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What is bradycardia?
24 September 2025
The term bradycardia refers to a significant decrease in heart rate. Although it may not always present symptoms or be severe, it can become a serious condition by preventing the heart from pumping enough oxygenated blood throughout the body.
What is Heart Rate?
Heart rate is the number of times the heart beats per minute. The normal resting range is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. In cases of bradycardia, the heart rate falls below 60 beats per minute.
It is important to note that a low or high heart rate is not always indicative of a health problem, as the body can adjust to various situations such as physical exercise or rest.
In bradycardia, the heart rate is abnormally low—generally defined as fewer than 60 beats per minute at rest. This condition may signal that the heart is not pumping enough blood to meet the body’s needs. However, in some individuals, especially athletes, this may be a normal variant.
There are various causes of this condition, including:
- Congenital heart defect
- Heart infections
- Complications following heart surgery
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Lupus or rheumatic fever
- Reaction to certain medications
- Age-related heart degeneration
- Heart damage from illness or heart attacks
- Hypothyroidism
- Low blood levels of minerals such as calcium and potassium
Signs and symptoms Bradycardia
Bradycardia symptoms can vary depending on the severity of the condition and how it affects blood flow throughout the body.
Some individuals with mild bradycardia may not experience any obvious symptoms, while others may develop a range of clinical signs due to reduced oxygen delivery to tissues. Common symptoms include:
- Mental confusion
- Memory loss
- Fainting
- Dizziness and disorientation
- Fatigue and weakness
- Breathing difficulties
- Chest pain
Treatment Bradycardia
Once a doctor evaluates your symptoms and medical history, they will perform a physical exam and request tests such as an electrocardiogram, Holter monitor, stress tests, tilt table tests, and blood work, among others.
Treatment will depend on the underlying cause and the severity of the symptoms. Medication may be prescribed to manage the condition, but if symptoms persist, a surgically implanted pacemaker may be necessary.
Can Bradycardia Cause a Heart Attack?
Bradycardia—especially when severe or left untreated—can lead to serious complications. One of the main concerns is that a very low heart rate can prevent the heart from pumping enough blood to vital organs, resulting in decreased oxygen supply to the brain and other tissues.
Although bradycardia itself does not usually directly cause a heart attack, it may contribute to serious cardiac events in patients with underlying conditions.
For instance, individuals with narrowed or blocked coronary arteries may face an increased risk of myocardial infarction if their heart rate becomes excessively low.
Other complications that may arise from severe bradycardia include:
- Heart failure
- Recurrent fainting
- Death
At the Arrhythmia Clinic of ABC Medical Center, we provide specialized care—contact us today!
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Ricardo Ostos
Content CreatorLearn more about Ricardo on LinkedIn
The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.
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