Bradycardia

Bradycardia means that your heart beats very slowly. For most people, a heart rate of 60 to 100 a minute while at rest is considered normal. But if your heart beats less than 60 times a minute, it is slower than normal. This can be a serious problem as it means your heart is probably not pumping enough oxygen rich blood to the body.

Bradycardia is caused by something that disturbs the normal electrical impulses controlling the rate of one's heart pumping action. There are many other things that can cause or contribute to problems with one's heart's electrical system such as:

• Damaged heart tissues due to heart disease or heart attack
• Heart tissue damage related to aging
• High blood pressure
• Congenital heart defect
• Infection of the heart tissue
• Hyperthyroidism
• Inflammatory disease such as lupus
• Medications including those used for heart rhythm disorders, psychosis and high blood pressure
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Hemochromatosis

The symptoms of Bradycardia include:

• Chest pain or feeling that your heart is pounding or fluttering
• Feeling tired
• Feel short of breath
• Find it difficult to exercise
• Feel dizzy or lightheaded
• Have trouble concentrating
• Fatigue
• Weakness

Some people may not have any symptoms or their symptoms are so mild that they think they're just getting older.

Here are a few things to consider for eliminating or reducing your risk of developing heart disease:

• Quite smoking
• Don't use illegal drugs
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Exercise and eat a healthy diet
• Keep blood pressure and cholesterol under control
• Avoid unnecessary stress and learn coping techniques to handle normal stress in a healthy way
• If you drink alcohol, drink in moderation
• Have regular physical exams and report any signs or symptoms to your doctor

An implanted pacemaker and other treatments may be used to correct Bradycardia thus helping your heart maintain an apt rate.

If you or your child experience chest pain lasting for more than a few minutes or have difficulty breathing, seek help immediately. A number of conditions can cause symptoms of Bradycardia, hence it's important to get an accurate diagnosis and the right care.