Thread: My HR
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Old 04-07-09 | 05:51 PM
  #11  
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RacerOne
Hills hurt.. Couches kill
 
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Brazil, IN

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Originally Posted by TheStott
Mine's 38. I've learned, though, that I have an extremely low cushion when it comes to vagal stimulation. It seems the more endurance/cardio-oriented I become, the more susceptible I am to the less desirable effects of the vagus nerve. Over the past 2 years, I have had 3 instances of near-syncope that I can recall. Mostly (from what I can tell), it's been a type of a "merciful" response. Twice, in front of my wife while she had surgical procedures done, and another time, while training at work using an animal cadaver (something that used to NEVER bother me). The change in cardio efficiency is the only changed variable in these circumstances (well, that and age).
I think of it this way:
My HR is already WAY low (relative bradycardia). If I experience something that would cause a vaso-vagal response, there's not a long way to go before there is a reduced blood/oxygen flow to the brain...causing syncope (or near syncope in my case).

LVH is another fun thing to explain during a workup, although I can't imagine a doc that wouldn't be receptive to the fact that you're an athlete.

On the plus side, I'm never winded when I run up the steps at work...
I have no idea what any of this means.
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