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Sick sinus syndrome

Bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome; Sinus node dysfunction; Slow heart rate - sick sinus; Tachy-brady syndrome; Sinus pause - sick sinus; Sinus arrest - sick sinus

 

Normally, the heartbeat starts in an area in the top chambers of the heart (atria). This area is the heart's pacemaker. It may be called the sinoatrial node, sinus node or SA node. This keeps the heart beat steady and regular.

Sick sinus syndrome is a group of heart rhythm problems due to problems with the sinus node, such as:

  • The heartbeat rate is too slow, called sinus bradycardia
  • The heartbeat pauses or stops, called sinus pauses or sinus arrest
  • Episodes of a fast heart rate
  • Slow heart rhythms that alternate with fast heart rhythms, called bradycardia-tachycardia or "tachy-brady syndrome"

Causes

 

Sick sinus syndrome most often occurs in people older than 50. It is often due to scar-like damage to electrical pathways in the heart muscle tissue.

In children, heart surgery on the upper chambers is a common cause of sick sinus syndrome.

Coronary heart disease , high blood pressure, and aortic and mitral valve diseases may occur with sick sinus syndrome. However, these diseases may have nothing to do with the syndrome.

Sick sinus syndrome is uncommon. Sinus bradycardia occurs more often than the other types of the condition.

Tachycardias (rapid heart rhythms) that start in the upper chambers of the heart may be part of the syndrome. These include atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, atrial tachycardia. A period of fast heart rates is often followed by very slow heart rates.

Some medicines can make abnormal heart rhythms worse. These include digitalis, calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers, and antiarrhythmics.

 

Symptoms

 

Most of the time, there are no symptoms.

Symptoms that do occur may mimic those of other disorders.

Symptoms may include:

  • Chest pain or angina
  • Confusion or other changes in mental status
  • Fainting or near-fainting
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Sensation of feeling the heart beat ( palpitations )
  • Shortness of breath , possibly only with physical activity like walking

 

Exams and Tests

 

The heart rate may be very slow at any time. Blood pressure may be normal or low.

Sick sinus syndrome may cause symptoms of heart failure to start or get worse. Sick sinus syndrome is diagnosed when the symptoms occur only during episodes of arrhythmia. However, this is often hard to prove.

An ECG may show abnormal heart rhythms related to this syndrome.

Holter monitoring is an effective tool for diagnosing sick sinus syndrome. It may pick up very slow heart rates and long pauses, along with episodes of atrial tachycardias. Other forms of long-term electrical monitoring may also be useful.

An intracardiac electrophysiology study (EPS) is a very specific test for this disorder. However, it is not often needed and may not confirm the diagnosis.

In some cases, a person's heart rate is observed when walking or exercising to see if it increases enough.

 

Treatment

 

You may not need treatment if you do not have any symptoms. Your health care provider will review the medicines you take to make sure they are not making your condition worse. Do not stop taking any of your medicines unless your provider tells you to do so.

You may need a permanent implanted pacemaker if your symptoms are related to bradycardia (slow heart rate).

A fast heart rate (tachycardia) may be treated with medicine. Sometimes, a procedure called radiofrequency ablation is used to cure tachycardia.

In some cases, medicines used to control periods of fast heart rate are combined with use of a pacemaker, which guards against periods of slow heart rate.

 

Outlook (Prognosis)

 

The syndrome is most often progressive. This means it gets worse over time in most cases.

The long-term outlook is excellent for people who have a permanent pacemaker implanted.

 

Possible Complications

 

Complications may include:

  • Angina
  • Decreased exercise capacity
  • Fainting (syncope)
  • Falls or injury caused by fainting
  • Heart failure
  • Poor heart pumping

 

When to Contact a Medical Professional

 

Call your provider if you have:

  • Lightheadedness
  • Fainting
  • Palpitations
  • Other symptoms of the condition

 

Prevention

 

Keeping your heart healthy by eating a well-balanced diet and exercising can prevent many types of heart disease.

You may need to avoid some types of medicines. Many times, the condition is not preventable.

 

 

Open References

References

Olgin JE, Zipes DP. Specific arrhythmias: diagnosis and treatment. In: Mann DL, Zipes DP, Libby P, Bonow RO, Braunwald E, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine . 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 37.

Zimetbaum P. Cardiac arrhythmias with supraventricular origin. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine . 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 64.

 
  • Cardiac arrhythmia symptoms

    Cardiac arrhythmia symptoms

    Animation

    •  

    Cardiac arrhythmia symptoms - Animation

    How cardiac arrhythmia is diagnosed.

  • Pacemaker

    Pacemaker - illustration

    A pacemaker is a small, battery-operated electronic device which is inserted under the skin to help the heart beat regularly and at an appropriate rate. The pacemaker has leads that travel through a large vein to the heart, where the wires are anchored. The leads send the electrical impulses to the heart to tell it to beat.

    Pacemaker

    illustration

  • Cardiac arrhythmia symptoms

    Animation

    •  

    Cardiac arrhythmia symptoms - Animation

    How cardiac arrhythmia is diagnosed.

  • Pacemaker

    Pacemaker - illustration

    A pacemaker is a small, battery-operated electronic device which is inserted under the skin to help the heart beat regularly and at an appropriate rate. The pacemaker has leads that travel through a large vein to the heart, where the wires are anchored. The leads send the electrical impulses to the heart to tell it to beat.

    Pacemaker

    illustration

A Closer Look

 

    Talking to your MD

     

      Self Care

       

        Tests for Sick sinus syndrome

         
           

          Review Date: 2/24/2016

          Reviewed By: Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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