Bradycardia is an abnormally slow heart beat, usually less than the normal range of 60 -100 beats per minute. The condition is a type of arrhythmia, resulting from an abnormality with the heart’s electrical pumping system.
Bradycardia Signs and Symptoms
Bradycardia doesn’t always cause symptoms, but when it does, it is a sign of inadequate blood flow to the brain. Signs and symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Activity intolerance
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Light-headedness
- Fainting
Bradycardia Treatment
Bradycardia usually requires treatment only when it is causing symptoms. However, in elderly people the condition is treated more frequently because it is more likely to lead to other problems. The condition can be treated with an electronic pacemaker, a small, lightweight, battery-operated device that is implanted under the collarbone, just below the skin, through a minor surgical procedure. The pacemaker works by sending an electrical impulse through an electrical wire to pace the heart when its rhythm slows down.
