ABSTRACT – Bradycardia is a gradual or irregular heart beat than normal which beats lesser than 60 times a...
Bradycardia
Bradycardia is a gradual or irregular heart beat than normal which beats lesser than 60 times a minute. The normal heart rate is between 60-100 beats per minute (bpm) among the adults. Bradycardia doesn’t allow the heart to pump enough oxygen which becomes a very serious issue to the body. Although, implanted pacemaker can help the heart to maintain a proper heart beat rate.
CAUSES –
Damage to heart tissues due to aging, heart disease or heart attack
Congenital heart failure
Myocarditis involves breathlessness, chest pain, irregular heart beat
Hypothyroidism
Chemical imbalance of potassium or calcium in the blood
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Inflammatory diseases like rheumatic fever or auto-immune disease like lupus
Side effects of certain medications
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS –
Syncope (Faintness)
Dizziness and Fatigue
Breathlessness
Chest pains
Issues like confusion, memory difficulties
Lack of energy while doing any physical activities, always feeling tired
DIAGNOSIS –
Electrocardiogram (ECG) followed with other tests like: Holter monitor, Event recorder, Tilt table test, Exercise test as without these, ECG alone cannot evaluate Bradycardia
Laboratory and blood tests
TREATMENT –
Treating pre-existing disorder such as hypothyroidism or obstructive sleep apnea
Modification in medications
Using Pacemaker which is a device implanted under collarbone to restore the heart beats.
RISK FACTORS –
Smoking
Alcohol and drug abuse
High blood pressure
Stress or anxiety
EPIDEMIOLOGY –
The prevalence and occurrence of Bradycardia is still unknown however the study shows that it generally affects older people and occurs equally in both the genders.