Possible complications of bradycardia can include: Healthy-lifestyle changes or medical treatment may help lower the risk of heart disease. Anything that increases the risk of heart problems can increase the risk of bradycardia. When this happens, the ventricles will usually beat on their own but at a very slow rate.īradycardia is often associated with damage to heart tissue from some type of heart disease. None of the electrical signals from the atria reaches the ventricles. Some beats are dropped, resulting in a slower and sometimes irregular heart rhythm. Not all electrical signals reach the ventricles. First-degree heart block rarely causes symptoms and usually needs no treatment if there's no other problem in electrical signaling. In the mildest form, all electrical signals from the atria reach the ventricles, but the signal is slowed. Heart blocks fall into three main groups. If this occurs, the condition is called heart block, or atrioventricular block. Heart block (atrioventricular block)īradycardia can also occur if the heart's electrical signals don't move correctly from the upper chambers (atria) to the lower chambers (ventricles). In some people, sinus node problems cause alternating slow and fast heart rates (bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome). A typical heart rhythm is shown in the image on the left.īradycardia often starts in the area of the heart called the sinus node. Sinus node problemsīradycardia, shown on the right, is a slower than typical heart rhythm that often starts in the area of the heart called the sinus node. It produces the signal that starts each heartbeat.īradycardia occurs when these signals slow down or are blocked. The sinus node is the heart's natural pacemaker. Within the upper right chamber of the heart (right atrium) is a group of cells called the sinus node. The typical heart has four chambers - two upper chambers (atria) and two lower chambers (ventricles). To better understand the causes of bradycardia, it may be helpful to know how the heart typically beats. Certain medications, including sedatives, opioids, and drugs used to treat heart rhythm disorders, high blood pressure and certain mental health disorders.Inflammatory disease, such as rheumatic fever or lupus.Repeated pauses in breathing during sleep (obstructive sleep apnea).Imbalance of chemicals in the blood, such as potassium or calcium.An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism).Inflammation of heart tissue (myocarditis).A heart condition present at birth (congenital heart defect).Damage to heart tissues from heart disease or heart attack.This causes the heart to squeeze, which pumps blood throughout the body. Next, the signals pass into the lower heart chambers, called the ventricles. The signals go through the upper heart chambers to the atrioventricular (AV) node. In a typical heartbeat, a tiny cluster of cells at the sinus node sends out electrical signals, called impulses.
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