Sinus bradycardia occurs when the heart starts beating at less than 50 beats per minute at rest. In this type of arrhythmia, the rhythm is slower, but the heart beats regularly, maintaining the same frequency per minute.
Normally, sinus bradycardia has no symptoms, however, because there is a decrease in oxygen flow to the heart, the person may feel tired, weak and have episodes of dizziness, so it is recommended to go to the cardiologist for tests and go to a conclusion of diagnosis.
- This type of arrhythmia is very common in athletes because they have a heart already conditioned by regular physical exertion.
- In the elderly this can also occur due to the natural aging of the heart.
- Treatment is determined by the cardiologist based on the symptoms.
- Causes and severity of bradycardia.
- And it may be necessary to place a pacemaker in the most serious cases.
- The best way to prevent complications of bradycardia is to follow up regularly with a cardiologist.
Sinus bradycardia usually has no symptoms, but can develop with dizziness and even fainting; it is usually found during a medical appointment or when digital pressure devices are used, which also indicate heart rate; In case of symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, weakness or if a lower heart rate is detected, a cardiologist should be sought for evaluation.
To study and define the severity and treatment of bradycardia an electrocardiogram is necessary, and it is also recommended to perform a stress test, also known as a stress test, as well as an echocardiogram, to evaluate the heart structure. You may also perform a 24-hour Holter, which is a test that evaluates whether bradycardia is controlled or if the individual has some type of heart block at any time.
Your doctor may also ask you to perform lab tests to see if sinus bradycardia is related to infections, hypothyroidism, or changes in the amount of electrolytes (calcium or potassium) in your blood, for example.
Consequences of sinus bradycardia may include
Thus, to combat all these discomforts you have to go to the cardiologist and perform tests to start the proper treatment, in some cases this bradycardia may progress to a heart block, requiring the placement of a pacemaker so that the heart can beat properly. It is particularly serious when a person has chest pain or associated heart disease.
Treatment is done based on cause, symptoms and severity, and the cardiologist may recommend treatment for hypothyroidism, for example, if this is the cause of bradycardia, the change in medications taken by the patient or, in more severe cases, the use of a pacemaker, which is a surgically placed device that aims to regulate heart rate in case of bradycardia. Like what? Learn more about pacemaker.
To prevent the onset of bradycardia and lead to symptoms and possible complications, regular examinations with the cardiologist are recommended. Use of certain medications should be evaluated, as some may cause bradycardia.
Decreased heart rate can occur during sleep and in people who exercise regularly, such as race and cycling athletes, for example, which is considered normal, it is also normal for this to occur after a hearty meal, during a blood donation, or during the passage of a nasogastric tube.
However, bradycardia can be caused by certain heart or physiological conditions, with the most common causes being:
In less common situations, sinus bradycardia can occur due to infections with viruses or bacteria, such as diphtheria, acute rheumatoid arthritis, and myocarditis, which is an inflammation of the heart muscle caused by infection with viruses or bacteria. and how to treat myocarditis.