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What is Asymptomatic Bradycardia: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Complications, Prevention

What is Asymptomatic Bradycardia?

Asymptomatic bradycardia refers to the heart rate, which is very slow as compared to the normal heart rate. The slow rate depends on the age factor and physical condition of the person. In average people, the heart rate of less than 60 BPM (beats per minute) is considered a condition of bradycardia. It is commonly found in athletes. This article discusses the association of asymptomatic bradycardia and incident cardiovascular disease. Numerous studies demonstrated that a higher resting heart rate shows a bad cardiovascular outcome. This resting heart rate is known to be modifiable with time, concerning genes and environmental factors like exercise and medications. This impact of bradycardia is not very clear as bradycardia is found in athletic individuals and is asymptomatic. The effects of bradycardia on non-athletic individuals are unclear.

The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

In some regions or populations, bradycardia has been associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. To check whether asymptomatic bradycardia is associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk or decreased incident cardiovascular disease or mortality.1 The research included 6,733 participants. They invited men and women who were not the patients of cardiovascular disease of ages 45 to 84 in 2000-2002 and recorded and followed them for over 10 years to discover incident cardiovascular disease and mortality. Patients who had atrial arrhythmias were not included. The participants’ heart rate was measured with the help of a baseline electrocardiogram. The resting heart rate was regulated on a 12-lead electrocardiogram. The analysis was done in June 2014. They were not diagnosed with Cardiovascular Disease (CVD). The presence of CVD was higher for the individuals with bradycardia but after adjustment for CVD risk factors and potential risks, the risk quotient was reduced. The resting heart rate was determined with the help of a 12-lead electrocardiogram. Patients previously diagnosed with an arrhythmia or having a pacemaker system attached to them were not included. Although bradycardia was conventionally defined for a heart rate of fewer than 60 beats per minute or 50 beats per minute it was considered that the patients having a resting heart rate of less than 50 bpm were said to be suffering from bradycardia. These participants were tracked for the next 9 to 12 months for any cardiovascular events and mortality. Cox proportional hazards model was used to measure the association between Cardiovascular Disease events and mortality. The results were observed which showed that the mean age of the participants was 62 years out of which 47 percent were males. The participants who did not take a heart rate modifying drugs showed a mean heart rate of 63+10 bpm and 5 percent of them had a resting heart rate of less than 50 BMP. On the other hand, the participants who took the drug showed a mean heart rate of 60+10 bpm and 11 percent were diagnosed with bradycardia. The mortality in individuals who took the heart rate modifying drugs was 69 percent higher in people having an HR between 50 and 59 bpm and 142 percent higher in the population with an average heart rate of 60 to 69 bpm. The mortality risk among the individuals who did not take the drug was similar to the individuals with bradycardia. On the contrary, the individuals who took the drug showed a higher mortality rate both for HR<50 BMP and HR>80 BMP. It was then observed that bradycardia was not associated with an increase in mortality for patients without Cardiovascular Disease. These findings sighed relief to the patients with bradycardia but don’t have cardiovascular disease.

Symptoms of Asymptomatic Bradycardia

Asymptomatic bradycardia may not present with obvious symptoms in some cases, however, some people may show some of these complaints or symptoms.

Causes of Asymptomatic Bradycardia

Some of the common causes of asymptomatic bradycardia include the following:

  • Damaged heart tissues
  • A complication because of heart surgery
  • Inflammatory disease
  • Heart block
  • Myocarditis
  • The side-effect of certain medications

Complications of Asymptomatic Bradycardia

Untreated or severe asymptomatic bradycardia can cause problems like:

Prevention of Asymptomatic Bradycardia

The following are some of the prevention of asymptomatic bradycardia:

  • Take a balanced diet and eat healthily can prevent bradycardia.
  • Avoid smoking
  • Have regular check-ups for early identification and timely treatment.
  • Regular exercise is a must for everyone
  • Keep blood pressure under control.

Keep a check on blood cholesterol levels and take necessary treatment, if required. It is a general term for various disorders related to heart and blood vessels. They include:

Diagnosis and Treatment of Asymptomatic Bradycardia

Due to a low heart rate, as in the case of asymptomatic bradycardia, the organs receive an insufficient amount of oxygen supply. The organs cease to operate when there is not enough oxygen reaching the organs which happen due to an extremely low heart rate. However, athletes with a low heartbeat are normal because of their overactivity. When a problem occurs in the sinus node, which is the natural pacemaker of the heart, it is known as the sinus bradycardia. Bradycardia may occur here when the electrical rhythm is not recorded as it should. The signs and symptoms of bradycardia are dizziness, near fainting, unexpected fatigue, lack of energy, pain in the chest, problems with memory, forgetting easily, respiratory problem, symptoms of an underlying illness, lightheadedness, and fainting spells. Sleep apnea, myocarditis, certain medication or lupus can cause bradycardia. Treatment depends on the underlying cause of the low heart rate and by inserting a pacemaker by a surgical procedure. A heartbeat recording 60 per minute is considered abnormal and refers to as bradycardia or sinus bradycardia. Underlying health conditions such as cardiac arrhythmia, typhoid fever, narcotics, hypothermia, endocarditis, a heart surgery complication, etc. can cause bradycardia. The risk factors that can cause bradycardia are smoking, damage of the heart, anxiety, use of heavy alcohol, heavy drug use, diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, psychological stress, and renal insufficiency. The diagnosis of asymptomatic bradycardia is made using specialized tests. The electrical signals that signify the heart rhythm are measured by ECG or electrocardiogram. An electrocardiogram is essential for the diagnosis of bradycardia along with medical history and some physical examinations. The heart rhythm may not get recorded under the emotional stress of physical examination which is one of the challenges in diagnosing bradycardia. Another diagnosis includes providing a portable ECG machine by the doctor which is also known as cardiac event motor where heart rhythm data is collected overcome days. Sometimes an underlying illness is responsible for the low heartbeat for which some doctor may refer to a blood test. It is very important to inform the respective doctor about the different medications the patient consumed or is consuming and the dosage too. Any information about the herbal or vitamin supplements being consumed by the patient should also be informed to the doctor. Many supplements and medications can cause fluctuation in the heart rate including bradycardia. The treatment of asymptomatic bradycardia depends on the underlying condition. Medications and other supplements may be given according to medical advice. In case of any heart disease or problem, the primary thing to focus on is the diet of the patient. Any underlying illness should be treated to bring the overall functioning and the health of the heart in proper condition. Symptoms would be naturally relieved and the heart rate will return to normal.

  • Diet should be essentially changed if it’s a concern of high blood pressure or cholesterol as according to American heart association one’s diet can improve heart functioning by fighting cardiovascular diseases.
  • Different kinds of nutrient foods are recommended such as wild-caught fish and lean proteins, vegetables and organic fruits, and whole grains, salmon and mackerel, walnuts, egg yolks, etc.
  • Foods rich in omega – 3s are highly helpful to our body as it lowers blood pressure, rejects the bad cholesterol and increases the good cholesterol level.
  • COQ10 supplements that are rich in essential fats such as cabbage, sesame seeds, oranges, broccoli, pistachio nuts, etc. can reduce heart attack risks, lowers the blood pressure and lowers the level of certain substances which are seen to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
  • Intake of magnesium can also help in having sleep, relieve muscle aches and spasms.
  • Alternative modes of treatment may also help some people with asymptomatic bradycardia. Some of these include the following,
  • Acupuncture is very helpful in some of the patients to reduce the risk of heart disease in patients with fibromyalgia and it also lowers stress level.
  • Reducing the stress level is very important for people with heart disease.
  • Pilates, yoga, and meditation induce calmness and wellbeing.
  • Vitamin B complex helps to reduce depression symptoms in people.
  • Inhaling lavender essential oil is also another way of coping with anxiety through the therapeutic effect of smell.
  • Treatment for sleep apnea can cause bradycardia symptoms.
  • Exercising daily is a must as it keeps a body active and improves cardiovascular health, lowers stress level facilitating a good amount of sleep and also reduces symptoms of sinus bradycardia.
  • Improving the level of vitamin D by exposing oneself to the sunlight.

Conclusion

Asymptomatic bradycardia is a condition in which heart rate is very slow than the normal heart rate. The slow rate depends on the age factor and physical condition of the person. Athletes experience it commonly as their resting heart rate is lower than the normal heart rate. Cardiac arrest and dizziness are two of the symptoms of bradycardia. Its causes include damaged heart tissues, complications after heart surgery and inflammatory disease. Asymptomatic bradycardia can be prevented by avoiding smoking, getting regular check-ups, exercising regularly, and eating healthy food. Early detection and timely treatment help, so follow medical advice. If bradycardia left untreated it can cause various complications including severe chest pain, heart failure, high or low blood pressure.

References:

Team PainAssist
Team PainAssist
Written, Edited or Reviewed By: Team PainAssist, Pain Assist Inc. This article does not provide medical advice. See disclaimer
Last Modified On:February 15, 2020

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