Does fasting cause low-heart rate in overweight people?

Question

Hello doctor,

I'm a 19-year-old male, about 15 to 20 pounds overweight, and my height is 6 feet 1 inch. I stopped exercising about eight months ago, but don’t have a calcium deficiency. I'm fasting for religious reasons and had a whole wheat bagel with a glass of milk around 4 a.m. It's now 10 a.m., and my heart rate is below 60 bpm.

Could this be an issue with my SA or AV node?
Is there a possible imbalance in the movement of sodium or potassium across my cell membranes? I’m unsure if this matters, but I drank about one and a half bottles of Gatorade around 10 p.m. last night.
Could my symptoms be related to a sedentary lifestyle? I spend most of my day sitting and studying.

Please let me know what might be going on.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Thanks for reaching out, and I understand your concerns completely.

Your symptoms may be related to your weight and stress levels. If you work toward reaching your ideal BMI (body mass index, which should be around 25) and manage your stress effectively, you should feel better overall.

Follow a balanced diet and cut down your carbohydrate and fat intake by about 20 percent until you reach your target weight.
Include a fruit-and-vegetable-based diet at least once a week, and ensure you are staying well-hydrated.
Aim for 30 minutes of brisk walking daily, and consider doing deep breathing exercises for 5 to 10 minutes, twice a day. These simple lifestyle changes can make a big difference.

I hope this helps!

Please feel free to reach out again if you have more questions.

Thank you.