Bradycardia. What is it and how is it treated?

Bradycardia is one of the types of arrhythmia, in which the heart contracts at a frequency of less than 60-65 bpm. The disease is sometimes observed in professional sportsmen and, in fact, is considered their norm. But more often bradycardia accompanies this or that cardiac pathology.

Types of bradycardia

1. Sinus. It is associated with certain disorders in the sinus node.
2. Bradycardia with heart block. In this case, the flow of impulses between the atria and the sinus node or ventricles and atria is disturbed.
3. Functional. Such cardiac bradycardia is observed under certain physiological conditions, for example, in athletes during exercise.
4. Pathological. This form, as a rule, accompanies a wide variety of diseases.

Bradycardia: what is it, and what are the main reasons for its appearance?

The most typical causes of this disease are those conditions that have a detrimental effect on the cardiovascular system. Such states can be caused by:

• Aging;
• Ischemic heart disease;
• Heart attack;
• Myocarditis and endocarditis;
• Sarcoidosis;
• Lyme disease.

Bradycardia: what is it, and what is the symptomatology?

The disease is often not accompanied by any kind of blood flow disorders. Therefore, clinical symptoms may appear after a certain time. Patients with bradycardia often complain about:

• dizziness;
• Constant weakness and lethargy;
• labored breathing;
• Severe pain in the chest;
• Blurred vision and fainting.

Bradycardia: what it is and how it is diagnosed

When examining the patient, the doctor immediately notes a rare pulse. The patient immediately goes to the cardiologist. And already here he is given a proper examination.

The cardiogram fixes a rare heart rate (heart rate) and the presence of a sinoatrial blockade. In some forms of the disease, doctors perform ultrasound of the heart. By means of the veloergometry, the increase in the frequency of contractions of the heart muscles is estimated. If none of these methods is appropriate to make an accurate diagnosis, bradycardia is identified through esophageal electrophysiological examination.

Bradycardia: what is it, and how is it treated

Bradycardia, which is not accompanied by any clinical complications, does not require treatment. But with organic and toxic forms, the therapy of the primary disease is conducted.

With severe manifestations of weakness and dizziness, a doctor prescribes certain drugs containing: ginseng root, eleutherococcus, isadrin, caffeine. Doses of prescription drugs are strictly individual.

With the development of angina pectoris, hypotension and heart failure cardiologists are moving to active treatment.

If a patient has an Morgany-Adams-Stokes attack, urgent consultation of the cardiac surgeon is necessary. In this case, the question of the implantation of an electrocardiostimulator, which produces electrical impulses with a certain frequency, is made, causing the heart to beat in the right rhythm.