Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
Brugada syndrome
A RARE BUT POTENTIALLY SERIOUS HEART DISORDER
Brugada syndrome is an inherited condition that affects the heart's electrical signals and can cause dangerous heart rhythms
What is brugada syndrome?
Brugada syndrome is caused by a genetic abnormality. It affects the electrical signals that cause your heart muscle to contract and pump blood, sometimes resulting in a dangerously fast heartbeat.
Some people with Brugada syndrome have no symptoms, but for others it can cause palpitations, blackouts or fits. In some cases, it can be fatal.
As Brugada syndrome is a genetic condition caused by a faulty gene, it is possible to be diagnosed by taking a simple heart test. We recommend doing this if the condition exists within your family.
Need to know
Often, people with Brugada syndrome don't realise they have it. You may not have any noticeable symptoms, or they may not appear until later in life. However, the condition can be serious as people with Brugada syndrome have an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) and sudden cardiac death.
Symptoms can include:
- fainting or blackouts (syncope)
- palpitations
- chest pains
- shortness of breath.
These symptoms can sometimes be triggered by a high fever, alcohol or dehydration. Symptoms seem to first appear more prevalently in people between the ages of 30 and 40, although they can still occur at any time.
As Brugada syndrome can be asymptomatic (display no known symptoms) but serious, screening and early diagnosis is very important.
If you have a relative who has been diagnosed with Brugada syndrome or someone in your family who has died unexpectedly from a heart condition, your GP or consultant may recommend an ajmaline povocation test to screen for the condition. You may also have a blood screening to check for the gene related to Brugada syndrome.
Whilst there is no known cure for Brugada syndrome, your consultant will likely recommend ways to help you manage the condition, including positive lifestyle changes in relation to diet and exercise. You should definitely limit the amount of alcohol you drink as this can trigger a fast heartbeat. Rarely, ablation treatment may be offered.
Depending on your symptoms, you may need to have a defibrillator implanted. This device is implanted under the skin on your chest and a wire or wires connects it to your heart. It monitors your heart rhythm and can give a brief electrical shock to reset the rhythm if it becomes dangerously fast.
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.