrating equipment (like a jackhammer)
- A side-effect of taking certain medications
- An underlying disease affecting blood flow in the tiny blood vessels of the skin. (Women smokers may be prone to this).
- Stress


Have you ever been checked for Raynaud's? Are cold hands/feet a side effect of your BP meds? Did you have the problem before you were diagnosed with the heart disease? Did/do you smoke? Stress? Work with vibrating equipment (yes, this can happen to musicians).

[Songwriter]

Have you ever been checked for Raynaud's? Are cold hands/feet a side effect of your BP meds? Did you have the problem before you were diagnosed with the heart disease? Did/do you smoke? Stress? Work with vibrating equipment (yes, this can happen to musicians).

I don't think it's Raynaud's. I found this...

Raynaud's disease is a rare disorder of the blood vessels, usually in the fingers and toes. People with this disorder have attacks that cause the blood vessels to narrow. When this happens, blood can't get to the surface of the skin and the affected areas turn white and blue. When the blood flow returns, the skin turns red and throbs or tingles. In severe cases, loss of blood flow can cause sores or tissue death. Cold weather and stress can trigger attacks. Often the cause of Raynaud's is not known. People in colder climates are more likely to develop Raynaud's than people in warmer areas

My problem is not a sudden manifestation of the coldness as described above. Mine is just that my hands and toes are very cold, even to the touch, all the time that the ambient air cool or cold.

I don't smoke. Stress? Yes. But as I said, while duck hunting or snow skiing, I recall having cold feet when I was a teenager through 20's. But not as bad as now.

I don't think it has anything to do with BP med as that is a recent thing. I think the BP med works as a vasodilater, so, maybe it will improve the condition? (I just started the BP med a week ago... it's working.)

I do not weight train but I guess I should add some of that. I don't know if I'll stick to it, I never have. I have always preferred cardio type stuff. And now they say that's not so good, haha. It does make me feel good, though.

To me, it just makes sense that for whatever reason, not enough blood gets to the toes and fingers. But I doubt I would have had heart disease in my teens and 20's. Not enough to do that.

I'm a musician but I don't play plugged in enough to cause this, IMO.

Perhaps it's just my particular makeup, not enough blood vessels in the fingers and toes.

[laughingW]

I do not weight train but I guess I should add some of that. I don't know if I'll stick to it, I never have. I have always preferred cardio type stuff. And now they say that's not so good, haha. It does make me feel good, though.

To me, it just makes sense that for whatever reason, not enough blood gets to the toes and fingers. But I doubt I would have had heart disease in my teens and 20's. Not enough to do that.

I'm a musician but I don't play plugged in enough to cause this, IMO.
I really, really think now that it might be related to the lack of squeezing action from your skeletal muscle. Since it happens when you were still, and you are a lifelong cardio type as opposed to lifting guy, it might also be related to the gradual loss of skeletal muscle from lack of use over time. You do know that cardio doesn't help with that, right?

Warning... enthusiast section..

As a musician you might really enjoy CST, or club swinging, as your strength option. I'm one too and adding rhythm and momentum makes all the difference. It's great for your CNS, your balance, and both large muscle and fine motor skills.

Here's a clip from the RMAX store. It's really a blast.

http://www.rmaxinternational.com/mambo/images/stories/Videos/xtension.mov

[Songwriter]

How do I play a .mov? It doesn't automatically happen.

[laughingW]

It's an Apple Quicktime format I believe.

You can also see lots of examples at YouTube on a search of "Clubbell."

[Songwriter]

As a musician you might really enjoy CST, or club swinging, as your strength option. I'm one too and adding rhythm and momentum makes all the difference. It's great for your CNS, your balance, and both large muscle and fine motor skills.

Wow, I like the looks of that! I saw a youbtube of this guy swinging a heavy club.

Circuit Strength Training, is that the same as club swinging? Do you have to buy the clubs online or do stores stock them?

It would be most helpful if one could try it a bit to see if you like it. But it does look very interesting.

What is CNS?

[laughingW]

CST, Circular Strength Training, is the name of the physical training system . (CST has 3 "branches": the heavy club swinging, a joint mobility piece, and a yoga piece. all 3 work together)

Here's a clip with music and some elders swinging 5 pound clubs.

http://www.laughingwarrior.com/sg_swings2.AVI

It's only online right now, not in stores. You can ask if there's a person local to you at rmaxi.com on the "Forum".

CNS is the central nervous system. All of CST works along all 3 axes in 3D, and is whole-body. Because the weight is swung instead of a slow controlled lift, the CNS and musculoskeletal system experiences the forces from the combo of the actual weight plus acceleration along the vector of direction. You kind of have to be "awake" to do this, it is the good kind of mind-body movement. Much like music or dancing. And about as far as reading a book on the treadmill, as you could get.

I just took the plunge myself because I could sort of tell it matched what I wanted. (I had come to terminal boredom with free weights.) This is the first time I've held interest and been consistent for years. This must be what the people who don't get bored from free weights, enjoy.

Oh and! My bagpipe fingerwork took a quantum leap. For two reasons: the increased strength in forearms and hands. Also losing residual tension. Because the clubs work your grip in every possible direction in 3D, it can really fatigue the hand in the good way and make it possible to bleed away residual tension from repetitive daily activities. Also for bagpipes the cardio capacity greatly increased (this swinging can train that too.)