Overview

Bradycardia is a condition where your heart beats fewer than 60 times per minute, which is unusually slow. This condition may be dangerous if it keeps your heart from pumping enough blood to meet your body’s needs. However, bradycardia can also happen without causing any harmful effects, especially in very physically active people.

How do I know if I have bradycardia vs. tachycardia?

Bradycardia and tachycardia are opposite conditions.

  • Bradycardia: The name bradycardia comes from the Greek words “bradys” and “kardia.” These words together mean “slow heart.”
  • Tachycardia: Also from Greek. It combines the Greek words “tachys” and “kardia.” These words together mean “swift heart.”

Who does it affect?

Bradycardia can happen to people of any age and background but is more common in adults over 65. It’s less common in younger adults and children because your heart rate naturally slows down as you get older. The exception is when it happens because of certain conditions you’re born with (genetic or otherwise).

It is also more common in people with certain conditions, some of which you can inherit from your parents, or if you take certain types of medication. It can also happen because of injuries to your chest or because of nutrition problems and eating disorders.

How common is this condition?

Bradycardia is a common condition among people in certain age groups and with certain circumstances. It’s most common in the following:

  • People over 65. This condition causes symptoms in about 1 in every 600 adults over age 65. That means there are over half a million adults over 65 with symptoms of this condition. However, the number of people with bradycardia but no symptoms is probably much higher. Bradycardia is especially common in older adults when they’re asleep.
  • People who are very physically active. People who regularly exercise can have bradycardia because they are in good physical shape. Bradycardia doesn’t affect these people because their heart pumps blood more efficiently and meets their body’s needs even though it beats slower.

Is bradycardia an arrhythmia?

Bradycardia is an arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) because it is slower than the typical rate. The normal heart rate range for adults is between 60 and 100 beats per minute.

Sinus rhythm is when your heart is beating regularly and normally. Sinus bradycardia means that your heart is beating regularly, but slower than normal. Sinus bradycardia is usually a benign arrhythmia (especially in very active people). That means while it’s slower than expected, it also isn’t harmful.

While bradycardia is a medical condition on its own, it often happens along with or because of other conditions. In those cases, bradycardia is often treated more like a symptom than a separate condition.

How does this condition affect my body?

When you have bradycardia, your heart is beating slower than the average adult heart. This becomes a problem when your heart is pumping too slowly to keep up with your body’s demand for oxygen. That lack of blood flow and oxygen affects your entire body, especially your brain and heart.

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Symptoms

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Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.
The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:
  • High blood pressure.
  • Diabetes.
  • Heart failure.
  • Some types of heart valve disease.
Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:
  • Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
  • Don't smoke or use tobacco.
  • Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
  • Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
  • Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
  • Maintain a healthy weight.
  • Reduce and manage stress.


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