home Audience 3 All about bradycardia. What is bradycardia, why is it dangerous and how to treat it? Sinus bradycardia - what is it? What is considered bradycardia

All about bradycardia. What is bradycardia, why is it dangerous and how to treat it? Sinus bradycardia - what is it? What is considered bradycardia

In an adult, the normal heart rate is in the range of 65-80 beats per minute. A heart rate slower than 60 beats per minute is called bradycardia. There are many reasons leading to bradycardia, which only a doctor can determine in a person.

Regulation of the activity of the heart

In physiology, there is such a thing as automatism of the heart. This means that the heart contracts under the influence of impulses that arise directly in itself, primarily in the sinus node. These are special neuromuscular fibers located at the confluence of the vena cava into the right atrium. The sinus node produces a bioelectrical impulse that propagates further through the atria and reaches the atrioventricular node. This is how the heart muscle contracts. Neurohumoral factors also influence the excitability and conduction of the myocardium.

Bradycardia can develop in two cases. First of all, a decrease in the activity of the sinus node leads to a decrease in the activity of the sinus node, when it generates few electrical impulses. This bradycardia is called sinus . And there is such a situation when the sinus node is working normally, but the electrical impulse cannot fully pass through the conduction paths and the heartbeat slows down.

Causes of physiological bradycardia

Bradycardia is not always a sign of pathology, it can be physiological . So, athletes often have a low heart rate. This is the result of constant stress on the heart during long workouts. How to understand is bradycardia the norm or pathology? A person needs to perform active physical exercises. In healthy people, physical activity leads to an intense increase in heart rate. In violation of the excitability and conduction of the heart, exercise is accompanied by only a slight increase in heart rate.

In addition, the heart rate also slows down when the body. This is a compensatory mechanism, due to which blood circulation slows down and blood is directed from the skin to the internal organs.

The activity of the sinus node is affected by the nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system reduces the heartbeat, the sympathetic - increases. Thus, stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system leads to a decrease in heart rate. This is a well-known medical phenomenon, which, by the way, many people experience in life. So, with pressure on the eyes, the vagus nerve (the main nerve of the parasympathetic nervous system) is stimulated. As a result of this, the heartbeat is briefly reduced by eight to ten beats per minute. The same effect can be achieved by pressing on the area of the carotid sinus in the neck. Stimulation of the carotid sinus can occur when wearing a tight collar, tie.

Causes of pathological bradycardia

Bradycardia can develop under the influence of a variety of factors. The most common causes of pathological bradycardia are:

Increased tone of the parasympathetic system;
heart disease;
Taking certain medications (cardiac glycosides, as well as beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers);
(FOS, lead, nicotine).

Increased tone of the parasympathetic system

Parasympathetic innervation of the myocardium is carried out by the vagus nerve. When activated, the heart rate slows down. There are pathological conditions in which irritation of the vagus nerve (its fibers located in the internal organs, or nerve nuclei in the brain) is observed.

An increase in the tone of the parasympathetic nervous system is noted in such diseases:

(against the background of traumatic brain injury, hemorrhagic stroke, cerebral edema);
Neoplasms in the mediastinum;
Cardiopsychoneurosis;
Condition after surgery in the head, as well as neck, mediastinum.

As soon as the factor that stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system is eliminated in this case, the heartbeat returns to normal. This type of bradycardia is defined by physicians as neurogenic.

Heart disease

Heart diseases (cardiosclerosis, myocarditis) lead to the development of certain changes in the myocardium. In this case, the impulse from the sinus node passes much more slowly in the pathologically altered part of the conduction system, due to which the heartbeat slows down.

When a violation of the conduction of an electrical impulse is localized in the atrioventricular node, they speak of the development of an atrioventricular block (AV block).

Symptoms of bradycardia

A moderate decrease in heart rate does not affect a person’s condition in any way, he feels good and does his usual things. But with a further decrease in heart rate, blood circulation is disturbed. The organs are not adequately supplied with blood and suffer from a lack of oxygen. The brain is especially sensitive to hypoxia. Therefore, with bradycardia, it is precisely the symptoms of damage to the nervous system that come to the fore.

With attacks of bradycardia, a person experiences weakness. Pre-fainting states and are also characteristic. The skin is pale. Shortness of breath often develops, usually on the background of physical exertion.

With a heart rate of less than 40 beats per minute, blood circulation is significantly impaired. With slow blood flow, the myocardium does not receive oxygen adequately. The result is chest pain. This is a kind of signal from the heart that it lacks oxygen.

Diagnostics

In order to identify the cause of bradycardia, it is necessary to undergo an examination. First of all, you should pass. This method is based on the study of the passage of a bioelectrical impulse in the heart. So, with sinus bradycardia (when the sinus node rarely generates an impulse), there is a decrease in heart rate while maintaining a normal sinus rhythm.

The appearance of such signs on the electrocardiogram as an increase in the duration of the P-Q interval, as well as deformation of the ventricular QRS complex, its loss from the rhythm, a greater number of atrial contractions than the number of QRS complexes will indicate the presence of AV blockade in a person.

If bradycardia is observed intermittently, and in the form of seizures, it is indicated. This will provide data on the functioning of the heart for twenty-four hours.

To clarify the diagnosis, finding the cause of bradycardia, the doctor may prescribe the patient to undergo the following studies:

echocardiography;
Determination in blood content;
Analysis for toxins.

Treatment of bradycardia

Physiological bradycardia does not require any treatment, as does bradycardia that does not affect general well-being. Therapy of pathological bradycardia is started after finding out the cause. The principle of treatment is to act on the root cause, against which the heart rate returns to normal.

Drug therapy consists in prescribing medications that increase heart rate. These are medicines such as:

Isadrin;
Atropine;
Isoprenaline;
Eufilin.

The use of these drugs has its own characteristics, and therefore they can only be prescribed by a doctor.

If hemodynamic disorders occur (weakness, fatigue, dizziness), the doctor may prescribe tonic drugs for the patient: ginseng tincture, caffeine. These drugs increase heart rate and increase blood pressure.

When a person has severe bradycardia and, against this background, heart failure develops, they resort to implanting a pacemaker in the heart. This device independently generates electrical impulses. A stable set heart rate favors the restoration of adequate hemodynamics.

Grigorova Valeria, medical commentator

B radicardia is a decrease in heart rate that occurs as a response to external and internal stimuli. They are considered as a whole, since the process often has a polyetiological character.

What can be considered a slow heartbeat? According to the World Health Organization, bradycardia is defined as heart activity less than 70 beats per minute. This indicator, however, is purely individual and depends on the characteristics of a particular patient's body.

The general fitness of the body, and gender, and age also matter. A lot of other factors and moments.

Bradycardia is somewhat more physiological than the opposite process - tachycardia, but it still needs to be eliminated, because there are risks of cardiac arrest and the development of cardiogenic shock.

Therapy is selected under the supervision of doctors of a number of specialties. The profile doctor is a cardiologist. The rest are connected as needed.

Heart rate does not directly correlate with blood pressure, but there is an indirect relationship between these indicators. In order to assess the general state of the cardiovascular system and health in general, both are subject to research.

Cardiac bradycardia is a decrease in heart rate to less than 70 beats per minute. It is typified for several reasons. They should be briefly named.

Depending on the severity of the pathological phenomenon, the following stages of the disease are called:

Soft variety. The frequency varies within 60-69 beats.
Moderate. 50 to 59 beats per minute.
Expressed. Less than 50 contractions per minute.

Attention:

The last two forms carry the greatest danger to life and health, rarely have a physiological nature. The third one does require urgent inpatient care, since multiple organ failure is possible.

Based on the etiology of bradycardia, there are:

Natural form. It occurs in trained and well-developed physically people. But this is what is called a double-edged sword: similar patients are more susceptible to cardiovascular pathologies after a decrease in activity.
Medical type. With prolonged use of drugs: glycosides, blockers, there is a change in the nature of the activity of the heart.
pathological appearance. Becomes the result of the course of any disease. Moreover, such bradycardia is unstable and always secondary to the main diagnosis.

Finally, the process can also be distinguished by the localization of the deviation on:

sinus. Affects the node of the same name of the muscular organ. It is also called sick sinus syndrome. Example on ecg:

Non-sinus. Much more dangerous, it turns out to be the result of insufficient conduction of impulses. In 80% of cases, it ends with sudden cardiac arrest.

Causes of bradycardia

They are considered in two planes: physiological and pathological.

natural factors

Floor. Representatives of the weaker half of humanity are especially prone to tachycardia, since the muscular organ is smaller than that of men and is forced to pump blood faster. The strong half of humanity, on the contrary, more often suffers from a decrease in heart rate. But it is not always a disease. It needs to be dealt with separately.
Age. Older people have a slower heart rate. This is completely physiological and normal.
Professional activity. If a patient works in hot industries for a long time, or is engaged in heavy, physical labor, this will affect the state of the cardiovascular system. Adaptive mechanisms will start, the heart will begin to beat more slowly to compensate for unbearable conditions, to make them acceptable to the body. However, everything can end badly: if a person already has vascular pathologies or the muscular organ itself, the likelihood of a heart attack increases dramatically.
Climatic conditions. People born in hot regions of the planet tolerate heat better. The body seeks to smooth out pathological changes in hemodynamics by slowing down the rhythm. Bradycardia becomes a physiological phenomenon. However, it is not so easy for newcomers to keep up with the "natives". It can take up to a year to rebuild the body, all this time a person risks becoming a victim of a heart attack or stroke. Conclusion: before dreaming about a vacation at sea or in hot countries, you need to check the condition of the heart and blood vessels. A sudden change in environmental conditions is a big stress for the body. How such an extreme can end is only approximately clear.
General physical fitness of the body. During exhausting sports, the body wears out, not adapts. If you improve the preparation gradually, the heart gets used to the new pace. But professional athletes and amateurs take a significant risk, it will never be possible to predict in advance the impact of loads above normal on the body.

Puberty (puberty), the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause (andropause in men) are all peak hormonal states. Both bradycardia and tachycardia are possible. Treatment is usually not required, but it is still necessary to be observed by a cardiologist.

Pathological moments

Diverse compared to the previous ones. Possible health problems include:

Myocardial conduction disorder. It is detected only by invasive electrocardiography using a special small probe. It is not accompanied by any symptoms, except for mild shortness of breath. The diagnosis is often made during an autopsy.
mitral valve stenosis.

Heart failure and ischemic disease. They go hand in hand. Develop as a result of cardiosclerosis after a heart attack, hypertension in advanced cases. Manifestations are mainly from the side of the muscular organ itself: chest pain, shortness of breath, suffocation, blue nasolabial triangle, skin. See a cardiologist as soon as possible. The next stop is a myocardial infarction, if one has already been, this one will become fatal with a 95% probability.

Problems with blood circulation in cerebral structures. Including after a stroke of hemorrhagic or ischemic types. Also, vertebrobasilar insufficiency, a phenomenon preceding an emergency, plays a role. Requires mandatory medical care, one or the other. Symptoms: headaches, vertigo, fainting, decreased vision, hearing, discomfort in the neck and occipital region. Treatment by a neurologist.

Hypothyroidism. Lack of thyroid hormones in the patient's bloodstream. The result of low consumption of iodine or tumor processes in the brain, the organ itself. Symptoms: headache, weakness, constant drowsiness, inability to work, loss of appetite, body weight, temperature drop to 35 degrees Celsius and a little higher. The pressure also deviates towards hypotension. Therapy at the endocrinologist.

Insufficient synthesis of corticosteroid hormones as a result of pathologies of the adrenal glands. Accompanied by weakness, back pain, muscle atrophy, inability to move normally. Also called Addison's disease. Replacement treatment is shown.
Diabetes.
Problems with the pituitary-hypothalamic system: hypopituitarism and, as a result, hypogonadism.
Diseases of the kidneys. They lead to a violation of the synthesis of renin, which is involved in the regulation of vascular tone and heart rate. Treated by a nephrologist or urologist. The symptoms are generally identical: back pain, frequent copious urination, the opposite phenomenon, regular urge to visit the toilet without the effectiveness of the act.

These disorders are the most common. The causes of bradycardia are pathological (in 70% of cases) and natural in the remaining 30%.

To distinguish one view from another is simple: with a physiological origin, there are no symptoms or the clinical picture is poor. In pathological conditions, there are a lot of signs, including those that are not directly related to the heart.

A specific diagnosis is made after a diagnosis under the supervision of a group of doctors.

Why is a slow heartbeat dangerous?

Cardiac bradycardia is dangerous with four main consequences:

Sudden cardiac arrest. As a result of a violation of the conductivity of the structures of the body. It develops suddenly, often there is no time left for help. Lethality is high.
Heart attack. The result of malnutrition of the middle muscle layer. Careful treatment under the supervision of a cardiologist is required to prevent the process. After the transferred state, the replacement of functional cells with scar cells begins, which are useless and act as replacement structures.
Stroke. Becomes a consequence of cerebral ischemia. The hemorrhagic form practically does not occur. More characteristic of tachycardia.
Fainting state. Carries a risk of injury.

Bradycardia is dangerous for cardiac dysfunction, disorders of the work of cerebral structures. Lethality is high.

Characteristic manifestations

Signs of bradycardia are:

Sensation of dull heartbeat. Although in a normal situation, this should not be the case.
Dizziness. Up to a complete lack of coordination.
Muscle weakness. It can manifest itself in unsteady gait, instability when walking.
Disruption of circadian rhythms. It is able to make itself felt in an implicit way: you can’t sleep at night, fatigue rolls in during the day, but when you try to rest, nothing comes out. The condition is corrected with sedatives, light sleeping pills under the supervision of a neurologist or somnologist.
Lowering blood pressure and, as a result, fainting on a regular basis.

Symptoms of bradycardia arise from the heart, blood vessels, nervous system. Cause a significant decrease in the quality of life.

Danger signs

Among the manifestations that require an ambulance call:

Sharp headache in occiput. Like being hit with a hammer. Follows in time with cardiac activity.
Unable to stand on your feet: the world goes around.
Distortions of the face. Due to impaired conduction of mimic muscles.
Paralysis, paresis, paresthesia (numbness of the fingers, limbs in general, reminiscent of "laying down").
Severe discomfort in the chest. With a sense of pressure. Gives to the stomach, shoulder blades and left arm (as if developing through the veins).
Visual impairment up to transient blindness. Symptom of damage to the occipital lobe of the brain.
Auditory deviations.
Fainting more than 2 times a day.

In all the situations described, you need to call an ambulance to resolve the issue on the spot or transport to the hospital.

First aid for an attack of bradycardia

You can look in your home first aid kit to find the right medicine. In the absence of - buy at the pharmacy.

The algorithm of actions is as follows:

Measure blood pressure and heart rate prior to activities.
Take a caffeine or Citramon tablet. Maybe two at intervals of an hour and a half.
Drink strong tea or coffee (but no more than 2 cups).
From folk remedies, Eleutherococcus tincture, ginseng, honey with cinnamon and lemon in the form of gruel help well.

Each subsequent action of the three presented is shown with the ineffectiveness of the previous one.

At least a minimal therapeutic result should be observed after 15-20 minutes. In the absence - you need to go to the next paragraph.

You should not practice everything at once: there is a high probability of transformation of bradycardia into tachycardia and a rise in blood pressure.

Then:

Lie down, calm down.
Try to stabilize the state additionally by rhythmic breathing. First through one nostril, then through the other. Special exercises (especially according to Strelnikova) are not recommended. They are not suitable for unprepared people.

Take baths, hot and contrast showers, move actively, all the more you can’t exhaust yourself. Also, do not abuse drugs. The heart may stop.

If the bradycardia does not recede, an ambulance should be called. The team will correct the condition on the spot or transport it to a profile-type hospital.

Required examinations

Diagnosis is carried out under the supervision of specialists in cardiology. If necessary, third-party doctors are involved, the main field of activity of which is tied to nephrology, endocrinology or neurology.

Among the activities:

Evaluation of patient complaints about health. All objective data are recorded.
Collection of anamnesis. Including family history. Problems with the heart and blood vessels have a pronounced hereditary component.
Measurement of blood pressure, heart rate.
Electrocardiography, including invasive, with checking the conduction of the myocardium. Or with load tests. The main method of early diagnosis of functional abnormalities. It is carried out under the control of the resuscitation team.
Echocardiography. To detect organic changes.
Assessment of the neurological status, the state of the excretory system in general.
Ultrasound of the kidneys.
MRI, CT studies according to indications.
Scintigraphy of the liver, thyroid gland. Radioisotope method, safe but not recommended for frequent use.
Angiography.
Studies are shown in the system. The duration of the general diagnosis is from 2 to 7 days. The hospital is faster.

Therapeutic tactics

Treatment of bradycardia of the heart is systemic (surgical, medical, other). Using several methods. The main list is presented in the table:

Pathology	Remedy
Heart problems:	Appointment of tonic drugs to speed up the work of the body (Citramon). Antiplatelet agents (Aspirin, including the Cardio modification).
Atherosclerosis:	Statins (Atorvastitan and analogues, for resorption of lipid structures). With calcification, surgical removal.
Hypothyroidism:	Replacement hormone therapy.
Disorders of the nervous system:	Sedatives based on plant components (motherwort, valerian), nootropics (Glycine), drugs for normalizing hemodynamics (Piracetam, Actovegin).
Poisoning:	Detoxification with saline with glucose, other methods.
Medical bradycardia:	Adjustment of dosages or course of therapy.
Tumors, neoplastic processes:	Removal of neoplasms, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. If the brain stem is affected - palliative care due to the inoperability of the site.

Folk methods

Eleutherococcus. 1-2 teaspoons, depending on the intensity of the process.
Ginseng tinctures (15 grams of raw materials per 300 ml of vodka). 40 drops per day.
Lemon with cinnamon and honey. In an arbitrary amount.
Caffeine. It is possible in tablets.

Surgery

With resistance (immunity) of the state to drugs, surgery is indicated.

In which cases:

Congenital and acquired heart defects.
Severe bradycardia (pacemaker placement).
Destruction of renal structures.
Atherosclerosis is advanced.
Tumors.

Prevention

Refusal of smoking, alcohol, psychoactive substances.
Normalization of sleep (8 hours or more).
Diet correction (tables No. 10 and No. 3).
Drinking regimen (1.8 liters), physical activity (2 hours of walking per day).
Limit salt to 10 grams per day.
The use of synthetic vitamins (complex Aevit and others).

Forecast

Favorable with timely initiation of therapy. The probability of complications is 2-3%. In the absence of assistance - 10-12%. Thus, it is important not to delay visiting a cardiologist.

Bradycardia - means a decrease in heart rate. It is difficult for etiological assessment, since it requires a comprehensive diagnosis. The outcome is determined by the moment of initiation of therapy. Therefore, you should not rely on your own strength, it is better to consult a doctor.

The heart is a hollow organ consisting of three layers of muscles. Of decisive importance in the development of signs of bradycardia is its middle layer - the myocardium. It is this muscle that pumps blood during contractile movements.

The main causes of bradycardia are the inability of the sinus node to produce impulses of the required frequency or their incorrect distribution along the nerve fibers.

The insufficiency of the rhythm causes a shortage of blood supply to the tissues of the body and oxygen starvation. In trained athletes, this condition is considered a variant of the norm. Similar signs in the absence of other pathological changes are considered as a physiological phenomenon. But in most patients, bradycardia is accompanied by dizziness, weakness, and fatigue.

CAUSES

There are two main causes of bradycardia: physiological and pathological. The first develops under the influence of external influences and does not pose a danger to human life. There is no need to treat this type of bradycardia. Pathological may be a sign of dangerous diseases that require mandatory identification and therapy.

Physiological reasons:

decrease in heart rate in trained athletes at rest;
moderate hypothermia, or hypothermia;
sinus bradyarrhythmia in adolescents and children associated with age-related changes in the heart;
congenital AV block;
stimulation of reflex zones;
starvation;
idiopathic (unexplained).

Pathological causes:

taking medications in the wrong dosage or without a doctor's prescription;
irritation of the vagus nerve due to traumatic brain injury, cerebral hemorrhage, tumors in the mediastinum, gastric and duodenal ulcers and depression;
hypothyroidism - a decrease in the concentration of thyroid hormones that support the normal functioning of the heart, blood vessels and nervous system;
poisoning with toxins (lead, narcotic substances, nicotine, organophosphorus substances);
infections - typhoid fever, severe blood poisoning, some viral hepatitis and any severe course of infectious processes;
cardiac pathologies - myocarditis, cardiosclerosis, endocarditis, heart attack, ischemia.

CLASSIFICATION

Classification depending on the localization of violations:

sinus bradycardia - a violation of the automatism of work in the sinus node
sinoatrial (atrioventricular) is characteristic of a heart block, in which the passage of a nerve impulse from the sinus node to the muscles of the heart is impaired.

Forms of pathological severe bradycardia:

acute appears after a heart attack, with myocarditis or intoxication;
chronic manifests itself as a consequence of sclerotic changes in the heart muscle associated with age-related changes.

Classification depending on the severity of symptoms of bradycardia:

Light- pulse is more than 50 beats per minute. Often this is a physiological phenomenon, in which there are no abnormalities in the work of the heart and unpleasant signs, therapy is not required.
Moderate- heart rate in the range of 40-50 beats per minute, in the elderly and athletes is considered a variant of the norm, and in the rest it causes obvious oxygen starvation.
Expressed bradycardia - pulse less than 40 beats per minute, accompanied by disorders that require research and adequate therapy.

SYMPTOMS

Mild and moderate degrees of bradycardia, as a rule, occur without circulatory disorders and with no clinical manifestations. Usually, complaints appear in the elderly, and in athletes and young people, the symptoms of bradycardia appear with a drop in heart rates below forty beats per minute.

Main clinical signs:

Weakness and dizziness. A decrease in blood pressure affects the deterioration of oxygen supply to tissues. First of all, the brain and nervous system are sensitive to such a state.
Fainting is due to the same cause as dizziness. In persons with low blood pressure, attacks of bradycardia with increased physical and mental activity almost always end in fainting.
Minor an increase in the number of heartbeats during exercise, the mechanism of adequate compensation for oxygen deficiency does not work.
Shortness of breath - appears during physical exertion and is due to stagnation of blood in the tissues of the lungs and impaired gas exchange.
Paleness of the skin- insufficient blood flow is compensated by the accumulation of blood in the area of the internal organs due to its outflow from the peripheral integumentary tissues.
Pain behind the sternum manifest themselves in severe cardiac disorders. The myocardium, like other tissues, suffers from oxygen deficiency, which can lead to the gradual death of its cells and the development of severe angina pectoris.

DIAGNOSTICS

Therapists and cardiologists are engaged in the diagnosis of any kind of arrhythmia. Not everyone knows that bradycardia is a disease that can be detected independently by probing the pulse on the wrist or neck. The rhythm of the pulsation of the arteries may differ from the heart, therefore, if abnormalities are suspected, a qualified medical examination should be sought.

Methods for diagnosing bradycardia:

Auscultation - listening with a phonendoscope through the chest wall noise and heart sounds.
Electrocardiography: for several minutes, a diagram of the work of the heart can be recorded, but a more complete picture of the deviations is obtained with continuous daily Holter monitoring.
Echocardiography records a decrease in ejection fraction and an increase in heart size, which is a sign of bradycardia.
A chest x-ray indicates congestion in the lungs and allows an assessment of the size of the heart.
Bicycle ergometry allows you to study the dynamics of the heart rhythm in response to physical activity.
Transesophageal electrophysiological examination to study the conduction pathways of the heart and identify the nature of the problem - its physiological or organic origin.

TREATMENT

Functional and moderate decrease in heart rate, which is not accompanied by clinical signs, does not require special therapy. In case of abnormalities in the work of the heart or complaints of malaise, medical attention is required.

Treatment methods:

Conservative therapy considered the most common method of dealing with bradycardia. It involves the appointment of medications, the action of which is aimed at increasing the heart rate and blood pressure, as well as increasing the contractile activity of the heart muscles to compensate for the lack of oxygen in the tissues. If a decrease in heart rate is a sign of another pathological condition, hormonal drugs for hypothyroidism or antibacterial agents for infections are additionally prescribed. Such therapy is called etiotropic.
Surgical intervention is made taking into account the causes and treatment of bradycardia with medications. Operations are rarely performed and only in situations where a steady decrease in the dynamics of the pulse threatens the health of the patient. They try to correct the condition caused by birth defects at an early age so that the child has the opportunity to grow and develop normally. The surgical method for the treatment of bradycardia has no alternatives in the detection of tumors and any neoplasms in the mediastinum. With a constant and pronounced decrease in heart rate, implantation of a pacemaker is recommended. This device is capable of independently generating electrical impulses and stimulating the myocardium of the heart with them. Thanks to this device, a person can get rid of the manifestations of the disease and return to normal life and work.

COMPLICATIONS

Mild, moderate and physiological pathology, as a rule, does not carry the risk of complications. Severe consequences are not typical for this condition, they are observed in rare cases of bradycardia. Symptoms and treatment can also be dangerous. Improper intake of stimulant drugs adversely affects the functioning of the heart and the whole body.

Possible complications:

chronic attacks of bradycardia;
loss of consciousness;
risk of heart failure;
injuries resulting from loss of consciousness;
circulatory disorders in the brain;
myocardial infarction;
ischemia of the heart;
thromboembolism of the pulmonary arteries;
asystole - cardiac arrest.

Prevention

Preventive measures for bradycardia:

maintaining the right balance in work and rest;
rational nutrition, balanced in terms of the content of products, which include fiber, the rejection of fatty and spicy foods;
giving up alcohol and smoking;
maintaining optimal weight;
prevention of organic and toxic damage to the myocardium;
taking medications in the prescribed dosage;
early detection of abnormalities in the work of the heart.

PROGNOSIS FOR RECOVERY

With a mild and physiological form of bradycardia, the prognosis is satisfactory. With moderate and severe heart rhythm deviations, the further scenario depends on the stage of cardiac pathology or the properties of another disease that caused bradycardia. So, with compensated hypothyroidism, the prognosis is favorable and the patient can lead a full-fledged lifestyle with the condition of taking hormonal drugs daily.

In severe chronic heart failure, the prognosis is unfavorable, since it is no longer possible to install a pacemaker due to contraindications and exhaustion of the body. A persistent decrease in heart rate gradually leads to disability of the patient.

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Any diseases of the cardiovascular system are characterized by the frequent occurrence of various complications and irreversible consequences. Therefore, the diagnosis of "bradycardia" is sometimes confusing, although you need to accept it and start treatment. What is bradycardia of the heart and why is it dangerous to health?

This disease is not fatal, which is important to know for patients with this diagnosis in the first place. Bradycardia is one of the types of arrhythmia, in which, due to various factors, the heart rate decreases. On average, the pulse becomes about 40 beats per minute. This disease occurs even in healthy people due to the physiological characteristics of the body. In this case, bradycardia appears at night when a person is sleeping.

Naturally, with any serious heart disease, bradycardia gives certain complications, but only at a pronounced stage. Mild or moderate bradycardia does not cause any circulatory disturbance and does not cause fainting, seizures, etc. But severe bradycardia often provokes a lack of blood circulation, which causes weakness and other symptoms.

Forms and causes of bradycardia

What are the causes of the disease? An important factor in the development of the disease is a violation of the sinus node, which produces electrical impulses for the heart, or a violation of the process of passing these impulses. The forms of heart bradycardia depend on the causes that provoked the disease.

The extracardiac form develops when:

vegetative-vascular dystonia;
neurosis;
ulcer of the gastrointestinal tract;
tumors of the esophagus and diaphragm;
constant pressure on the eyeballs or on the carotid artery;
brain tumors;
hypothermia;
endocrine pathologies;
meningitis;
hemorrhages in the brain;
hypertension;
renal colic.

The organic form of bradycardia develops in the case of:

myocardial infarction;
myocarditis;
cardiosclerosis, etc.

Medical bradycardia occurs due to the intake of certain medications:

The causes of toxic bradycardia are severe intoxication of the body:

with hepatitis;
with uremia;
due to phosphate poisoning;
due to increased levels of potassium and calcium in the blood;
with various infections.

The weakness of the sinus node is formed in the case of a decrease in the frequency of electrical impulses. This is not enough for the natural functioning of the body. In this case, sinus bradycardia may occur, in which the heart rate decreases sharply. In this case, electrical impulses cannot propagate through the conduction system of the heart. Most often, this is a congenital disease, the development of which begins in the fetus at an early stage of gestation.

Often the cause of bradycardia is heart block. Blockade is a violation of the conduction of electrical impulses from the atria to the ventricles. It is of two types - complete and incomplete. With complete blockade, the impulses do not reach the ventricles at all, and with incomplete blockade, only a small number of impulses reach the ventricles.

Sometimes a decrease in heart rate can be observed in athletes or those people who are constantly subjected to serious stress. The causes of bradycardia in this case are the body's natural defense against maximum stress. This is the so-called nocturnal bradycardia, when a person has a rare pulse during rest. This relative bradycardia is not dangerous to health. Physiological bradycardia can also occur due to cold or smoking.

For some, a heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute is a natural state that is not harmful to health. In older people, heart rhythm disturbance triggers the normal aging process. The disease is accompanied by increased systolic pressure. But the reasons for the appearance of idiopathic bradycardia by experts have not yet been exactly clarified.

Symptoms

With bradycardia, various symptoms are observed that may indicate any disease. Therefore, only a specialist can make a final diagnosis. The main symptoms of bradycardia are as follows:

Blood pressure becomes unstable and cannot be treated.
The patient constantly feels severe fatigue and weakness.
There are signs of chronic circulatory failure.
Angina develops.
Memory loss may occur.
The patient complains of Morgagni-Edems-Stokes attacks, during which dizziness and fainting appear.
There is a feeling of lack of oxygen and shortness of breath.
The patient has chest pain.
There may be complaints of constipation and other stomach disorders.
In some cases, there is a short-term decrease in vision.

All signs of bradycardia are accompanied by a decrease in heart rate. If there is a violation of blood circulation in the brain, hypoxia may occur. Why is bradycardia dangerous? Any of these conditions can cause cardiac or respiratory arrest. Sometimes the disease leads to thromboembolic complications, ischemic disease occurs, etc.

Diagnostics

Bradycardia syndrome must first be diagnosed. Usually patients turn to a therapist who listens to complaints, checks the pulse and pressure. But the final diagnosis can only be made by a cardiologist. The definition of the disease is carried out using the following diagnostic methods:

ECG. Allows you to see and fix the heart rate per minute, as well as the presence of blockade. Bradycardia on the ECG can only be diagnosed if the cardiovascular system is monitored. It usually takes a whole day or more.
ultrasound. It is used for suspected organic causes of bradycardia. With the help of ultrasound, a sharp increase in the heart, changes in the myocardium, etc. can be detected.
CHPEFI. This study allows you to check the pathways of the heart and diagnose the cause of bradycardia.
Veloergometry. During this procedure, the patient's body receives a certain load with a parallel assessment of the pulse rate per minute.

Treatment

Symptoms and treatment of the disease are interrelated. For example, functional bradycardia does not require conservative treatment, while other forms of the disease should be treated with appropriate drugs. In this case, the treatment of bradycardia should be aimed at eliminating the underlying ailment that causes a decrease in heart rate. If it was provoked by the medications taken, then dosage adjustment or their cancellation is required.

How to treat bradycardia if it was caused by intoxication of the body? First of all, it is necessary to overcome the focus of infection with the help of antibacterial or antiviral medicines. With vegetative-vascular dystonia, which provoked a heart rhythm disturbance, vascular tone should be increased.

If a patient with bradycardia constantly complains of dizziness and loses consciousness, one of the stages of treatment is to take ginseng root, eleutherococcus, ephedrine, caffeine, etc. A severe form of the disease, accompanied by ventricular arrhythmia or angina pectoris, requires immediate treatment. All drugs can be prescribed only by the attending physician.

And what to do if the cause of the disease is electrical heart failure? Then, as a treatment, it is necessary to implant a pacemaker. It regulates the rhythm, producing impulses that are indistinguishable from natural ones. This allows you to improve the work of the heart and prevent the occurrence of irreversible consequences.

In a situation where bradycardia syndrome is accompanied by more serious organic heart disease, conventional treatment is not enough. The patient must go to the hospital at least once a year, even if his health condition is satisfactory, and take appropriate medications. The fact is that such a combination of several ailments of the cardiovascular system can sometimes lead to the formation of blood clots, etc.

Folk remedies

It is unlikely that it will be possible to eliminate severe bradycardia with the help of traditional medicine, but you can remove some of the symptoms and improve your well-being. Again, these remedies are effective in autonomic disorders, also in the treatment of bradycardia in women and children. But you can start using traditional medicine only on the recommendation of your doctor. Useful for the disease are:

Dried apricots and walnuts. Both ingredients (300 gr each) must be thoroughly crushed, mixed and added 200-300 gr. honey. Take 2 tbsp. l. 2-3 times a day for at least a month.
Garlic and lemon. It will take 5 medium lemons, 5-6 heads of garlic and 500 gr. honey. Lemons should be kept in boiling water for 10 minutes, and then gently squeeze the juice out of them. Peel the garlic, chop and pour over the lemon juice. Add honey to the mixture, mix everything thoroughly and put in a dark place for 10 days. You should take 2 tbsp. l.1 once a day half an hour before meals.
Rose hip. For ten large berries, 400 liters is enough. water. The berries are boiled for 15-20 minutes, then the broth is filtered. It is necessary to wipe the boiled berries through a fine sieve into it and add 3 tsp. honey. The medicine should be drunk in 100-150 ml. before meals 3 times a day.

First aid

With a sharp attack of bradycardia, the patient needs to be helped. For this you should:

Lay the person on their back so that the legs are slightly higher than the body. Then call an ambulance.
It is necessary to release the breath by unbuttoning the buttons.
If the patient has lost consciousness, it is necessary to try to bring him to his senses.
A person can be brought out of a deep faint using ammonia.
When the patient does not come to his senses, others need to monitor his body temperature. To prevent hypothermia, it is covered with heating pads.
If a person wakes up, the first thing to do is to measure his pulse.
You can give him the medicines that he takes in such cases. But you cannot self-medicate.

Helping a person with bradycardia often saves his life, especially if he faints during an attack. After all, it can happen anywhere, for example, on the street or in transport.

Prevention

Prevention of bradycardia is aimed at eliminating symptoms and causing further attacks. After all, one treatment is never enough. If bradycardia appears, it means that there was a failure in the body. And close attention should be paid to lifestyle. Bad habits, especially smoking and alcohol, will have to be abandoned, as these are the first enemies of the cardiovascular system.

As for physical activity, they are limited only with pathological bradycardia and in individual cases. In other cases, the load must be mandatory. Diet also affects the heart, so as a preventive measure, you need to review your diet. The ideal solution would be to follow a light diet. For this you need:

limit the intake of animal fats and salt;
reduction in caloric content of food;
eating foods rich in fatty acids (such as nuts).

Do not underestimate the diet for bradycardia, as malnutrition sometimes negates all treatment.. In addition, with the help of such restrictions, you can fight the development of blood clots and heart failure. Violating the diet, the patient worsens his health.

How to raise the pulse

How to increase the pulse with bradycardia on your own? If the diagnosis has already been made, a person is able to detect an attack of bradycardia by the first symptoms. But in any case, you need to check the pulse. When the heart rate per minute is much less than normal, their number should be increased. Naturally, these methods “work” only for mild forms of the disease, when the patient does not lose consciousness, etc.

After measuring the pulse, check the pressure. Bradycardia is characterized by its decrease, but sometimes the indicators can be higher than normal. And, for example, caffeine, which increases blood pressure, can only harm, not help. High blood pressure is not always associated with this ailment, but affects the way the heart rate increases. Doctors in this case prescribe diuretics and inhibitors.

But hypotensive patients often use energy drinks, which allows them to quickly raise their pulse. But it is not recommended to use this method constantly, since caffeine is not very useful for the body. A patient who wants to get rid of bradycardia should first of all avoid stressful situations.

With increased anxiety, you should drink a course of sedative pills, having previously discussed this with your doctor. If there are no contraindications, then you can use the most affordable way to raise the pulse - exercise. No need to run a marathon or train for hours. It is enough to do regular exercises so that the heart rate increases. A short run for short distances helps to increase the heart rate.

The presence of bradycardia does not mean at all that the patient will soon face a heart attack and other serious diseases. This disease is not dangerous, but with insufficient treatment, it can still quickly turn into a chronic form and give complications. Therefore, without consulting a cardiologist can not do. The doctor will help cure the disease by prescribing appropriate medications.

Elena Petrovna () Just now

Thank you very much! Completely cured hypertension with NORMIO.

Evgenia Karimova() 2 weeks ago

Help! 1 How to get rid of hypertension? Maybe what folk remedies are good or would you recommend buying something from the pharmacy ???

Daria () 13 days ago

Well, I don’t know, as for me, most drugs are complete garbage, a waste of money. If you only knew how much I have already tried everything .. Normally, only NORMIO helped (by the way, you can get it almost for free with a special program). I drank it for 4 weeks, after the first week of taking it I felt better. 4 months have passed since then, the pressure is normal, I don’t even remember hypertension! I sometimes drink the remedy again for 2-3 days, just for prevention. And I found out about him by accident, from this article ..

P.S. Only now I myself am from the city and I didn’t find it on sale here, I ordered it via the Internet.

Evgenia Karimova() 13 days ago

Daria () 13 days ago

Yevgeny Karimova, as indicated in the article) I will duplicate just in case - NORMIO official website.

Ivan 13 days ago

This is far from news. Everyone already knows about this drug. And those who do not know, those, apparently, do not suffer from pressure.

Sonya 12 days ago

Isn't this a divorce? Why sell online?

Yulek36 (Tver) 12 days ago

Sonya, what country do you live in? They sell on the Internet, because shops and pharmacies set their markup brutal. In addition, payment is only after receipt, that is, first received and only then paid. And now everything is sold on the Internet - from clothes to TVs and furniture.

Content

Doctors believe that if the heart contracts at a rate of less than 45 beats per minute, it works in a slow rhythm. The heart rate is 60 beats / min, the figure of the lower limit of a moderate rate is 50 beats / min, and if the pulse approaches 40, this is already a pronounced pathology (bradycardia). The symptoms and treatment of heart brodycardia depend on the cause of the disease. This disease can develop against the background of autonomic abnormalities, fluctuations in blood pressure, endocrine diseases. Let's see how to identify such heart rhythm disturbances, and how to treat it.

The main signs and symptoms of cardiac bradycardia

Bradycardia is a condition where the heart rate (HR) is reduced, that is, a person's heart beats very slowly. The disease does not develop independently, but is a symptom of both cardiac pathology and diseases of other organs. In people with signs of bradykar dii violated the pumping function of the heart, which leads to stagnation of blood in the respiratory system. These symptoms can lead to a lung abscess. But sometimes bradycardia is a physiological norm, being a feature of people with a healthy heart or trained athletes.

The main reasons for the development of symptoms of bradycardia in humans are divided into forms:

Extracardiac, which develops with neurosis, vegetative dystonia, high blood pressure, pathologies of the brain, gastrointestinal tract, endocrine.
Organic, developing against the background of cardiosclerosis, myocardial dystrophy, myocardial infarction.
Medication that occurs during treatment with drugs such as quinine, cardiac glycosides, sympatholytics, morphine, calcium channel blockers.
Toxic, which occurs with an extreme degree of intoxication of the body during hepatitis, infectious diseases, uremia, phosphate poisoning.
Physiological, developing against the background of regular smoking, unprofessional chest massage, constant cold.
Senile, which is the cause of natural aging of the body.

Severe bradycardia causes malfunctions in the work of all body systems. During symptoms, circulatory disorders occur, which is directly related to oxygen starvation, which causes a person to lack strength for normal life. Often, bradycardia is accompanied by pallor of the mucous membranes and skin, convulsions, and even loss of consciousness. The main symptoms of the disease that require immediate treatment include:

chronic fatigue, weakness;
lack of air, the appearance of difficulty breathing;
frequent dizziness;
impaired attention, memory;
increase or decrease in blood pressure;
short-term visual disturbances.

Diagnosis of the disease

The therapist diagnoses bradycardia, paying attention to the patient's complaints, his heart sounds, a rare pulse, respiratory arrhythmia. If there are symptoms of heart failure, the patient will be referred for examination and treatment to a cardiologist. The main methods for diagnosing bradycardia:

Electrocardiogram. With its help, doctors record a decrease in heart rate, the presence of sinoatrial or atrioventricular blockade. With prolonged symptoms of bradycardia or with unsuccessful treatment, daily ECG monitoring is required.
CHPEFI. If the ECG method does not reveal blockades, then a transesophageal electrophysiological study is prescribed, in which the cardiac pathways are examined, revealing organic or functional bradycardia.
Exercise bike ergometry, which evaluates the frequency of heart beats during a certain physical activity.
Ultrasound of the heart, if an organic form of bradycardia is determined. Ultrasound examination will determine sclerotic and degenerative changes in the myocardium, an increase in the size of the heart.

First aid for an attack of bradycardia

If you feel the main symptoms of bradycardia (dizziness, weakness), then doctors recommend taking the following measures:

brew strong coffee;
perform any physical exercise or go for a run;
use Zelenin drops for bradycardia to quickly increase the pulse.

If the tonometer showed a heart rate below 35 beats / minute, call an ambulance, lie on your back with a small roller under your head, and place your legs on pillows. When pain in the region of the heart is observed with symptoms of bradycardia, it is advisable to put a nitroglycerin tablet under the tongue. If the patient has lost consciousness, then the emergency measures are as follows:

Artificial respiration. Pinch the victim's nose with one hand, and place the other under the neck. Take a deep breath, press your lips tightly against the victim's lips, exhale into the patient's mouth. If everything is done correctly, then the person will exhale the air on his own. Measure the patient's pulse after three breaths, continuing manipulations until the victim's ability to breathe on his own is restored.
Indirect cardiac massage. If the patient's pulse is not felt, then pressure should be applied to his chest in the region of the heart. This will favor the restoration of breathing and the resumption of blood circulation. Place one palm perpendicular to the victim's neck on the third lower lobe of the chest, and the second on top. Perform 10-12 quick, short pressures, then perform two artificial respirations. Provide assistance until the patient's breathing is restored or until the ambulance arrives.

Surgical treatment of the disease

Complete recovery from the symptoms of bradycardia is possible with the help of surgery. This is due to the implantation of a pacemaker, which controls the work of the heart muscle. A stimulator is a microcomputer equipped with an electrical impulse generator and electrodes, thanks to which the patient does not experience any symptoms of bradycardia. The pacemaker program is selected individually, in which the frequency of heart contractions, impulse strength and other heart parameters necessary for the normal functioning of the body are regulated.

Treatment of bradycardia with a pacemaker is prescribed in the following cases:

The patient has regular fainting spells.
Bradycardia is combined with tachycardia, which makes it impossible to use a number of medications for treatment.
Progression or chronic form of heart failure.
Medical treatment was not fruitful.
Symptoms of bradycardia developed on the background of taking medications that cannot be excluded with an additional disease.

The operation to insert a pacemaker is performed under general anesthesia and lasts about an hour. The stimulator is introduced into the right atrium through the veins. To do this, the cardiac surgeon makes an incision in the clavicle, abdominal cavity or fat layer, controlling all manipulations with the help of an X-ray machine. After such surgical treatment, the patient lies in the intensive care unit on his back for two hours, after which he is transferred to a regular ward. Full recovery from the symptoms of bradycardia occurs after two months. The pacemaker should be replaced every five years.

Medications

In the early stages of the disease, successful treatment is carried out with the following medications:

Folk remedies for the treatment of bradycardia of the heart

Alternative medicine can be very effective at the first symptoms and for the prevention of bradycardia. Folk remedies are aimed at stimulating the heart muscle. The most accessible:

Lemons, honey, garlic. Take 10 medium-sized fruits, scald with boiling water, squeeze out the juice. Chop 10 garlic cloves and add to lemon juice. Pour 1 liter of honey into the resulting mixture, and then keep in a cool, dark place for 10 days. To eliminate the symptoms of bradycardia, take the remedy for 3 months daily, two tablespoons in the morning on an empty stomach. To consolidate the result, repeat the course of treatment every year.
Vodka, propolis tincture, garlic. Grind 100 g of garlic, add 25 ml of propolis tincture (pharmacy), 250 g of vodka to it, leave for 10 days in a dark place. Take the bradycardia remedy before meals 3 times / day for 1 teaspoon until the symptoms of the disease pass.
Rose hip. The fruits are useful for strengthening the work of the heart in identifying symptoms of bradycardia. Take 8-10 rose hips, pour 400 ml of water, boil for 15 minutes. Cool the broth, strain, add 3 tablespoons of May honey, mix. Take daily 50 ml 30 minutes before meals 3 times / day, until the symptoms of bradycardia completely disappear.

During the treatment of bradycardia and for the prevention of its symptoms, it is advisable to introduce linseed or olive oil, fish oil, seaweed, pollen into the daily diet. These products help strengthen the heart muscle and eliminate symptoms of the disease, such as dizziness, fatigue, darkening in the eyes. Watch the video for some more useful folk recipes for treating bradycardia at home:

Attention! The information provided in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials of the article do not call for self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and give recommendations for treatment, based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.

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