Bradycardia is a type of abnormal heart rhythm that causes a slow heartbeat of less than 60 beats per minute. When your heartbeat is slow, your body may not receive the blood and oxygen it needs to function properly.
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A normal heart rate in adults is usually between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Bradycardia is a type of arrhythmia that causes the heart to beat so slowly that the body does not get enough blood and oxygen to function properly.
Doctors define bradycardia as a heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute.
Your heart rate naturally slows as you age. Bradycardia is more common in older adults but can happen at any age. It can also occur in athletes and other people who are highly active, although it doesn’t usually cause noticeable symptoms.
Bradycardia is caused by a problem with your heart's natural pacemaker or electrical system. It occurs when one of the main nodes in the upper chambers of your heart is not working properly, resulting in a heartbeat that is too slow. Causes of bradycardia may include:
Aging and a personal or family history of heart disease are two major risk factors for bradycardia. Other risk factors include:
Bradycardia can prevent your body from getting the oxygen-rich blood it needs. In serious cases, bradycardia can cause complications such as:
Having a resting heartbeat of less than 60 beats per minute doesn’t always cause symptoms, especially if you are younger or in very good shape. If you are having symptoms of a slow heart rate, you should see your doctor.
You may not be able to control some of your risk factors for bradycardia, such as aging and family history. However, eating a heart-healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, avoiding recreational drugs, and controlling chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol may help to lower your risk.
Symptoms of bradycardia vary from person to person. In fact, some people may experience very mild symptoms or no symptoms at all.
In addition to an abnormally slow heartbeat (less than 60 beats per minute), symptoms of bradycardia may include:
Your doctor will listen to your heartbeat as part of your annual physical exam or during other medical appointments. If you have chest pains, severe shortness of breath, or experience fainting, call 911 or go to the Emergency Department. If you experience any unusual symptoms, you should call your doctor right away.
You should go to the hospital Emergency Department or dial 911 if you are having symptoms of a heart attack or severe symptoms of a slow heart rate such as fainting, dizziness, fatigue or shortness of breath.
Our experts use leading-edge technology and techniques to diagnose hundreds of cases of cardiac arrhythmias each year, including bradycardia.
During your physical exam, your doctor will:
Following your exam, your doctor may order additional tests and procedures to confirm a diagnosis of bradycardia.
We offer a full range of tests for bradycardia, including:
Other tests for bradycardia may include:
Bradycardia is a common, treatable condition. With proper treatment, most people with bradycardia are able to control symptoms and live a normal, active life.
Bradycardia treatment depends on your test results and the cause of your condition. Your doctor at UPMC will go over your test results and discuss treatment options.
Treatment may not be required, or your doctor may monitor your heart rhythm periodically if test results show:
Your doctor may recommend adopting heart-healthy lifestyle changes, including changes to your diet and activity level.
You should limit alcohol, sugar, and sodium if you have bradycardia. Focus on eating fresh, healthy, whole-foods such as fish, chicken, beans, vegetables, nuts, fruits, and whole grains.
If bradycardia is caused by a problem with your heart's conduction system, you may need an implantable device that produces electrical impulses, when needed, to control your heart rate.
Our physicians perform hundreds of surgical procedures each year to treat bradycardia and other irregular heart rhythms using implantable devices. Implantable devices include:
Pacemaker and ICD procedures are performed by a cardiologist called an electrophysiologist who specializes in heart rhythm disorders. You may be sedated or asleep during your procedure. Your doctor will:
After your procedure, you will need to spend a night in the hospital to make sure your device is working properly. After you are discharged, you should be able to resume your normal activities in a few days. However, you should not drive until your doctor says it’s OK.
Your doctor will follow up with you to see how well you are responding to nonsurgical treatments. If nonsurgical treatment isn’t effective enough your doctor may recommend getting a pacemaker or ICD. These devices are more than 95 percent effective for treating abnormal heart rhythms.
UPMC has one of the premier electrophysiology programs in Pennsylvania, and one of the largest in the United States. Our program offers:
Last reviewed by a UPMC medical professional on 2024-10-01.
