The heart rate less than 60 in adults and less than 100,80 and 70 in infants, toddlers and school going children respectively is termed as sinus bradycardia. It can be a normal phenomenon or may be due to some pathological causes. The causes and the management have been spotlighted in this passage.
Causes
- A normal phenomenon
- Myocardial infarction
- Sinus node disease
- Hypothermia
- Raised intracranial pressure
- Hypothyroidism
- Cholestatic jaundice
- Drugs induced (beta blockers, digoxin, verapamil)
Management
In the asymptomatic patients there is no need of any kind of treatment whilst in symptomatic patients, intravenous atropine (0.6-1.2 mg) is given. Moreover, in recurrent or persistent bradycardia pacemaker implantation should be considered.