SLOW HEART RATE (BRADYCARDIA) - WatsonsHealth

SLOW HEART RATE (BRADYCARDIA)

Bradycardia is a slower than regular heart rate. The hearts of adults generally within the range of 60 and 100 times every minute. If you have bradycardia, your heart beats under 60 times every minute. Bradycardia is also known as slow heart rate, decreased heart rate, or slow pulse.

Bradycardia can be a severe issue if the heart doesn’t pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the body. For some individuals, bradycardia doesn’t cause symptoms or complications.

Your heart rate is the number of heart beats every minute. Your heart is a strong organ in the chest, behind and to the left side of the breastbone that keeps up blood circulation. Heart rate is a measure of cardiovascular activity.

A heart rate is considered slow when it is slower than 50 beats minute for an adult or resting child.

SYMPTOMS

When you have bradycardia, your brain and other organs of the body won’t get enough oxygen, leading to the following signs and symptoms:

  • Dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Fainting
  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pains
  • Confusion or memory problems
  • Easy Fatigability

A resting heart rate that is slower than 60 beats a minute is normal for some individuals, particularly young and energetic adults and athletes. For them, bradycardia isn’t seen as a health issue.

DIAGNOSIS

To detect your condition, your doctor will review your symptoms and your medical and family history as well as do a physical examination.

Your doctor will similarly order some tests to check your heart rate and associate your condition with other symptoms as well as other diseases that may cause bradycardia.

An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) may be ordered with can tell whether you have bradycardia or not. Other tests that may be ordered include blood tests to diagnose electrolyte imbalance, thyroid diseases or infections.

 

TREATMENT

Treatment for bradycardia relies upon the type of condition you may have, how severe your symptoms are and the explanation behind your slow heart rate. In case you have no symptoms, treatment likely won’t be necessary. Your doctor will treat underlying conditions that you may have. A pacemaker mat be needed if you have any symptoms and if your condition is not resolved by medicines.

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