| Bradycardia | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Bradyarrhythmia, brachycardia |
 | |
| Sinus bradycardia seen in lead II with a heart rate of about 50BPM | |
| Pronunciation | |
| Specialty | Cardiology |
| Symptoms | None, tiredness, confusion, chest pain, syncope, heart failure[1][2] |
| Types | Sinus bradycardia, sick sinus syndrome, AV block[2] |
| Causes | Physically fit, low oxygen, heart attack, low thyroid, AV block, high blood potassium, toxicity due to beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, or digoxin[3][1][4] |
| Diagnostic method | Electrocardiogram (ECG)[3] |
| Treatment | Atropine, cardiac pacing, infusions of dopamine or epinephrine[1] |
| Frequency | Common[5] |
Bradycardia is defined as a heart rate of under 60 beats per minute (BPM) in adults, though symptoms generally only result when the heart rate is under 50.[1] Mild symptoms may include tiredness and shortness of breath with exercise.[2][5] Severe symptoms may include confusion, chest pain, syncope, and heart failure.[1]
Bradycardia may be normal, such as in those who are physically fit, older in age, or during an autonomic response.[5] It may also occur due to a number of health problems such as low oxygen, heart attack, low thyroid, AV block, high blood potassium, and toxicity due to beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and digoxin.[3][1][4] Diagnosis is by an electrocardiogram (ECG).[3] The term "relative bradycardia" refer to a heart rate that, although not below 60 BPM, is considered too slow for the current medical condition.[6]
In those with symptoms atropine may be used.[1] Other measures may include cardiac pacing, either transcutaneous pacing or transvenous pacing, or infusions of the medications dopamine or epinephrine.[1] Bradycardia is common.[2][5] Bradycardia was described by Hippocrates before 370 BC.[7]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h Neumar RW, Otto CW, Link MS, et al. (November 2010). "Part 8: adult advanced cardiovascular life support: 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care". Circulation. 122 (18 Suppl 3): S729–67. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.110.970988. PMID 20956224.
- ^ a b c d Mangrum, JM; DiMarco, JP (9 March 2000). "The evaluation and management of bradycardia". The New England journal of medicine. 342 (10): 703–9. doi:10.1056/NEJM200003093421006. PMID 10706901.
- ^ a b c d "Overview of Arrhythmias - Cardiovascular Disorders". Merck Manuals Professional Edition. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Types of Arrhythmia". 1 July 2011. Archived from the original on 7 June 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
- ^ a b c d Sidhu, S; Marine, JE (July 2020). "Evaluating and managing bradycardia". Trends in cardiovascular medicine. 30 (5): 265–272. doi:10.1016/j.tcm.2019.07.001. PMID 31311698.
- ^ Ye, F; Hatahet, M; Youniss, MA; Toklu, HZ; Mazza, JJ; Yale, S (June 2018). "The Clinical Significance of Relative Bradycardia". WMJ : official publication of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin. 117 (2): 73–78. PMID 30048576.
- ^ Katz, Arnold M. (2010). Physiology of the Heart. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 431. ISBN 978-1-60831-171-2.