Cardiologist Marat Valeev: with bradycardia, the brain suffers from a lack of oxygen and frightening symptoms arise.
Bradycardia is an excessively slow heartbeat, in which the pulse can slow to less than 60 beats per minute.
“At this rate, the heart cannot pump enough blood needed by the body – as a result, organs and tissues begin to experience oxygen starvation. “The brain is especially sensitive to a lack of oxygen,” cardiologist Marat Valeev said on his Telegram channel.
Such a slowdown in heartbeat and its consequences can provoke an extremely uncomfortable condition. Deterioration of health in his case can manifest itself as a dangerous disorder, resembling a picture of a heart attack or stroke. Cardiologist Valeev named dangerous manifestations of a slow pulse:
“Among the first manifestations of bradycardia are darkening in the eyes, weakness, loss of consciousness.”
The specialist noted: a slow heart rate is not always caused by health problems. Like hypotensive people from birth, some people have congenital physiological bradycardia – their pulse is always slow. Bradycardia is also common in athletes and is normal during sleep.
The pulse can also drop below normal while taking certain medications, the doctor added.
But the most dangerous thing is when the pulse slows down for a pathological reason. According to the cardiologist, the following disorders may be hidden behind this:
- Heart disease;
- Scar formation after a heart attack;
- Electrolyte imbalance (excess or deficiency of potassium);
- Hypothyroidism or insufficient production of thyroid hormones;
- Obstructive sleep apnea.
When to see a doctor about bradycardia. When it suddenly occurs in an adult who has not changed his or her lifestyle. It is imperative to do this if the slowing of the pulse is accompanied by uncomfortable or severe symptoms in the form of weakness, dizziness, nausea, or pre-fainting.
Earlier, the MedikForum.ru portal wrote about what symptoms can warn of existing liver problems.
Important! Information is provided for reference purposes. Ask a specialist about contraindications and side effects and do not self-medicate under any circumstances. At the first signs of illness, consult a doctor.
Marat Valeev Health physician, cardiologist