Bradyarrhythmias sinus

Asymptomatic sinus bradyarrhythmias (heart rate less than 60 beats/min) are common especially in young, athletically active individuals. However, some patients have sinus node dysfunction (sick sinus syndrome) because of underlying organic heart disease and the normal aging process, which... 

Treatment of sinus node dysfunction involves elimination of symptomatic bradycardia and possibly managing alternating tachycardias such as AF. Asymptomatic sinus bradyarrhythmias usually do not require therapeutic intervention. 

Normal rhythmic activity is the result of the activity of the sinus node generating action potentials that are conducted via the atria to the atrioventricular node, which delays further conduction to the His-Tawara-Purkinje system. From the Purkinje fibres, action potentials propagate to the ventricular myocardium. Arrhythmia means a disturbance of the normal rhythm either resulting in a faster rhythm (tachycardia, still rhythmic) or faster arrhythmia (tachyarrhythmia) or slowed rhythm (bradycardia, bradyarrhythmia). 

Numerous drugs ((1-blockers, diltiazem, verapamil, digoxin, and amiodarone) can cause bradyarrhythmias (sinus bradycardia and AV nodal blockade). 

Bradycardia can be due to depressed sinus automaticity and AV block. Bradyarrhythmias manifest as slow heart rate (less than 50 to 60 beats per minute in sleep). Depressed SA nodal automaticity lead to missing beats and bradycardia. AV block can be due to high vagal activity and side effect of certain drugs e.g. digitalis and P-blockers. 

Sinus tachycardia (due to vagal blockade) is a common feature but abnormalities of cardiac conduction accompany moderate to severe intoxication and may proceed to dangerous tachy- or bradyarrhythmias. Hypoterrsion may result from a combination of cardiac arrhythmia, reduced myocardial contractility and dilatation of venous capacitance vessels. 

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