If you’ve had a procedure like heart valve surgery or a coronary artery bypass, these surgeries can damage your heart’s electrical pathways.
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What is sick sinus syndrome?
Sick sinus syndrome, or sinus node dysfunction, is a rhythm disorder affecting your heart’s sinoatrial node, the heart’s natural pacemaker. This node generates electrical signals that regulate your heartbeat. If you suffer from sick sinus syndrome, the sinus node doesn’t function properly, leading to irregular and often slow heart rhythms.
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What causes sick sinus syndrome?
There are various causes of sick sinus syndrome. Age and other heart conditions typically play roles in this disorder. Common causes include:
Our heart’s electrical system can show wear and tear as we age, leading to sinus node dysfunction. When the sinus node can’t generate electrical impulses at a regular rate, sinus rhythm abnormalities can occur. Older people are more likely to have comorbidities, such as heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension.
Heart problems can damage your sinus node or disrupt your heart’s electrical system. These conditions include coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, and congenital heart defects.
Inflammatory diseases such as pericarditis or endocarditis can cause inflammation of the heart tissue, leading to sick sinus syndrome.
Specific medications can cause or exacerbate sick sinus syndrome, including beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and drugs used to treat arrhythmias.
If you have abnormal potassium, calcium, or magnesium levels in your blood, these imbalances can raise the risk of developing sick sinus syndrome.
Symptoms of sick sinus syndrome
The symptoms of this disorder vary by individual and fluctuate in severity over time. Many people don’t notice symptoms in the early stages of sick sinus syndrome. Symptoms you may experience include:
- Heart palpitations
- Chest pain
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Fainting
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
How to diagnose sick sinus syndrome
Your physician may perform a physical examination if you show signs of the condition. During the exam, they’ll check for arrhythmias, sinus bradycardia (slower than normal heart rate), or other indications of an underlying heart disease. They may then conduct additional testing, including:
- Electrocardiogram (EKG): A primary testing method for sick sinus syndrome is an EKG. This test records electrical activity in your heart and can detect abnormalities in your heart’s rhythm.
- Holter monitoring: Since an EKG may not always capture abnormal heart rhythms, your physician may have you wear a portable EKG device for 24 to 48 hours. This device, called a Holter monitor, continuously records your heart’s electrical activity throughout the day.
- Wearable monitors: Like holter monitoring, common consumer technologies such as watch, ring, phone technologies can now document heart rate and rhythm accurately to help a clinican make a diagnosis
- Stress test: This diagnostic test measures how well your heart functions during physical activity. The test typically involves walking on a treadmill or pedaling on a stationary bike while hooked to a monitor. The activity will gradually intensify to increase your heart rate and put stress on the cardiovascular system.
Sick sinus syndrome treatment
Your treatment may depend on the severity of the syndrome, underlying causes, and other individual health factors. Common sinus rhythm treatment options include:
If you have bradycardia, sinus pauses, or other heart rhythm abnormalities, you may receive a permanent pacemaker. This implant continuously monitors your heart and delivers electrical impulses to keep your heart rate steady.
Your physician might prescribe anticoagulants if you have an increased risk of blood clots due to atrial fibrillation or other arrhythmias.
This minimally invasive procedure uses radiofrequency energy to target and destroy heart tissue that causes irregular or rapid heartbeats. Your physician may recommend catheter ablation treatment if you have coexisting arrhythmias.
Sick sinus syndrome complications
This disorder can lead to various complications, especially when left untreated. Potential problems include:
- Bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome: This disorder occurs when the heart fluctuates between beating too quickly and too slowly.
- Angina: You may have chest pain or discomfort if the heart doesn’t receive enough oxygen-rich blood.
- Falls caused by fainting: Fainting can happen if you have sick sinus syndrome, resulting in injuries from falling.
- Heart failure: If the heart can’t pump enough blood, cardiac failure could occur.
- Stroke: Blood clots can form, causing a stroke or other cardiac event.
- Reduced exercise capacity: Symptoms of the disorder can limit physical activity.
Reducing the risk of sick sinus syndrome
You can’t control certain factors, such as age and genetic history. However, there are ways you can reduce the risk of developing sick sinus syndrome:
FAQs about sick sinus syndrome
Sinus bradycardia is an arrhythmia characterized by a slower-than-normal heart rate (under 60 beats per minute for adults). This condition is common and not a cause for concern in some cases, such as with healthy young adults and athletes. However, if you experience symptoms like shortness of breath, dizziness, or fatigue, contact your physician for an accurate diagnosis.
While you can’t reverse the condition, it can be managed and improved through treatments such as a pacemaker implant and lifestyle modifications. Your care team will develop a personalized treatment plan, including medications tailored to your needs.
Although sick sinus syndrome doesn’t usually cause heart failure, the arrhythmias associated with the condition could contribute to serious heart issues if left untreated. By effectively managing the symptoms of sick sinus syndrome, you can minimize your risk of heart-related complications.
Although sick sinus syndrome can occur at any age, most people diagnosed with the condition are over 70. The syndrome is generally uncommon and is even rarer in young adults unless they have a family history of the disease or certain underlying conditions like a congenital heart defect.
