Low pulse rate is an abnomally slow heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute. Each time our heart beats, the oxygen – rich blood is pumped through the body. When you have an extremely low resting heart rate, then your organs may not receive enough oxygen to operate properly. People who are extremely active and for trained athletes is normal to have a low heart beat of 50 beats per minute. For these people, their bodies have adopted a low heart rate and their bodies are efficiently pumping blood.
The most common signs and symptoms of bradycardia include: symptoms associated with underlying cause; lack of energy; memory problems; confusion; chest pains; shortness of breath; unusual fatigue; lightheadedness; dizziness; fainting spells; near fainting. There are some underlying conditions which can cause bradycardia, such as endocarditis; cardiac arrhythmia; myocarditis; damage of the heart tissue due to aging; atrioventicular block; atrial fibrillation; sleep apnea; hypothyroidism; very high blood potassium levels; Lyme disease, etc
The most common risk factors for bradycardia are anxiety; psychological stress; heavy alcohol use; recreational drug use; smoking; renal insufficiency; diabetes; high blood pressure; coronary artery disease and heart damage. The sinun bradycardia happens when it starts in the sinus node which is the natural pacemaker of the heart. You need to talk with your doctor if you suffer from low pulse rate before you start using some of the below mentioned home remedies for this condition. [1,2]
Home remedies for low pulse rate
Exercise daily: Exercising on daily basis is one of the most important things which you should do if you want to improve your heart health. If you have sinus bradycardia, then you should exercise on regular basis because they symptoms of this type of bradycardia will be improved. Exercising is a great way to get a relief from the anxiety and stress and it can help to facilitate a good night’s sleep. When you are exercising outdoors with your friends, then it can improve your depression and it will help you to feel more connected to the world. When you soak some period in the sun, then it will boost your levels of Vitamin D. [3]
Sleep: If your bradycardia symptoms are caused by sleep apnea, then you should adjust your bedroom’s temperature and also the humidity level can help you. Also, sleeping with your head elevated and using a snore guard can help you in the natural treatment of bradycardia. There are some studies in which are said that 6 – 10 sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy can improve your sleep quality and also give you a relief from the insomnia symptoms. [4]
Lavender essential oil: You should diffuse or inhale lavender essential oil because it will reduce your anxiety and it will encourage a relaxation. There are some studies in which are found that lavender essential oil has therapeutic effects, such as giving a relief from relaxation, stabilizing your mood and also it has shown neuroprotective properties. You should keep a bottle near you and when you have noticed that the anxiety has started to appear, then you should breathe deeply for a few moments until your symptoms have subsided. [5]
Listen music: It can help you to get a relief from the stress and it will induce a sense of calm and wellbeing. You should always choose music that will make you happy. [6]
Vitamin B complex: You should take Vitamin B complex on daily basis because it will give you a relief from the symptoms of depression and anxiety. There was one small study in which were participating 60 participants who were given Vitamin B complex supplement in a period of 30 days and 60 days and it was noticed significant improvement in the depression and anxiety symptoms.
Ashwagandha: You should take 500 mg of ashwagandha two times per day. There was one clinical study in which people who were experiencing persistent severe anxiety, were given ashwagandha, deep breathing relaxation techniques, dietary counseling and a multivitamin has decreased their anxiety scores of 56.5% [7].
Magnesium: You can get 300 – 400 mg of magnesium on daily basis because it can help you to combat the anxiety [8]. Also, it will give you a relief from spasms and aches, lower insomnia symptoms, improve sleep efficiency and combat anxiety. It is known that the magnesium deficiency can lead to many problems, such as heart failure, arrhythmias, hypertension, diabetes and atherosclerosis.
L – carnitine: You should take 2,000 mg of L – carnitine on daily basis. It was found that the L – carnitine supplementation can increase the heart fatty acid metabolism enough to correct bradycardia. This was noticed in diabetic rats. Also, you can get the L – carnitine from some foods, such as wild – caught cod; whole milk and grass – fed beef. L – carnitine is not recommended for people who suffer from hypothyroidism, seizures or who have kidney failure. Also, it is not recommended for women who are breastfeeding and pregnant.
CoQ10: You should take 200 – 400 mg of a high quality CoQ10 supplement on daily basis. Ubiquinone and ubiquinol are two forms of CoQ1. The second form is active anti – oxidant and it is producing better results. It is noticed that the supplementation with CoQ10 can reduce the risk for repeated heart attacks, lower the blood pressure and it can lower the levels of certain inflammatory biomarkers which can increase your risk for cardiovascular disease. You should add foods in your diet which are rich in CoQ10, such as oranges, broccoli, strawberries, cauliflower, cabbage, pistachio nuts, sesame seeds, cage – free eggs, free – range chicken and grass – fed beef. [9]
Eat a healthy diet: If you have problems with your blood pressure or cholesterol levels, then you should make changes in your diet because they can fight against cardiovascular diseases and also improve the heart function.
You should eat a lot of nutritious foods, such as wild – caught fish, lean proteins, organic fruits and vegetables and whole grains like farro. Also, you can consume foods rich in Omega – 3 fatty acids because they will lower the bad cholesterol while at the same time, they will raise the levels of good cholesterol. Also, Omega – 3 fatty acids can help to lower the levels of your blood pressure. This is a reason why Omega – 3 fatty acids are taking a very important role in your diet.
Also, there are some recommendations for additional 0.5 – 1 of Omega – 3 fatty acids either from fresh fish or other sources. Salmon, mackerel and wild – caught tuna are some of the best sources of these fats. Also, you can add other foods rich in Omega – 3 fatty acids, such as egg yolks, natto, anchovies, hemp seeds, sardines, flaxseeds and flaxseed oil, herring, chia seeds and walnuts.
Hawthorn: This home remedy can help to increase the heart – muscle strength and also it is acting as a mild diuretic. You should always take hawthorn under your doctor’s supervision. [10]
Do not smoke: Smoking is not good for your overall health, not just for bradycardia. This is a reason why you should quit smoking as soon as possible.
Valerian: You can make a root tincture which you will use as your home remedy for bradycardia. You should add thirty to forty drops of valerian in ¼ cup of water. You should drink this home remedy 2 times on daily basis.
Rapeseed oil: You can try cooking your meals with rapeseed oil because it has benefits which can help you in the natural treatment of bradycardia [11].
Capsicum: You should add this home remedy in your meals. If you want, you can add capsicum in your diet.
Limit alcohol: You should limit your alcohol intake because it is known fact that alcohol can worsen your symptoms [12].
Acupuncture: Acupuncture can be useful home remedy for many conditions which are reason for bradycardia. Some of these conditions which lead to bradycardia and which can be treated with acupuncture, are stress, hypothyroidism, Lyme disease and lupus. Acupuncture can help you to have a good cardiovascular health. There are some studies in which are said that the acupuncture can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease in people who suffer from fibromyalgia. Also, it has been shown that this technique can reduce stress. [13]
Cordyceps: This is a medicinal mushroom which can help to improve the efficiency of the lungs and heart and also it boosts the aerobic capacity [14].
References:
[1] Sidhu S, Marine JE. Evaluating and managing bradycardia. Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine. 2020;30(5):265-72.
[2] Arnold JM, Fitchett DH, Howlett JG, et al. Resting heart rate: A modifiable prognostic indicator of cardiovascular risk and outcomes? The Canadian Journal of Cardiology. 2008;24(Suppl A):3A–8A.
[3] Reimers AK, Knapp G, Reimers CD. Effects of exercise on the resting heart rate: A systematic review and meta-analysis of interventional studies. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2018;7(12):503.
[4] Koffel E, Bramoweth AD, Ulmer CS. Increasing access to and utilization of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I): a narrative review. Journal of General Internal Medicine. 2018;33:955-62.
[5] Malcolm BJ, Tallian K. Essential oil of lavender in anxiety disorders: Ready for prime time? The Mental Health Clinician. 2017;7(4):147–55.
[6] Thoma MV, La Marca R, Bronnimann R, et al. The effect of music on the human stress response. PLoS One. 2013;8(8):e70156.
[7] Cooley K, Szczurko O, Perri D, et al. Naturopathic care for anxiety: A randomized controlled trial ISRCTN78958974. PLOS One. 2009.
[8] Sartori SB, Whittle N, Hetzenaeur A, Singewald N. Magnesium deficiency induces anxiety and HPA axis dysregulation: Modulation by therapeutic drug treatment. Neuropharmacology. 2012;62(1):304-12.
[9] Zozina VI, Covantev S, Goroshko OA, et al. Coenzyme Q10 in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases: Current state of the problem. Current Cardiology Reviews. 2018; 14(3):164–74.
[10] Tassell MC, Kingston R, Gilroy D, et al. Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Pharmacognosy Review. 2010;4(7):32–41.
[11] ADAS. Evidence review of health benefits of rapeseed oil. 2019. Retrieved from www.herts.ac.uk/oregin/files/Rapeseed-oil-quality-health-review_26-4-19.pdf
[12] Ryan JM, Howes LG. Relations between alcohol consumption, heart rate, and heart rate variability in men. Heart. 2002;88(6):641–2.
[13] Pimentel RdL, Duque AP, Moreira BR, Rodrigues Junior LF. Acupuncture for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases: A systematic review. Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies. 2019;12(2):43-51.
[14] Chen S, Li Z, Krochmal R, et al. Effect of Cs-4® (Cordyceps sinensis) on exercise performance in healthy older subjects: A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2010;16(5):585–90.
