What Heart Rate Is Bradycardia?

Bradycardia is a type of cardiac arrhythmia that can be caused by a variety of medical conditions. There are several possible causes for an abnormally slow heart rhythm.

The causes of bradycardia may include:

• Aging
• Heart disease, heart attack, or myocarditis (infection of the heart)
• Congenital heart defect
• Heart surgery complication
• Hypothyroidism or chemical imbalance
• Inflammatory diseases such as lupus or rheumatic fever
• Sleep apnea
• Certain medications

Because bradycardia is frequently associated with heart disease, it shares some of the risk factors. Age is a major risk factor, and bradycardia becomes more common with age.

Other risk factors of bradycardia include:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Recreational drug use
• Stress or anxiety

These causes are further classified as two types of bradyarrhythmias:

1. Sick sinus syndrome
   • Sick sinus syndrome is a condition in which the heart's natural pacemaker, the sino-atrial node, fails to function properly.
2. Heart block
   • Heart block is a type of irregular heart rhythm caused by a problem with electrical signals.

The first step in diagnosing bradycardia is determining whether the slow heartbeat is the source of the symptoms. The doctor may start by interviewing you and performing a physical examination.

Your doctor may order a variety of diagnostic tests based on your symptoms, which may include:

• Electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG)
  • The electrical activity of the heart is recorded during this test.
• Holter monitor
  • A portable, battery-powered ECG/EKG that is worn for a few days and provides your doctor with continuous data about your heart's electrical activity.
• Exercise stress test
  • A treadmill or stationary bicycle test that measures heart, lung, and muscle function during physical activity.
  • An EKG/ECG is attached to you to record electrical activity in the heart.
• Echo stress test
  • This test employs sound waves to produce moving images of your heart at rest and after stress.
• Electrophysiology study
  • An invasive test in which the doctor inserts a small tube through a blood vessel into the heart to assess the electrical system's health and determine whether bradycardia treatment requires a pacemaker.

Other tests, depending on the results of your physical examination, may be required to rule out medical illnesses that cause bradycardia.

Treatment for bradycardia varies depending on the severity, frequency, and cause of the slower heart rate.

The treatment of bradycardia is based on three major factors, which are as follows:

1. The type of electrical conduction problem
2. The severity of the symptoms
3. The underlying cause of bradycardia

Treatment is usually not required for slow heart rate unless the symptoms are severe or recurring.

• If there is an underlying cause for the bradycardia, that condition is treated.
• Some medications used to treat other conditions can cause bradycardia. Your doctor will review your medication history and may prescribe alternative medications.
• In the case of severe bradycardia, an artificial pacemaker can aid in the treatment of the condition by speeding up the heart rhythm as needed.

Bradycardia can be prevented in two ways:

1. Lowering the chances of developing heart disease
2. Monitoring pre-existing heart disease by adhering to the proper treatment plan

Risk factors can be eliminated by following these steps:

• Maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly
• Keep a healthy body weight
• Maintain healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels by abstaining from smoking and drinking
• Prevent drug abuse
• Stress and anxiety management
• Regular health examinations and follow-up visits
• Inform your doctor of any changes or other symptoms as soon as possible.

Bradycardia is sometimes asymptomatic and does not result in any complications. However, depending on how slow the heart rate is, if the condition is not treated, the patient may develop complications.

Untreated severe, prolonged bradycardia can lead to heart failure. The complication associated with bradycardia is syncope, a condition characterized by loss of consciousness or fainting associated with high blood pressure and chest pain (Angina pectoris).