Blackouts Due To An Abnormal Heart Beat - Slow Heart Beat
If the heart beats too slowly or stops for a few seconds the brain does not receive enough blood supply and the person blacks out.
Abnormal slow heart beats can be the result of disease of the normal pacemaker cells of the heart or due to a block in the passage of electricity through the heart.
Blackouts due to an abnormal slow heart beat:
- often occur intermittently, with normal function of the electrical system in between.
- can occur at any time or in any posture.
Recovery is usually very rapid and without the clamminess and nausea often associated with simple faints.
Diagnosis
An Electrocardiogram may indicate a problem with the electrical system
of the heart
A 24-hour Holter monitor may
record abnormal slow heart rates. If the symptoms are infrequent and the electrical
system is operating completely normally between episodes this type of
monitor is usually not helpful.
An External Loop Recorder (Event Monitor) may capture the abnormal heart rhythm if symptoms are occurring once/week.
An Implantable Loop Recorder is the gold standard for capturing the heart rhythm at the time of infrequent blackouts to determine exactly what the heart is doing at the time of the blackout.
Treatment
If an abnormal slow heart beat is found to be the cause of blackouts a pacemaker is usually required.
Occasionally medications that have been affecting the electrical system of the heart can be altered and a pacemaker avoided.
Return to Blackouts Caused By Abnormal Heartbeat.
