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However, if you have symptoms but ignore them, it can sometimes cause more serious problems. Consult your doctor if you are experiencing some of these symptoms and you have an associated slow heart rate:.
For example, if your heart rate drops into the 30s, you might not get enough oxygen to your brain, making fainting, lightheadedness, and shortness of breath possible.
Blood can also pool in your heart chambers, causing congestive heart failure. If you are concerned about a low heart rate, visiting your physician can help determine the causes. Your doctor will first ask about your usual activities and conduct a physical exam.
Wearing a hour monitor can also help your doctor see how your heart performs over time. Once your doctor decides you might need treatment, they will try to rule out medications or other pre-existing conditions as causes.
Sometimes changing medications or similar strategies can solve the problem. If not, implanting a pacemaker via minimally invasive surgery is the only option to speed up your heart rate, Dr.
A slow heart rate, or bradycardia, can be an indicator of strong cardiovascular fitness. But, as you age, it could be a sign of trouble, and even lead to chronic disease.
Seek emergency care for anyone with these symptoms. In a typical heart rhythm, a tiny cluster of cells at the sinus node sends out an electrical signal. The signal then travels through the atria to the atrioventricular AV node and into the ventricles, causing them to contract and pump blood. To better understand the causes of bradycardia, it may be helpful to know how the heart typically beats.
The typical heart has four chambers — two upper chambers atria and two lower chambers ventricles. Within the upper right chamber of the heart right atrium is a group of cells called the sinus node.
The sinus node is the heart's natural pacemaker. It produces the signal that starts each heartbeat. Bradycardia, shown on the right, is a slower than normal heart rhythm that often starts in the area of the heart called the sinus node.
A typical heart rhythm is shown in the image on the left. Bradycardia often starts in the area of the heart called the sinus node. In some people, sinus node problems cause alternating slow and fast heart rates bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome. Bradycardia can also occur if the heart's electrical signals don't move correctly from the upper chambers atria to the lower chambers ventricles. If this occurs, the condition is called heart block, or atrioventricular block.
Bradycardia is often associated with damage to heart tissue from some type of heart disease. Anything that increases the risk of heart problems can increase the risk of bradycardia. Risk factors for heart disease include:. Bradycardia can be caused by certain medications, particularly if they are taken at high doses, so it's important to take all medications as directed.
Although bradycardia is not typically preventable, health care providers recommend strategies to reduce the risk of developing heart disease. Take the following heart-healthy steps:. If you already have heart disease, there are steps you can take to lower your risk of developing bradycardia or another heart rhythm disorder:.
Bradycardia care at Mayo Clinic.
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