Aa
Why do I have bradycardia?
I have been experiencing all kind of horrible symptoms over the last month.
Dizzy, almost fainting, chest pounding, chest pain, confusion ect
my heart rate is 40-44 bpm
blood pressure is normal
I am a 40 year female, in what I thought was great health
I watch what I eat, hardly ever drink, don't smoke and up until 3 weeks ago jogged 5 days a week.
I have had a chest exray - normal
eco - cardiogram - normal
and still waiting on results for my halter monitor.
My doctor is talking about a pace maker. I think this is crazy.. Why is this happening to me?
No heart disease in my family, I take no medications, don't do drugs.
There must be a reason why it is happening.
Am I low on vitamins and minerals?
Did running cause this? I have only been running for 8 months?
Dizzy, almost fainting, chest pounding, chest pain, confusion ect
my heart rate is 40-44 bpm
blood pressure is normal
I am a 40 year female, in what I thought was great health
I watch what I eat, hardly ever drink, don't smoke and up until 3 weeks ago jogged 5 days a week.
I have had a chest exray - normal
eco - cardiogram - normal
and still waiting on results for my halter monitor.
My doctor is talking about a pace maker. I think this is crazy.. Why is this happening to me?
No heart disease in my family, I take no medications, don't do drugs.
There must be a reason why it is happening.
Am I low on vitamins and minerals?
Did running cause this? I have only been running for 8 months?
They may well figure it out, but... I have told my cardiologist... I LOVE my pacemaker and I recommend them to everyone. Of course I say it somewhat facetiously, BUT it does help a lot and is not really too much of a burden to bear. It could well put you right back to running, just to have a back up in place. It goes in an about an hour and works immediately. It is so much better than passing out from too slow a rate. I am in a spot where I would do about anything to stay away from the meds. If there were any meds to speed up the heart... (I only know of illegal recreational ones), they would have other side effects anyway. I hope they figure it out soon, but if the word pacemaker comes up, don't run away. It has been the highlight of 2008 for me.
Hello...
I'm sure that you are frustrated by this since you seem to lead a healthy, active lifestyle. I'm sure that your Dr will be able to figure this out based on your holter report.
Since the Echo and Ch-Xray have ruled out possible heart defect or disease in the chambers or valves there are 2 electrical issues that could be the cause.
1st cause could be Sick Sinus Syndrome (or Sinus Node Dysfunction): is a specific kind of slow heart rate
With this the heart's natural pacemaker (sinus node) either
Does not maintain a heart rate that is needed by the body, or
Cannot increase the heart rate when more oxygen is needed, such as when exercising.
When the sinus node does not work properly, other heart tissues may begin a heartbeat. However, the rate may be inconsistent or too slow for normal activities. With a heart rate that is too slow, not enough oxygen is pumped to the body. When there is not enough oxygen going to the body it causes symptoms such as dizziness, extreme tiredness, shortness of breath, or fainting. Common causes for sinus node dysfunction include hereditary heart defects, illnesses but sometimes the exact cause is unknown.
2nd cause could be Heart Block, which is a specific kind of slow or unsteady heart rate (bradycardia). With heart block, the second half of a heartbeat is sometimes stopped from reaching the lower heart chambers (ventricles).
Unfortunately, while there are medications to reduce the heart rate for symptoms from a tachycardia...there are no known long term medications to increase a heart rate from a bradycardic state. Treatment is usually a pacemaker. Based on your symptoms, which are pretty severe, this may be the best treatment option for you.
Please update us with the holter findings.
I'm sure that you are frustrated by this since you seem to lead a healthy, active lifestyle. I'm sure that your Dr will be able to figure this out based on your holter report.
Since the Echo and Ch-Xray have ruled out possible heart defect or disease in the chambers or valves there are 2 electrical issues that could be the cause.
1st cause could be Sick Sinus Syndrome (or Sinus Node Dysfunction): is a specific kind of slow heart rate
With this the heart's natural pacemaker (sinus node) either
Does not maintain a heart rate that is needed by the body, or
Cannot increase the heart rate when more oxygen is needed, such as when exercising.
When the sinus node does not work properly, other heart tissues may begin a heartbeat. However, the rate may be inconsistent or too slow for normal activities. With a heart rate that is too slow, not enough oxygen is pumped to the body. When there is not enough oxygen going to the body it causes symptoms such as dizziness, extreme tiredness, shortness of breath, or fainting. Common causes for sinus node dysfunction include hereditary heart defects, illnesses but sometimes the exact cause is unknown.
2nd cause could be Heart Block, which is a specific kind of slow or unsteady heart rate (bradycardia). With heart block, the second half of a heartbeat is sometimes stopped from reaching the lower heart chambers (ventricles).
Unfortunately, while there are medications to reduce the heart rate for symptoms from a tachycardia...there are no known long term medications to increase a heart rate from a bradycardic state. Treatment is usually a pacemaker. Based on your symptoms, which are pretty severe, this may be the best treatment option for you.
Please update us with the holter findings.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Life isn't fair, it seems the most noble among us have the worst "crosses" to bear. I'm not say your symptoms strike me as "worst", but a cross to bear, but something we'd all like to be spared.
Your hear rate, take by me to be as low as 40, is quite low and is likely the basis of the comment about a pacemaker. Most people require 60 bpm and higher at rest to maintain good oxygen delivery. Some marathon athletes have rest HRs in the 40s and 50s, but the rest of us mortals don't have the powerful cardiovascular systems of these athletes.
Medications to slow the HR, e.g., Beta Blockers and others, are common, but I don't know of any heart meds to raise the HR. There may be some... let's see what other posters have to add.
I do not think your recent running has anything to do with the low HR, unless you are training for a marathon level run.
Your hear rate, take by me to be as low as 40, is quite low and is likely the basis of the comment about a pacemaker. Most people require 60 bpm and higher at rest to maintain good oxygen delivery. Some marathon athletes have rest HRs in the 40s and 50s, but the rest of us mortals don't have the powerful cardiovascular systems of these athletes.
Medications to slow the HR, e.g., Beta Blockers and others, are common, but I don't know of any heart meds to raise the HR. There may be some... let's see what other posters have to add.
I do not think your recent running has anything to do with the low HR, unless you are training for a marathon level run.
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