Treatment

Treatment for bradycardia depends on the severity of symptoms and the cause of the slow heart rate. If you don't have symptoms, treatment might not be necessary.

Bradycardia treatment may include lifestyle changes, medication changes or an implanted device called a pacemaker. If an underlying health problem, such as thyroid disease or sleep apnea, is causing the slower than normal heartbeat, treatment of that condition might correct bradycardia.

Medications

Many medications, including those used to treat other heart conditions, can cause bradycardia. Always let your health care provider know about all the medications you take, including those bought without a prescription.

If a medication you're taking is causing bradycardia, your health care provider may recommend a lower dosage or a different medication.

Surgery or other procedures

When other treatments aren't possible and bradycardia symptoms are severe, a device called a pacemaker is necessary to control the heart rhythm. Pacemakers work only when needed. When the heart beats too slowly, the pacemaker sends electrical signals to the heart to speed up the beat.

Having a pacemaker implanted requires a surgical procedure. One or more wires are inserted into a major vein under or near the collarbone and guided to the heart using X-rays as a guide. One end of each wire is secured at the appropriate area in the heart, while the other end is attached to a device (pulse generator) implanted under the skin beneath the collarbone.

A leadless pacemaker is smaller and typically requires a less invasive surgery to implant the device.