Causes and Treatment of Bradycardia

Written by Chen Ya
Geriatrics
Updated on September 05, 2024
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Bradycardia can be seen in healthy individuals, especially athletes, and also during sleep. If caused by a pathological condition, there may be organic heart disease, particularly in patients with acute myocardial infarction. If such a condition causes a significant decrease in cardiac output, affecting the blood supply to vital organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys, then drugs like atropine or even intravenous drip of isoproterenol are used to increase the heart rate. Oral theophylline may be considered under general conditions. For severe sinus bradycardia leading to syncope where drug treatment is ineffective, it is recommended to install a permanent artificial cardiac pacemaker to prevent sudden sinus arrest.

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Written by Chen Tian Hua
Cardiology
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What are the dangers of bradycardia?

If the bradycardia is physiological, it generally does not harm the body and does not require special treatment. If the bradycardia is pathological, when the heartbeat significantly slows down, it can cause a decrease in cardiac output due to the slow heart rate, leading to symptoms of insufficient cardiac output, insufficient blood supply to the brain which can cause dizziness, visual disturbance, fainting, and other symptoms. Insufficient coronary artery supply can induce angina, and insufficient perfusion of the kidneys can lead to reduced urine output and kidney damage. Therefore, if a patient with bradycardia has a slow heart rate that leads to obvious symptoms, it is necessary to install a pacemaker for pacing treatment to increase the heart rate.

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Written by Chen Ya
Geriatrics
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Causes and Treatment of Bradycardia

Bradycardia can be seen in healthy individuals, especially athletes, and also during sleep. If caused by a pathological condition, there may be organic heart disease, particularly in patients with acute myocardial infarction. If such a condition causes a significant decrease in cardiac output, affecting the blood supply to vital organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys, then drugs like atropine or even intravenous drip of isoproterenol are used to increase the heart rate. Oral theophylline may be considered under general conditions. For severe sinus bradycardia leading to syncope where drug treatment is ineffective, it is recommended to install a permanent artificial cardiac pacemaker to prevent sudden sinus arrest.

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Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
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What are the symptoms of a heart rate less than 60 beats per minute, which is considered bradycardia?

A heart rate below 60 beats per minute is clinically diagnosed as bradycardia. Bradycardia can occur in normal, healthy individuals as well as in patients with organic heart disease. In young adults, heavy laborers, and athletes who often exercise, the heart rate is generally below 60 beats per minute without any clinical symptoms, and it does not pose a risk to the body. This slower heart rate serves as a protection for the heart. In patients with organic heart disease, a significant decrease in heart rate can lead to clinical symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, and feeling of apprehension, necessitating the adjustment of heart rate under the guidance of a doctor using effective medications.

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Written by Chen Tian Hua
Cardiology
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Causes and Hazards of Bradycardia

The main causes of bradycardia include the following: 1. Physiological bradycardia, which occurs in normal individuals such as athletes and some elderly people, mainly due to increased vagal tone; 2. Cardiac diseases, such as sick sinus syndrome, severe atrioventricular block, myocarditis, and acute inferior myocardial infarction; 3. Other diseases, such as hypothyroidism and hyperkalemia. Physiological bradycardia generally poses no harm and does not require intervention. Pathological bradycardia, when the heart rate significantly slows down, can lead to a decrease in cardiac output, causing insufficient blood supply to the brain, resulting in symptoms such as dizziness, visual obscurity, and fainting. It can also cause coronary artery supply insufficiency leading to angina, as well as symptoms of fatigue and reduced exercise tolerance, requiring timely treatment.

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Written by Xie Zhi Hong
Cardiology
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Heart failure is neither tachycardia nor bradycardia.

Heart failure refers to the condition in which the heart's pumping function is relatively or absolutely insufficient, resulting in a series of symptoms. Patients may exhibit symptoms such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and sometimes even cyanosis of the lips. Severe cases can lead to sudden death. Tachycardia and bradycardia are only due to disturbances in the patient's cardiac conduction system, causing the heart rate to accelerate or slow down. If the patient's heart function is good, the majority can compensate. However, prolonged tachycardia or prolonged bradycardia can potentially lead to heart failure. Therefore, heart failure is different from tachycardia or bradycardia.