Treating bradycardia

If during the diagnosis is established that the bradycardia caused by such disorders, such as sleep apnea Stop breathing (apnea) during sleep - upper airway obstruction   in a dream Dreams: how to understand our dreams   or hypothyroidism, is assigned to the treatment of major diseases. Often, it allows to bring the heart rate back to normal.

In some cases, cause bradycardia certain drugs, e.g., digoxin, opioid analgesics, propranolol, atenolol, metoprolol, sotalol, verapamil and diltiazem. If it was found in violation of the person taking any of these medicines, your doctor will most likely decide to change the dose and / or frequency of administration and duration of treatment, or if possible, assign other medicines.

When other treatments do not help, it is necessary to resort to using a pacemaker. This device is the size of a cell phone implanted under the collarbone, and coming from a wire is introduced through the veins to the heart. The electrodes, located on the end of the wires are attached to the heart muscle. The pacemaker monitors the heart rhythm and, as appropriate, generates electrical impulses to maintain a normal heart rate. Most modern stimulators also can store a variety of information relating to the work of the heart, which in future will be able to use a cardiologist, observe the patient. People who live with a pacemaker, you must often undergo examination, the doctor can check whether the device works well, and to monitor the overall health of the patient.

Prevention of bradycardia

The following guidelines will help both prevent the development of bradycardia and avoid deterioration of those who have been diagnosed with this disorder.

• Eat a balanced and sport. Proper nutrition and physical activity, perhaps equally important for heart health. How much you walk, exercise at least four times a week to reduce fat intake, and include in the diet of more fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and other plant products.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Extra weight significantly increases the probability of bradycardia and other cardiovascular diseases.
• Control your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. If you want to change your lifestyle or taking medication to bring these figures back to normal.
• Do not smoke. Even if you are a smoker or a little from time to time, the risk of bradycardia, it is much higher than that of non-smokers. If you can not quit smoking How to Quit Smoking: Tips for Women   yourself, ask for help from a doctor.
• Moderately drink alcohol. If you already can not themselves limit the consumption of alcohol, you should also consult a specialist.
• Control your stress levels How to beat stress? Create an oasis . High stress, especially if you feel it constantly increases the likelihood of heart problems.

First aid for bradycardia

Most patients bradycardia years does not cause any serious problems. First aid is usually required only in cases where a violation results in lightheadedness or fainting.

If a person is in lightheadedness, help him to sit or lie down. Make sure that the person is no air, if necessary, undo the top buttons, loosen the tie or belt.

If a person has fainted, immediately call an ambulance. Do not count on the fact that a patient will recover - it happens often, but in some cases bradycardia leading to cardiac arrest and death.

After calling an ambulance turn the patient on his back and put his feet up on a large pillow or other object with a minimum height of 20-30 centimeters - it improves blood flow to the heart and facilitates the work of some of the heart muscle.

You can try to bring the patient out of the swoon - a little pat on the cheek, sprinkle the face with water, bring to the nose a bottle of ammonia.

If he regains consciousness, ask him whether he is taking any medications for your heart, and if they had with him, help him to accept them. Making the injection of adrenaline, caffeine, or other drugs that stimulate heart activity, it can only be a person with special education, and knows exactly what medication the patient needs.

Diagnosis of bradycardia

During the conversation with the doctor to the patient is necessary, first of all, as detailed as possible to describe their symptoms, as well as talk about what medications he was taking lately, what kind of lifestyle he leads, if he has any bad habits, etc. .  Patients who have any symptoms bradycardia usually directed to electrocardiography (ECG) - is the most important treatment for the disease diagnosis .  In some cases, to obtain more complete information about the patient's heart, he asked for some time to use at home portable electrocardiograph .  Some ECG devices worn on the shoulder - on the chest or shoulder, and they account for and record the cardiogram for 24 hours .  In addition, during those days, doctors usually recommend their patients to write down what and at what time they were doing, then to evaluate the effect on heart rate certain activities .  Patients should also describe any symptoms that they appear at this time .

Portable ECG devices are designed for a different type of monitoring the work of the heart for several weeks or months. They need to be activated only when symptoms of bradycardia.

In addition, the doctor may perform electrocardiography, when the patient has been on a treadmill or a stationary bike - it helps to understand how the heart responds to physical activity.

In addition to the ECG blood test, which allows to identify the causes of bradycardia such as infectious diseases, hypothyroidism or electrolyte imbalance. If the doctor suspects that contributed to the development of bradycardia sleep apnea can be conducted special tests to monitor the patient during sleep Dreams: how to understand our dreams .

The more dangerous the bradycardia

Mild to moderate bradycardia do not represent a serious risk to human health and life. Such disorders can affect the quality of life - for example, lead to fatigue, which is why the patient can decrease productivity, and it will be difficult not only to work but also to engage in favorite things in their spare time. However, in some cases, the aetiology of the heart is a sign of potentially dangerous disorders such as hypothyroidism, so it is in any case can not be ignored. If the patient has bradycardia, in which from time to time there are symptoms such as confusion and fainting, it is an alarming sign. The most serious consequences of bradycardia in such cases - cardiac arrest and death.

High blood pressure and bradycardia

According to well-known in medicine Starling law, the greater the cardiac muscle is stretched in the diastolic period, or the period of relaxation, the stronger subsequent contraction of heart muscle, and the more the blood goes into the artery .  If bradycardia due to large intervals between heartbeats ventricles have time to fill a large volume of blood, and, therefore, harder to stretch .  A reduction are more potent, and enters into the blood vessels at the same time more blood than the normal healthy person .  As a consequence, the pressure vessel walls have increased, and the systolic pressure, the patient may be higher than the average, in that diastolic pressure is abnormally low .  People with severe bradycardia is often very high systolic pressure - 220-240 mm / Hg .  Article . And diastolic - 40 mm / Hg . Article . , Well below the norm .  In some cases, on the contrary, hypertension causes of bradycardia .

Bradycardia and arrhythmias

Bradycardia - this is one species of arrhythmia. Other types of arrhythmias are tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Some patients may suffer simultaneously from several types of arrhythmia.

Bradycardia and tachycardia Tachycardia - the body to the limit?   - Violations that can be called opposites of each other, are combined in patients with sick sinus syndrome. Episodes of bradycardia in such cases, alternate with episodes of tachycardia - a condition in which the heart rate can be increased to 150-200 beats per minute.

When atrial fibrillation episodes occur in patients palpitations and irregular heartbeat. This may also occur chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, Dizziness - if the ground is slipping from under his feet . In severe cases, possible fainting and blood clots, which sometimes causes a stroke. Often, patients live for years with this kind of arrhythmia, not noticing her symptoms for as long as they do not develop a thromboembolism Thromboembolism: severe complications .

When you see any signs of arrhythmia is strongly recommended as soon as possible to undergo a medical examination and, if necessary, to start treatment.