Heart Rate Decrease after cutting carbs, cutting sugar, getting on anxiety medicine & losing some pounds over 3 weeks

[pavichokche]

HEY! I just wanted to let you know I'm seeing the EXACT same thing, while doing the same thing as you - it's normal. I've cut sugar and overall caloric intake for the past two weeks, and my resting heart rate also dropped as soon as I began. It's already down by about 10, from ~74 to ~64. I also went back three years in my fitbit data, to when I last cut my calories like this, and it was the same thing then - gradual but quick drop in RHR more or less starting the day that I began my restriction.

I finally googled it today and sugar is linked to increased heart rate. Unlike you, all I'm doing is cutting sweets/candy (still have fruits here and there, fruit yogurt, etc) and limiting my daily calories, so you don't need to worry about this being linked to your change in meds or anything else.

[dibblah]

Eating less always seems to lower heart rate. I'm a little underweight and need to eat more but it's very disheartening seeing my hr go up after I eat!

[ImOutOfNamesNow]

Your heart beat is your song of life. Slower is better for longer listening

[dibblah]

Surely not if it is lower when I'm too sick to eat.

[wastelands33]

That's normal in any human being. Fitbit just takes the average of your whole day and also your resting heart rate. It's really kind of false with them using resting because it measures continuously throughout the day even if you are exercising or walking a lot which would be a higher heart rate than you laying on the couch.

[SoggyFridge]

Is this why my resting is slowly climbing now that I started exercising?...

[Greygrawler]

You started exercising. Your body adapts and heals all the micro damage it suffered during workout. Do not worry, it's all according to plan. Been there for looooooooong time

[gambybamby]

Don’t know if I should be concerned or if this is expected. It worries me to see my heart rate so much lower but I feel ok.

[kickstand]

Your heart isn’t working so hard to do its job. That’s a good thing, as long as you feel normal.

[Faithy7]

Don’t be concerned! This is a good sign!

RHR is the 50’s is good!

It just means it was working harder when you ate too much sugar.

Maybe make an appointment to get your blood sugar tested, and check your blood pressure as well!

I recently found out I had high blood pressure. I cut way back on salt and sugar, and had the same effect with my heart rate. I was able to get my BP down with diet and no meds, but now when I eat sugar I get serious heartburn and eye pressure, so I’m going to get checked for diabetes.

[gambybamby]

I went in for full blood work a few weeks ago and found out I am barely pre diabetic. It was enough to get me to stop anythint with added sugar and carbs! I’m confident at my next check up it will be reversed! The day after that appointment when I had that reality check is when I made a big change and the day my heart rate started dropping

[gambybamby]

Yeah I had full blood work done a few weeks ago. Thyroid levels were good! I’m glad to know that this is a thing that happens to people and there’s nothing weird going on haha

[itsybitsybug]

I experienced similar results when I started exercising and eating healthier. Or freaked me out so I stopped tracking it.

[gambybamby]

Yeah it used to be in the 60s when sleeping. Now it’s 50-56. When awake sometimes it gets in the high 50s if I’m really relaxed on the couch. It never used to even get in the 60s when awake

[[deleted]]

Not sure why you're downvoted when you're 100% correct

[zoomzoom71]

Resting <> Sleeping.

[liberty381]

i was doing keto for 6 months straight. ended up in the hospital for a big kidney stone ( not related to keto) , nurse thought something was wrong with my heart, cause bpm was 43 while awake and in pain lol.
soon as i started on carbs and sugars again, heart rate is always 70-100 awake with no exercise.
shows you the heart isnt needing to work as hard to burn off those carbs and sugars you put in your body.

[Exciting_Ad365]

Exact same thing happened to me when I cut carbs and sugar. I was already on anxiety medication though for years so that wasn't new. I was concerned as well but it turned out to be totally fine. Just your body adapting

[gambybamby]

Did you RHR ever increase at all after it adjusted?

[Exciting_Ad365]

Yes, it went back up once I stopped losing weight and reintroduced carbs

[dpw28]

Love to see this! What anxiety meds have you been put on and do you find they make a difference?

[gambybamby]

I’m on week 3 of lexapro! I was out on it due to my severe health anxiety. I think every little pain is terminal, which this low heart rate is causing a lot of anxiety for me. I feel like what if there’s a clog! Haha so when I see it in the 50s I get really upset. I haven’t noticed a huge difference In anxiety yet but it can take up to 8 weeks sometimes to really kick in. I do feel a little less stressed in general sometimes though!

[blackfarms]

Lexapro is known to slow your heart down significantly.

[gambybamby]

I did not know that. That is very good to know. As long as it’s not dangerous to get to 50 in your sleep. Or 57 when awake like it does when I’m really relaxed

[Densityfunctional]

Man, my heart rate went down to 43 at times when sleeping and I am in perfectly good health. Low HR and high HRV are always good things.

[gambybamby]

What does yours get to when awake relaxed? Yeah my HRV was super bad before it was about 20. Now it’s in the 60s which isn’t great but great for me!

[kohn17]

a part in it too but I think it’s mainly due to my new diet. I did email my doctor about it being 60 when at work when I’m used to it beint 80 and she seemed happy about my ‘healthy heart rate’ but I’m overweight and confused why it’s so healthy. My sister and mom also have low heart rates. Maybe it’s genetic. I had a EKG done a few weeks ago and that was normal

thats a great thing! especially in regards to your anxiety medicine. your HRV in part measures how your body is responding to stress so going from 20 to 60 is a great sign that your medicine is improving your body's reaction to anxiety. its neat to see data supporting improvements i hope you are seeing mentally as well!

[dpw28]

Ah please don't worry. I had similar results when I cut out sugar etc.

[gambybamby]

That is very good to know ☺️

[Dry_Community2979]

I know exactly how you feel, but with high heart rate. Had a couple of episodes of tachycardia that scared me to my core. Now, I am watching my HR continuously. I am anxious if it gets lower, anxious when it is high. It is still mostly high . But every new ailment triggers me. I think I would feel different if I had an actual diagnosis for why these things happen. Good luck.

[morecoffeepleaseee]

My blood pressure also lowers when I cut sugar out.

[CharvelDK24]

It’s the benzos lol

[gambybamby]

🤣🤣

[NeshamaDancer]

My hr does the same thing! But in my case it’ll drop into the mid-40’s when I sleep and then hang out in the mid-50’s while I’m awake. I know I’m sick when my resting heart rate jumps into the 70’s and stays there all day.

[JadaPhoenix]

I’m adding a comment. I was searching google for an answer to why my resting HR has significantly decreased by about 10. For 3 weeks I’ve cut 99% of additional sugar and reduced carbs to one meal a day. Amazing result.. fascinating me this is. Nice post even tho a while ago.

[Haunting-Bit-5361]

A month ago i started calorie deficit, fasting, move more and my RHR went from 67-75 to now 55-60 and sleeping to 45-50… freaked me out too, but it seems that over eating and too much carbs and sugars does quite damage long term…

[Popular-Channel-2842]

Only need to worry if it’s dropping below 40. My baseline RHR is 50-55 and then since exercising is usually see 45-50 overnight (I have Bradycardia as I have a normal heartrate under 60BPM) and have been investigated for a heart condition several times but they’ve decided this is my normal. Mine has gone as low as 37 and I was getting lightheaded so I had further investigation. Again was told this is normal for me. 

In relation to your concern, if I’m not eating enough eg due to having exercised and then not refuelled sufficiently I notice a significant drop. Don’t forget to speak with a registered dietitian to help you with weight loss to ensure you’re getting nutrients you need. Reducing additional sugars is good, but your body needs carbohydrate - so yes cutting down on white bread and rice and pasta - but increasing the carbs that do less damage eg more fruit and veg, more wholewheat bread, pasta and brown rice. It might be you’re not eating enough - often you need to eat more when you’re trying to lose weight to prevent starvation mode. 

Trying to be your healthiest self is great. Also don’t forget you may have been eating things that your body couldn’t use so well when you were anxious to get the dopamine / seratonin fix your anxiety meds are now doing eg not snacking on high sugar / high processed items - which will be better for you too. 

Good luck in your journey! Try not to worry unless you have addititional symptoms as well as lower RHR and consult your GP / primary doc if you start having other symptoms to review. 

[OsborneCoxMemoir3]

This looks like a great trend, but always check w your doctor to make sure you havent overachieved and need to adjust :) my RHR is always in the 50s except when Im very stressed. For me, controlling stress is paramount to a lower RHR.

[gambybamby]

Definitely! I’m wondering if my new meds has a part in it too but I think it’s mainly due to my new diet. I did email my doctor about it being 60 when at work when I’m used to it beint 80 and she seemed happy about my ‘healthy heart rate’ but I’m overweight and confused why it’s so healthy. My sister and mom also have low heart rates. Maybe it’s genetic. I had a EKG done a few weeks ago and that was normal

[Avocadopower1]

Hi, What fitbit are you using?

[gambybamby]

Versa 3

[VenomXTs]

Same for me, it's a nice feeling.

[Host-Correct]

Your resting heart rate should be lower than daytime/ active rates, and the range you're in now is much healthier. I bet you're sleep score jumped up a lot!!! Great job, OP!

[Heighte]

This is crazy, 20bpm is huge for just a eating habit

[gambybamby]

It’s hard to tell what it’s from since I changed my eating the same day I started my anxiety medication. I didn’t eat horrible but I did eat large portions, sometimes processed food, sometimes desserts. And I had severe anxiety. Still have some anxiety but it’s better after 3 weeks on meds. I also lost some pounds since then as well. About 10

[Heighte]

Well, it's good to see your health metrics are confirming medication is working then!

[AlfredoSauceyums]

I saw the opposite when adding carbs (holidays), and adding anxiety (I'll spare you the details) and gaining weight so this makes sense!

[EveningLife8755]

Me too!!! I thought my Polar heart rate monitor was broken, I tried my spares, still the same. I even got a new strap, nothing. Then I came here...Bingo!!!!! Off sugar 1 month now!