By Eileen Renders
What is Bradycardia? According to Harvard Health, Bradycardia is a heart rhythm disorder that can cause fatigue, dizziness, and fainting. It is described as a low heart rate.
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor of Harvard Heart Letter, and the following information was reviewed by Christopher P. Cannon, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter, Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing.
The steady beat of your heart depends on a tiny cluster of cells located in the upper right chamber of your heart. Known as the sinoatrial node or sinus node, these cells generate a tiny jolt of electricity that triggers the heart to contract and pump blood throughout the body. Because the sinus node sets the heart’s pace and rhythm, it’s often referred to as the body’s natural pacemaker. But several “backup generators” elsewhere in the heart can keep this vital system functioning.
A normal heart rate ranges between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm), although it may drop as low as 40 during sleep. A heart rate below 60 bpm during the day is considered a low heart rate, or what doctors call bradycardia.
Note: When the heart rate is low, and does not produce any of the following symptoms. There is no need to be concerned. However, if any of the following symptoms occur, you should seek medical care right away. These symptoms include feelings of dizziness, lightheaded, fatigue, breathlessness, confusion, or fainting.
Possible Causes are:
Age-related degenerative changes in the heart’s conduction system
Previous heart attack (damage)
Heart Failure
Heart procedures (such as heart bypass surgery, or a valve replacement)
Heart inflammation caused by infection
Lyme disease, a tick-borne infection left untreated
Obstructive sleep apnea
Low thyroid function
An imbalance of minerals in the blood, such as potassium or calcium
Certain medications, such as hypertension drugs and especially Beta blockers and opioids
Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, and hemochromatosis
Note: In some instances, dehydration can cause Bradycardia
An Exception: Athletes and physically active people can have a slow heart rate. In some instances this indicates a healthy heart. A slow heart rate, even as low as 45 bpm, is normal. Regular exercise makes the heart stronger and more efficient.
Diagnosis And Treatment Options
Sometimes treatment may be as simple as having your doctor change your blood pressure medication; other times, depending upon severity, it may require a Pacemaker implant to regulate the heart’s electrical system.
Disclaimer: The information contained in articles by Eileen Renders is not meant to become a substitute for one’s physician’s recommendations; they are for educational purposes only. Drugs, herbs, and or supplements are often contraindicated with certain other medications and conditions.
Eileen Renders is a retired nutrition counselor, health research writer, author, and publisher with more than a dozen published titles on www.Amazon.com She founded the First Wellness Center in Atlantic County in 1995 and was a provider for Cigna and United Healthcare. Books by Eileen Renders, Aortic Valve Stenosis, HIV AND DRUG-FREE, Food Additives, Nutrients, & Supplements, Common Disorders, Natural Remedies You and Your Weight and more.
