A heart rate of 50 bpm can be normal for athletes and during sleep. See a doctor if you feel dizzy, faint, or short of breath.
Normal ranges
- Resting adults: 60 to 100 bpm.
- Athletes: often 40 to 60.
- Sleep: can dip to 40 to 50.
Bradycardia
Under 60 bpm.
Is 50 bad
Not if you feel well, are fit or are asleep.
See a doctor
If 50 bpm comes with dizziness, fainting, chest pain, shortness of breath or fatigue.
Causes
Medicines (beta blockers), sick sinus syndrome and heart block.
Emergency
Call 911 for fainting or chest pain.
Ranges
A normal adult resting heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute, according to the American Heart Association. A rate under 60 is bradycardia. 50 bpm is common in athletes and during sleep and is not harmful in healthy people with no symptoms.
- Elite endurance athletes can have resting rates of 40 to 50 bpm because of a strong, efficient heart.
- Medications such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers lower heart rate.
- Hypothyroidism, sleep apnea, high potassium and sick sinus syndrome can cause slow rates.
When it matters
A slow rate with dizziness, fainting, chest pain, shortness of breath, confusion or extreme fatigue needs medical attention. An ECG identifies conduction issues such as heart block. Treatment depends on cause: adjusting medicines, treating thyroid disease or implanting a pacemaker, which is common for symptomatic bradycardia. Call emergency services for fainting with chest pain.
Ranges
A normal resting heart rate for adults is 60 to 100 bpm. 50 bpm is common in athletes and fit people and can be normal during sleep. Medications like beta blockers also slow the heart.
When it matters
See a doctor if 50 bpm comes with dizziness, fainting, fatigue or shortness of breath, which may signal bradycardia from heart block or sick sinus syndrome.
Normal resting heart rate
A normal resting heart rate for adults is 60 to 100 beats per minute. Heart rate below 60 is called bradycardia. A rate of 50 can be perfectly normal in athletes and during sleep, since a strong heart pumps more blood with each beat.
When 50 bpm is a concern
It is a concern if it comes with dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue or confusion. Causes include sick sinus syndrome, heart block, hypothyroidism, electrolyte problems and medications such as beta blockers, calcium channel blockers or digoxin. A doctor may do an ECG, a monitor and blood tests. Treatment depends on cause and may include changing medicine or a pacemaker. Call emergency services for fainting or chest pain. Many fitness trackers can misread, so check pulse manually for a full 60 seconds.
Based on data from the American Heart Association and the Mayo Clinic
