Brachycardia: symptoms, causes and treatment

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Definition of bradycardia

What is bradycardia?

Bradycardia or bradycardia is a condition when a person's heart rate is slower or weaker than normal. Normally, the human heart beats 60 to 100 beats per minute in a resting adult. The heart of a person with bradycardia beats below 60 beats per minute.

In fact, bradycardia is a condition that normally occurs when a person is sleeping soundly and in the elderly group. Even a weak heart rate is still considered normal when it occurs in athletes or people who do strenuous physical activity.

However, in some people, bradycardia may indicate a problem with the heart's electrical system. This means that the natural triggers in the heart are not functioning properly, or the heart's electrical activity is interrupted. These are usually associated with abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias).

Sometimes, a heart that beats too slowly results in insufficient blood flowing to other organs in the body. This can cause symptoms, such as dizziness or fatigue. In some cases, this condition can be life threatening.

How common is bradycardia?

Bradycardia is a fairly common condition and can be found in patients of all ages, especially the elderly. Both men and women have the same chance of experiencing a slowed heart rate.

Bradycardia can be treated and prevented by recognizing the risk factors that are present. You can discuss with your doctor to find out more information.

Signs & symptoms of bradycardia

In some cases, this condition usually doesn't show any symptoms. Even though the heart rate slows down, the speed is still within normal limits and doesn't cause any significant symptoms.

However, some people with a slow heart rate may also experience certain signs and symptoms. The following are common symptoms that may arise from bradycardia:

• Almost fainting or passing out (syncope).
• Dizzy.
• Weakness.
• The body feels tired.
• Breath feels shorter.
• Chest pain.
• Dazedness, difficulty focusing, or memory problems.
• Get tired easily during physical activity.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about the appearance of a particular symptom, consult your doctor immediately.

When to see a doctor?

The symptoms and signs mentioned above could be caused by a variety of things. Therefore, you should immediately consult a doctor if you experience these symptoms. This is important so that you get the right diagnosis and treatment.

Each person's body shows different symptoms and signs. Always consult a doctor to get the most appropriate treatment for your health condition.

Causes of bradycardia

The heart consists of four chambers, namely two atria at the top and two ventricles below. In the right atrium, there is a sinoatrial node (sinus node) which serves as the heart's natural pacemaker. The sinoatrial nodes control the rhythm of the heartbeat by producing electrical impulses that encourage the heart to beat.

These electrical impulses travel through the atria and arrive at a group of cells called the atrioventricular node or AV node. The AV node which will receive the signal from the electricity to the ventricles. This signal instructs the ventricles to contract and pump blood around the body.

Problems or obstructed flow of electrical impulses can cause bradycardia because the heart is not instructed to beat at a normal rate.

This bradycardia condition can be caused by two things, namely a problem with the sinoatrial node (sick sinus syndrome) or the AV node (heart block or atrioventricular block).

A problematic sinoatrial node usually causes the flow of electricity to lag or be slower than normal. Meanwhile, problems with the flow of electricity to the ventricles (heart block) is divided into three types, namely:

• First degree: electricity continues to flow to the ventricles, but their speed decreases.
• Second degree: not all electricity is delivered to the ventricles.
• Third degree: absolutely no electric current reaches the ventricles.

What causes problems with the heart's electrical impulses?

In general, failure or problems with the flow of electrical impulses in the heart are caused by:

• Heart tissue damage associated with aging.
• Damage to heart tissue from heart disease or heart attack.
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Congenital heart defects (congenital heart defects).
• Infection of the heart tissue (myocarditis).
• Complications from heart surgery.
• Underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism).
• An imbalance of mineral-related substances required for electrical impulses (electrolytes).
• Repetitive breathing problems during sleep (obstructive sleep apnea).
• Inflammatory disease, such as rheumatic fever or lupus.
• Medications, including some high blood pressure medications, medications for other heart rate disorders, and psychosis.

Risk factors for bradycardia

There are several factors that make you more at risk for bradycardia. Here are the factors:

• Increasing age

The main risk factor for bradycardia is age. This is because heart disease, which is often associated with bradycardia, is more common in older people.

• Factors that increase heart disease

Slow heart rate is also often associated with heart tissue damage and other heart problems. Therefore, factors that increase the risk of heart disease also increase the risk of bradycardia.

Lifestyle changes or medical treatment can lower the risk of heart disease associated with the following factors:

• High blood pressure.
• Smoke.
• Excess alcohol use.
• Use of illegal drugs.
• Psychological stress or anxiety.

Complications of bradycardia

If bradycardia causes the above symptoms and is not treated immediately, the possible complications that can occur are:

• Frequent fainting.
• Hypotension.
• Hypertension.
• Angina pectoris.
• Heart failure (not pumping enough blood).
• Cardiac arrest, causing sudden death.

To avoid the complications above, consult a doctor immediately if you already feel the signs and symptoms.

Diagnosis & Treatment of bradycardia

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How is bradycardia diagnosed?

To diagnose your condition, your doctor will review your symptoms, your and your family's medical history, and perform a physical exam. The doctor will also perform a series of tests to measure your heart rate, relate this condition to the symptoms you feel, and identify conditions that can cause bradycardia.

One type of test that doctors usually do to diagnose bradycardia is an electrocardiogram or EKG. An EKG uses small sensors (electrodes) on your chest and arms to record electrical signals as they travel to your heart. With this test, your doctor can look at these signal patterns to evaluate your bradycardia.

However, reported by Michigan Medicine, bradycardia often goes away and comes back, so a standard EKG done in a hospital may not detect it. The reason is, the EKG can identify a weak heartbeat only if you are currently having it during the test.

Therefore, your doctor may also recommend that you use a portable EKG device at home to provide more complete information about your heart rate. These devices include:

• Holter monitor

This portable EKG device is placed on a pocket or belt to record heart activity over a 24 hour period. Your doctor can also ask you to keep a 24-hour diary with your symptoms and the time they occurred.

• Event recorder

This device is intended to monitor cardiac activity for several weeks. Activate it only if you experience symptoms associated with a slow heart rate. This helps the doctor see the heart rhythm at the time when symptoms are on.

Apart from single use, an EKG can also be done while running other tests to see how the brycardia impacts your body. These tests, namely:

• Tilt table test. You will lie down on a special table and tilted table as you stand, to see if the change in position causes you to pass out.
• Test treadmill. You will use the EKG tool while walking on treadmill or ride on a stationary bike to see if your heart rate improves properly during physical activity.

In addition to a physical exam and an EKG, your doctor may also order blood tests to see if you have any medical conditions that may be causing bradycardia, such as an infection, hypothyroidism, or an electrolyte imbalance in your blood.

How is bradycardia treated?

Bradycardia that presents without other symptoms may not require treatment. However, severe and prolonged cases of slow heartbeat can be treated in a number of ways.

The treatment given depends on the cause and the severity of the symptoms that appear. Here are some common treatments for bradycardia:

• Resolving the causative condition

If bradycardia is caused by a medical condition, such as hypothyroidism, obstructive sleep apnea, or electrolyte imbalance, your doctor will focus on treating the health problem. If the problem is resolved, bradycardia will generally improve.

• Changing medicines

One of the causes of bradycardia is the consumption of certain drugs. If this happens to you, your doctor may change your medication or lower your dose to correct a slow beating heart problem.

• Using a pacemaker

If an electrical problem with your heart is causing a very slow heartbeat, a pacemaker or a pacemaker pacemaker may be needed. Pacemaker is a small device that is placed under your skin to monitor your heart rate and rhythm. This device can send impulses to the heart to restore an irregular heartbeat.

Home treatment of bradycardia

Here are lifestyle and home remedies that can help you deal with bradycardia:

1. Diet

You can change your diet by choosing heart-healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and more. Also limit your consumption of alcohol, sugar, and sodium foods.

2. Actively moving

Make sure your body is active several days a week. You can do light activity, such as walking or exercise for other heart diseases. Your doctor can also suggest types of exercise that are safe for you.

3. Maintain ideal body weight

Excess weight can lead to heart problems. Therefore, always control your weight and make sure it does not exceed normal limits. Check the BMI calculator (body mass index) this is to find out your ideal weight.

4. Stop smoking

Overall, smoking is not good for the health of the body, especially the heart. Immediately avoid smoking and start switching to a healthier lifestyle.

5. Overcome other health problems

It is best if you focus not only on maintaining a healthy heart, but also on the health of your body as a whole. Other organs with problems can also trigger heart problems.