How a life-changing cardiac procedure stopped Kirti worrying about her heart health. Kirti first felt a heart palpitation back in 2016 whilst out shopping. After delaying seeking specialist advice, she sought the expertise of Dr Mike Koa-Wing, Consultant Cardiologist at The Wellington Hospital, in 2020 after the palpations got worse. Here Kirti shares her story.
Bradycardia
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BRADYCARDIA AT HCA UK
Why choose us?
We’re the UK’s No.1 provider of private cardiac care. We’ve looked after more than 79,000 cardiac patients in the last three years alone, more than any other private provider in the UK, and 99% of those patients would recommend us to their family or friends.
Our leading consultants and multi-specialist teams include more than 100 heart rhythm experts, here to share their knowledge and deliver fully personalised, holistic care that leads to better health outcomes for you.
This common arrhythmia of the heart is diagnosed when you have an abnormally slow resting heart rate of below 60 beats per minute (BPM). Typically, adults have a resting heart rate of between 60 and 100 BPM.
Bradycardia is not always a cause for concern. However, it may mean that your heart isn’t pumping blood around your body efficiently, which reduces the supply of oxygen to your brain and other organs.
Many factors could lead to you developing an abnormally slow heart rate, including:
- Damage to the heart tissue from heart disease, a heart attack or complications from heart surgery
- Congenital heart defects, present from birth
- Inflammation of the heart tissue, called myocarditis
- An underactive thyroid gland, known as hypothyroidism
- A chemical imbalance in the blood
- Sleep apnoea, causing repeated pauses in breathing during sleep
- Some rare medical conditions such as rheumatic fever, lupus and Lyme disease
- Heart medications such as beta-blockers
Some people, such as athletes, have a naturally low heart rate because they are very fit. They may not experience any symptoms or ever need treatment.
However, bradycardia can also be caused by problems with the electrical impulses in your heart which prevent it from pumping enough blood around your body. The most common bradycardia symptoms include:
- A slow pulse of below 60 BPM
- Heart palpitations, which may feel like a thumping or fluttering in your chest
- Becoming short of breath after a small amount of physical activity
- Dizziness or feeling lightheaded
- Tiredness and fatigue
You may also experience less common symptoms such as:
- Fainting or blackouts
- Confusion, memory loss or difficulty concentrating
Worried about your symptoms?
- Sinus bradycardia: This develops when your heart's natural pacemaker, the sinus node, stops working properly. It can be symptomless or manifest as sick sinus syndrome in which your heart alternates between beating very quickly (tachycardia) and very slowly (bradycardia). People on heart medication such as beta-blockers are more likely to experience it.
- Heart block: Also known as atrioventricular (AV) block, this occurs when your heart’s electrical impulses are blocked, causing it to beat more slowly or with an irregular rhythm. It commonly develops in older people as the heart ages or can come on after a heart attack.
- Junctional bradycardia: When the electrical impulse from your sinus node is absent, your heartbeat is generated by your AV node instead, which makes it slower. This is regarded as a normal variation in young people but may cause persistent symptoms and need treatment in older patients.
100+
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36,000+
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BRADYCARDIA TESTS AND SCANS AT HCA UK
Expert diagnosis, fast results
At HCA UK, you’ll have access to the UK’s most comprehensive private diagnostics network. That means the very latest tests, scans and imaging technology, with results delivered in as little as 48 hours.
Our experience and accuracy are unrivalled in the private sector. In just over three years we helped thousands of patients just like you, conducting more than 75,000 electrocardiograms and 62,000 echocardiograms. The full range of diagnostic tests we offer includes:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Ambulatory ECG
- Echocardiogram
- Tilt-table test
- Blood tests
- Blood pressure tests
BRADYCARDIA TREATMENTS AT HCA UK
A comprehensive range of approaches
From the common to the complex, we see more cardiac cases than any other private provider. We can offer you a wide range of treatment approaches to help you with your low heart rate, from lifestyle changes and monitoring to pacemaker surgery. Your cardiologist will work with you to determine the most effective treatment for you.
You may be advised to switch or stop medications or embrace some lifestyle changes. If an underlying condition such as an underactive thyroid or congenital heart disease are slowing your heartrate, your treatment will usually focus on managing that condition.
- Monitoring
- Lifestyle changes
- Medication management
- Pacemaker surgery
Accessing private health care
Self-pay
You don’t need health insurance to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for a diagnosis or treatment and don’t want to wait, all our private healthcare services – from private GP appointments through to surgery and aftercare – can be paid for as and when you need them.
And to give you peace of mind from the start, we’ll offer you a clear and transparent quote outlining exactly what’s included in your self-pay package.
Bradycardia FAQs
Bradycardia can have serious symptoms and complications. Call emergency services immediately if you have:
- Chest pain that doesn’t stop after a few minutes
- Difficulty breathing
Many people with bradycardia live perfectly healthy and symptom-free lives. Several of the symptoms of bradycardia are also associated with other heart conditions, as well as with stress, anaemia and hormonal imbalances.
Whether you have symptoms – and how severe they are – will depend on the underlying cause of your condition and your fitness levels.
If you're concerned about bradycardia or any of the symptoms we’ve listed, contact your doctor as soon as possible or make an appointment with one of our heart rhythm specialists for diagnostic tests.
Several blood conditions can create heart rhythm problems, including bradycardia. Your consultant may recommend that you have blood tests to check for factors including:
- Electrolyte levels such as calcium, potassium and magnesium
- Thyroid hormone levels
- Troponin, a protein found your heart muscle’s cells which can leak into your blood because of heart damage
- Toxic substances such as prescription or recreational drugs
Bradycardia is sometimes caused by congenital heart problems which can't be avoided. It’s also more common in people over the age of 65. However other factors which increase your risk of developing heart disease also increase the risk of a bradycardia heart rhythm, including:
- High blood pressure
- Being very overweight
- Smoking
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Taking illegal drugs
- Stress and anxiety
- Not getting enough physical activity, although high levels of athleticism can also cause bradycardia
Simple lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy weight and staying hydrated may help to improve your condition.
Heart medications such as beta-blockers can cause bradycardia, so it's important to let your consultant know about anything you're taking. They may recommend changing the dose or type of medication.
In emergencies, you may also be intravenously given medication such as atropine or isoprenaline to improve how your heart functions.
Both are types of heart arrhythmia, with bradycardia describing an abnormally slow heart rate and tachycardia describing, an abnormally fast one.
Our patients' stories
Kirti's heart rhythm story
Treating Helaina's heart rhythm disorder
Helaina from Northamptonshire was just 16 when she began experiencing unusual symptoms, including shortness of breath and heart palpitations, which rapidly worsened. She was otherwise fit, healthy and a huge lover of the great outdoors, leading to her family to grow concerned.
How a valve replacement helped Steve breathe easy again
When Steve found out his breathlessness was caused by a narrowed aortic valve, he was terrified of the thought of the open-heart surgery that might be needed to treat it. But with the expertise of Professor Sagar Doshi at The Harborne Hospital, he learned he could have a ‘keyhole’ alternative called TAVI.
“The staff were incredible. They are the best. Every step was explained…”
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This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.