Sinus bradycardia

Sinus bradycardia

Sinus bradycardia is a heart rhythm that originates from the sinus node and has a rate that is lower than normal. In humans, bradycardia is generally defined to be a rate of under 60 beats per minute.

Signs and symptoms

The decreased heart rate can cause a decreased cardiac output resulting in symptoms such as lightheadedness, dizziness, hypotension, vertigo, and syncope. The slow heart rate may also lead to atrial, junctional, or ventricular ectopic rhythms.

Bradycardia is not necessarily problematic. People who regularly practice sports may have sinus bradycardia, because their trained hearts can pump enough blood in each contraction to allow a low resting heart rate. Sinus bradycardia can also be an adaptive advantage; for example, diving seals may have a heart rate as low as 12 beats per minute, helping them to conserve oxygen during long dives.

Sinus bradycardia is a common condition found in both healthy individuals and those who are considered well conditioned athletes.

Heart rates considered bradycardic vary by species; for example, in the common housecat, a rate of under 120 beats per minute is abmoral. Generally, smaller species have higher heart rates while larger species have lower rates.

Causes

• This rhythm may be caused by one of the following:
  • Increased vagal tone.
  • Sleep
  • Hypothermia
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Intrinsic disease of the SA node (E.g. sick sinus syndrome).
  • An effect of drugs, such as the use of digitalis, beta-blockers, quinidine, Adenosine, Calcium channel blocker.
  • Seizure.
  • It could also be a normal finding in a healthy, well-conditioned person.
  • It may be secondary to infections like Diphtheria, acute rheumatic fever, viral myocarditis.
  • Increased intracranial pressure.
  • Rhodotoxin poisoning.

Diagnosis

ECG Characteristics

• Rate: Less than 60 beats per minute.
• Rhythm: Regular.
• P waves: Upright, consistent, and normal in morphology and duration.
• P-R Interval: Between 0.12-0.20 seconds in duration.
• QRS Complex: Less than 0.12 seconds in width, and consistent in morphology.

See also

• Sinus tachycardia
• Long QT syndrome