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Donate Now. Symptoms of bradycardia include: Fatigue or feeling weak Dizziness or lightheadedness Confusion Fainting or near-fainting spells Shortness of breath Difficulty when exercising Cardiac arrest in extreme cases Complications of bradycardia Left untreated, severe or prolonged bradycardia can cause: Heart failure Fainting syncope Chest pain angina pectoris Low blood pressure hypotension High blood pressure hypertension Treatment of bradycardia Borderline or occasional bradycardia may not require treatment.
Last Reviewed: Sep 30, Subscribe today! Email required Email Required. Zip Code required Zip Code Required. Support That Lifts You Up Our online community of survivors and caregivers is here to keep you going no matter the obstacles. Find encouragement. See your health care provider if you or your child has symptoms of bradycardia.
If you faint, have difficulty breathing or have chest pain lasting more than a few minutes, call or emergency medical services. Seek emergency care for anyone with these symptoms.
In a typical heart rhythm, a tiny cluster of cells at the sinus node sends out an electrical signal. The signal then travels through the atria to the atrioventricular AV node and into the ventricles, causing them to contract and pump blood. To better understand the causes of bradycardia, it may be helpful to know how the heart typically beats.
The typical heart has four chambers — two upper chambers atria and two lower chambers ventricles. Within the upper right chamber of the heart right atrium is a group of cells called the sinus node. The sinus node is the heart's natural pacemaker. It produces the signal that starts each heartbeat. Bradycardia, shown on the right, is a slower than normal heart rhythm that often starts in the area of the heart called the sinus node.
A typical heart rhythm is shown in the image on the left. Bradycardia often starts in the area of the heart called the sinus node. In some people, sinus node problems cause alternating slow and fast heart rates bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome. Bradycardia can also occur if the heart's electrical signals don't move correctly from the upper chambers atria to the lower chambers ventricles.
If this occurs, the condition is called heart block, or atrioventricular block. Bradycardia is often associated with damage to heart tissue from some type of heart disease.
Anything that increases the risk of heart problems can increase the risk of bradycardia. Risk factors for heart disease include:. Bradycardia can be caused by certain medications, particularly if they are taken at high doses, so it's important to take all medications as directed.
Although bradycardia is not typically preventable, health care providers recommend strategies to reduce the risk of developing heart disease. Take the following heart-healthy steps:.
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