When training to hike Mt. Whitney this summer, I found out that I can slow my heart beat down by concentrating, imagining my heart pumping slower, and breathing big easy breaths. I have gotten my heart to slow down to about 32 bpm (8 beats in 15 seconds) but am afraid to go any slower.
I live on the 12th floor and run up my stairs ever day. Yesterday I decided to slow my racing heart beat, then I felt dizzy and I stumbled down onto the floor and immediately stopped concentrating. I got up after 5 seconds and I was fine. Lesson learned: my heart will slow down when ready and I shouldn't mess with it.
I am not going to just mess around, lowering my heart beat for fun. I am wondering what bad could happen from me consciously lowering my heart rate when I am not in desperate need of oxygen. Any help?
Thank you,
James
2007-09-03 18:51:00 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
I'm glad I won't kill myself by slowing down my heart beat. Biofeedback looks interesting, I will do some research into it. Thanks for the help!
2007-09-03 19:32:27 · update #1
very athletic people such bicyclers and marathoners have a slow heart beat because their heart is in such great shape it is more efficient and does not need to beat faster. That may be you. It will not stop beating or deprive you of oxygen.
2007-09-03 19:25:24 · answer #1 · answered by winkcat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nothing bad can happen, nothing worse than dizziness. You should be very proud you have achieved what is essentially a deep level of meditation. You can really use this in your life to achieve great things. Just save the slow heartbeat thing for showing off or when you have had a moment of fright. When your heart beats fast due to exertion, then that is a normal process of the body that shouldn't be fooled with. Anyway, it is impossible for you to stop your heart or any such thing. People who are deeply into meditation can slow their heart to almost stopped. Anyway, nothing bad will happen, but really I strongly encourage you to pursue more than 'parlor tricks'. If you are really able to get to this level of meditation untrained, then the sky is the limit for you.
2007-09-03 19:01:57 · answer #2 · answered by CB 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People have learned to slow down their heartbeats and control lots of other 'involuntary' processes in their bodies. I had a friend who wrote software for 'bio feedback' back in the 80s, and learned to make his hands colder and warmer and do other things like that.
I don't think you can kill yourself by slowing down your heartbeat. It takes concentration, and if you lose consciousness you are no longer concentrating and your heartbeat will attempt to return to normal.
2007-09-03 19:00:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋