title: Cardiovascular Disease Update: Bradyarrhythmias.
abstract: Bradyarrhythmia (bradycardia) is a heart rate lower than 60 beats/min. It can be due to sinus, atrial, or junctional bradycardia or to a problem with the conduction system (eg, an atrioventricular block). Asymptomatic bradycardia is common, especially among trained athletes or during sleep. Bradycardia symptoms can include syncope, dizziness, chest pain, dyspnea, or fatigue. It is important to determine during the evaluation if bradycardia is the cause of the patient's symptoms. In the acute setting, symptomatic patients should be treated with atropine. Percutaneous pacing can be used as a bridge to definitive treatment. The only therapy for persistent bradycardia is placement of a permanent pacemaker. Symptomatic patients with sick sinus syndrome and high second- or third-degree atrioventricular blocks require placement of permanent pacemakers.
authors.affiliation: Womack Army Medical Center, 2817 Reilly Road, Fort Bragg, NC 28310.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barstow
authors.affiliation: Naval Hospital Jacksonville, 2080 Child St, Jacksonville, FL 32212.
authors.forename: Johnathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: McDivitt
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001285:Atropine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D001285:Atropine