Bradycardia is a type of cardiac arrhythmia, which is expressed in a drop in the heart rate below 55 beats per minute. In some cases, such a decrease in frequency is not a pathology, but serves as a natural reaction of the body to the processes taking place in it. For example, heart rate slows down during sleep or after taking certain medications.
Most often, however, bradycardia is the loss of the sinus node's ability to generate electrical impulses in normal mode.
Reasons
Disturbances in the sinus node and the conduction system of the heart can be caused by a number of different diseases. These include such diseases of the cardiovascular system as myocarditis, atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels, cardiosclerosis, ischemic disease, postinfarction scars. Sinus bradycardia of the heart can also be caused by abnormalities in the functioning of the autonomic nervous system, severe infections or endocrine diseases.
Varieties of bradycardia
Depending on the causes of occurrence, the following varieties are distinguished:
- Medicated bradycardia. The slowing of the rhythm manifests itself after taking such drugs as Obzidan, Anaprilin, Verapamil, Kordaron, Quinidine.
- Neurogenic bradycardia is a decrease in the rhythm against the background of an increased tone of the parasympathetic department, neurosis, depression, hypertension, as well as in conditions of increased intracranial pressure.
- Toxic bradycardia is a consequence of infectious diseases. For example, typhoid fever, viral hepatitis, influenza or sepsis.
-
Endocrine bradycardia is a disease caused by excess oxygen, potassium and calcium in the blood.
- Cardiogenic Organic. This varietyt manifests itself in myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, myocarditis, cardiosclerosis.
Symptoms and diagnosis
When making a diagnosis, the electrocardiogram recording is of paramount importance. The doctor prescribes ECG monitoring and other types of examination, depending on the results of the examination of the patient. The primary symptom in diagnosis is a drop in the heart rate below 55 bpm. Additional signs of the disease may include the following symptoms:
- heartache;
- blood pressure instability;
- fatigue, weakness;
- dizziness;
- fainting.
Treatment
Violations of the normalwork of the sinus node can lead to serious consequences. In some cases, cardiac arrest is not ruled out. Preventive measures and treatment of the disease are aimed at preventing the consequences that sinus bradycardia leads to. Symptoms of the manifestation of this pathology allow the doctor to understand the degree of damage to the node. If the drop in rhythm is not accompanied by pain, fainting, or other additional symptoms, treatment may not be required. In cases where the diagnosis has shown its necessity, it should first of all be aimed at the underlying disease that led to the appearance of bradycardia. In addition, drug therapy is carried out, aimed at restoring the normal frequency of the heart. In the most severe cases, a pacemaker may be implanted.
