bradycardia

bradycardia

 [brad″e-kahr´de-ah]

slowness of the heartbeat, so that the pulse rate is less than 60 per minute. This can occur in normal persons, particularly during sleep; trained athletes also usually have slow pulse and heart rates. adj., adj bradycar´diac.

fetal bradycardia a fetal heart rate of less than 120 beats per minute, generally associated with hypoxia; it is usually due to placental insufficiency; it may also result from transfer of local anesthetics or beta-adrenergic blocking agents, and rarely to heart block associated with congenital heart disease or maternal collagen vascular disease.

nodal bradycardia bradycardia in which the stimulus of the heart's contraction arises in the atrioventricular node or common bundle.

sinoatrial bradycardia (sinus bradycardia) a slow sinus rhythm, with a heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute in an adult; it is common in young adults and in athletes but is also a manifestation of some disorders.

bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome any cardiac dysrhythmia characterized by alternating slow and fast heart rates, often resulting in hemodynamic compromise. See also sick sinus syndrome.

bra·dy·car·di·a

(brad'ē-kar'dē-ă),

Slowness of the heartbeat, usually defined (by convention) as a rate under 50 beats/minute.

Synonym(s): brachycardia, bradyrhythmia

[brady- + G. kardia, heart]

bradycardia

/brady·car·dia/ (-kahr´de-ah) slowness of the heartbeat, as evidenced by slowing of the pulse rate to less than 60.bradycar´diac

bradycardia

(brăd′ĭ-kär′dē-ə)

n.

Slowness of the heart rate, usually fewer than 60 beats per minute in an adult human.

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brad′y·car′dic (-dĭk) adj.

bradycardia

[-kär′dē·ə]

Etymology: Gk, bradys, slow, kardia, heart

a condition in which the heart rate is less than 60/min. Bradycardia takes the form of sinus bradycardia, sinus arrhythmia, and second- or third-degree atrioventricular block. Sinus bradycardia may be caused by excessive vagal tone, decreased sympathetic tone, or anatomical changes. It is common in athletes and is relatively benign. It may even be beneficial in acute myocardial infarction (especially inferior). Pathological bradycardia may be symptomatic of a brain tumor, digitalis toxicity, heart block, or vagotonus. Cardiac output is decreased, causing faintness, dizziness, chest pain, and eventually syncope and circulatory collapse. Treatment may include administration of atropine, implantation of a pacemaker, or change in medical treatment. Also called brachycardia.

bradycardia

Slow heart rate, commonly defined as a rate of < 60 bpm or a rate which is too slow to be physiologically appropriate for the person and/or activity (generally recognised as < 45 beats/minute in men, < 50 beats/minute in women). A notable exception is aerobic athletes, whose resting heart rates are significantly lower than those of non-athletes.
 
Clinical findings
Symptoms may be specific (syncope) or nonspecific (dizziness, fatigue, weakness, heart failure).
 
Management
Beta blockers (pindolol), pacemaker.

bradycardia

Cardiology Slow heart rate; commonly defined as a rate < 60 bpm or a rate that is too slow to be physiologically appropriate for the person and/or activity; alternatively< 45 beats/min in ♂; <50 beats/min in ♀Clinical Sx may be specific–syncope, or nonspecific–dizziness, fatigue, weakness, heart failure Management Beta blockers–pindolol, pacemaker. See Cardiac output.

bra·dy·car·di·a

(brad'ē-kahr'dē-ă)

Slowness of the heartbeat, usually a rate less than 60 beats per minute.
Synonym(s): brachycardia.

[brady- + G. kardia, heart]

bradycardia

A slow heart rate. In the healthy this often indicates a high degree of fitness, but bradycardia can be a sign of heart disease, such as heart block, an effects of digitalis or beta-blocker overdosage or the result of thyroid underaction (MYXOEDEMA).

bradycardia

an abnormal reduction in heart rate.

Bradycardia

A slow heart rate. Bradycardia is one of the two types of arrhythmia

Mentioned in: Arrhythmias, Electrophysiology Study of the Heart, Heart Block, Sick Sinus Syndrome

bradycardia

slow heart rate, defined as 60 beats per minute or less; known as sinus bradycardia when it arises from the normal pacemaker in the heart (the sinoatrial (SA) node), e.g. the slow resting heart rate in trained athletes, when vagal tone is increased. Pathological causes include the action of some drugs, or hormonal or electrolyte abnormalities; a fixed slow rate can arise from an abnormal focus, when the spread of excitation from the SA node is prevented by 'heart block'.

bradycardia

slow heart beat

bradycardia (brā·dē·karˑ·dē·),

n a heart rate that is less than 60 beats per minute.

bra·dy·car·di·a

(brad'ē-kahr'dē-ă)

Slowness of the heartbeat, usually under 50 beats/minute.

[brady- + G. kardia, heart]

bradycardia (brad´ikär´dēə),

n an abnormal slowness of the heart as evidenced by a slowing of the pulse rate (less than 50 beats per minute).

bradycardia

slowness of the heartbeat, in dogs and cats to less than 60 beats per minute.

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sinus bradycardia

a slow sinus rhythm, characterized by normal electrocardiographic complexes in a normal rhythm or a sinus arrhythmia. A normal finding, most commonly seen in large breeds of dogs or athletic animals.

Sinus bradycardia in a dog. By permission from Ettinger SJ, Feldman E, Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Saunders, 2004

bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome

see sick sinus syndrome.

Patient discussion about bradycardia

Q. What is considered a slow heartbeat? I am a 30 year old woman and I went for a routine checkup at my Doctor's. He checked my pulse and it was 52 beats per minute. Is this considered slow? All my family members have a faster beat of 65- 90 beats per minute. If it is slow, is it bad?

A. If the heartbeat is too slow, usually considered a rate below 60 beats a minute, not enough oxygen-rich blood flows through the body. The symptoms of a slow heartbeat are:

Fatigue
Dizziness
Lightheadedness
Fainting or near fainting

However, some people with slow heartbeat don't have any symptoms at all. Regular exercise can also result in a slow heartbeat. This happens because the exercise has actually strengthened the heart to the point where it can beat less often and still perform its job effectively. I am not a doctor, but it seems to me that in this case the slow heartbeat is not a cause for concern. If it troubles you, consult your doctor and see what he/she thinks about it.

Q. SVT and AF, Hearts that go fast to slow or any others probs with the beats of any kind and Ablation of hearts I have had Ablation done once and I am still having passing out spells and still on 50mg toprol 2 times a day till two days ago, now I am on 150 to 200 aday again. Its not the first time I have had to up meds. I had ablation down 4/22/05. I can breath better now but but it didnt take it away as you can tell. Now Dr Leonardie would like to do it again . This is the big ????! Will it or can it work 100% this time, or will it hit and miss some again???? MTT

A. Well I can understand the frustration of having to go through this procedure yet another time. There are no guarantees in medicine. You should follow your doctor's advice, as another proceudre might be more helpful than the last one. However you should keep in mind that nothing is for sure.