Is a Low Heart Rate of 57 Dangerous?

By Staff WriterLast Updated December 08, 2023

A heart rate of 57 can be normal and healthy, although it can be indicative of an issue with the electrical system of the heart, according to WebMD. A heart rate under 60 indicates bradycardia, which is the medical term for a heart that beats too slowly.

A slow heart rate can be a sign of excellent physical fitness; many athletes and healthy young people have resting heart rates of 60 or less, according to WebMD. Still, in people who are not athletic or young and healthy, a slow heart rate may be a sign that the natural pacemaker in the heart is malfunctioning, and that there is a disruption in the normal electrical heart pathways that requires evaluation by a doctor.