What is sick sinus syndrome? – Learn about Sick Sinus Syndrome

You must be wondering what is sick sinus syndrome. It is the malfunction of the sinus node, which ultimately slows down the heartbeat (bradycardia) or, in other words, the pacemaker does not do its job properly. Pumping becomes poor thus weakening circulation. The sinus node is also called a natural pacemaker. It leads to irregular heartbeats called arrhythmias.

What are the warning signs of sick sinus syndrome?

The warning sign could be between dizziness, loss of consciousness, confusion and heart malfunction due to problems with the sinus node. If you are afraid of having one, you should know what sick sinus syndrome is. It makes your heart beat faster or slower than its normal beat. Sometimes there is an unusual gap between the two beats. Even medications could start one this syndrome. It is usually associated with old age. The elderly are more prone to the disease than the young.

Syncope, near syncope, palpitations, and dizziness are commonly associated with this syndrome. Even Stoke attacks are commonly called “Adams attacks”. She could experience chest pains as her blood supply is reduced. The patient is soon exhausted due to low energy level due to shortness of breath. Headaches are usually associated due to poor blood flow to the head. There are numerous signs such as sinus arrest, irregular patterns of bradycardia and tachycardia, and senatorial blocks. Sometimes it is very difficult to identify the problem due to indefinable findings and vague indicators on the EKG or Holter monitor.

So what is the treatment for sick sinus syndrome? It can be diagnosed by electrocardiogram (ECG). It can be treated with a medicine called calcium channel blockers. A person affected by this syndrome may opt for pacemaker therapy. In this case, the placement of a permanent pacemaker is also recommended. The mainstay of treatment is atrial or dual-chamber pacemaker replacement, which gives you relief from heart attacks, thromboembolic events, and mortality in contrast to ventricular pacemakers.