Prognosis in bradycardia

There are cases in which bradycardia is hidden and unnoticeable for a person, without causing any discomfort. A person may not even be aware of his condition, and the disease is detected accidentally, during an examination. In this case, we can rather talk about the functional features of the body, and it is unlikely that such a condition can be considered a disease. Reduced pulse often occurs in professional athletes, in persons who regularly and for a long time engaged in health practices. Low pulse develops due to training and adaptation of the cardiovascular system to loads, living conditions. Reduced heart rate is registered in persons engaged in yoga and yoga therapy, qigong, less often - martial arts. But these are exceptional cases, and they are extremely rare.

In most cases, unfortunately, low heart rate leads to a significant decrease in blood circulation, hypoxia (lack of oxygen) internal organs, the brain, and even the heart itself, do not receive the necessary amount of oxygen and nutrients. Decomposition products are not fully eliminated from the body, carbon dioxide is also not utilized.

Gradually develops hypotonic state, intoxication. Weakness develops, increased fatigue, sharply reduced efficiency. Neuropsychiatric processes suffer: a person becomes distracted, inattentive, irritable, aggressive, or vice versa, vulnerable and tearful. Memory, concentration of attention decreases, thought processes are disturbed. A person develops various somatic diseases, pathologies of internal organs, the entire system of hormonal and nervous regulation is violated, the immune status and biochemical state of the body, metabolism. In the absence of adequate treatment, physical stress on the heart, the condition can progress, constantly worsening. There are even cases in which people received disability.

In some cases, a critical drop in pressure can lead to coma, loss of consciousness. Congestion develops, edema of the legs, lungs, internal organs, because the outflow of blood and lymph is sharply disturbed. Against this background, thromboembolic disease, cardiac and pulmonary insufficiency, circulatory failure may develop. If bradycardia is not treated, the condition can progress to the development of multiorgan failure and death.

Thus, the prognosis in bradycardia depends on several factors, including the cause, severity and duration of the condition, and the patient's overall health. In most cases, bradycardia is a reflection of other medical problems or physiologic features, and the prognosis will depend on the underlying condition.

1. Unsymptomatic bradycardia: If the patient is asymptomatic and physiologic (e.g., athletes), the prognosis is usually favorable. In such cases, lifestyle changes or treatment may not be necessary.
2. Bradycardia with symptoms: If bradycardia is accompanied by symptoms such as dizziness, weakness, fatigue or fainting, the prognosis will depend on the cause and severity of the symptoms. In such cases, medical observation and treatment may be necessary.
3. Bradycardia due to heart disease: If bradycardia is caused by cardiac problems such as sinus node disease, cardiac conduction disorders, or ischemic heart disease, the prognosis will depend on these underlying conditions. Treatment, including drug therapy or surgery, may improve the prognosis.
4. Bradycardia due to other causes: If bradycardia is due to other causes such as neurologic disease, endocrine disorders, or medications, the prognosis will also depend on these factors and appropriate treatment may be required.

In general, the prognosis in bradycardia is usually favorable with timely referral to a doctor, correct diagnosis and treatment of the underlying condition. However, it is important to remember that each case is unique, and the prognosis may vary depending on the specific circumstances.

Disability

Bradycardia may result in disability. It is given primarily due to the fact that the person cannot perform his or her previous duties and needs a change of workplace, duration and schedule of work, conditions or qualifications.

The third group of disability is given to persons with severe pathology, in whom surgical treatment of bradycardia was performed, and it did not give significant positive dynamics. Arrhythmia, extrasystole, critically low pulse, frequent attacks of bradycardia, tachycardia, hypotension are observed. Also, the third group is given when drug therapy is ineffective.

The second disability group implies that a person has undergone surgery, which has had a positive result. The pulse rate, blood pressure have significantly improved, the person switches to medication, is at the rehabilitation stage.

The first group of disability, implies that a person has sharply deteriorated indicators of cardiovascular activity, the pulse is reduced to 50 beats per minute and below, and there is periodic tachycardia, bradycardia, extrasystole with cardiac arrest up to 0.3 seconds.

A disability is given because a person cannot perform his or her previous work duties and needs a change in working conditions or qualifications. For example, a person with bradycardia cannot work in conditions in which he or she is exposed to electromagnetic fields, vibrations, electrolytes, high noises. Also contraindicated is a mode of work in which a person works in one position for 12 hours or more. The decision to assign a disability group is made by the medical-expert commission, to which the patient must submit the results of the latest laboratory tests, electrocardiogram, daily monitoring of cardiac activity, the results of rheography, cardiac ultrasound, and a number of other studies at the request of the commission. Consultation with a cardiologist and a psychotherapist is also mandatory.

Bradycardia and the army

There is no unambiguous answer to the question whether bradycardia and the army are compatible. This is because the decision is made in each case individually. The decision is made by a medical-expert commission. Everything depends on the severity of the pathology, as well as on how disturbed the functional activity of the heart, what method of treatment is used. Thus, in case of a mild degree of pathology, in which a person does not have a general decrease in working capacity, feeling of health is generally satisfactory, pulse does not fall below 55 beats per minute, attacks do not occur more often than 1-2 times a month, and do not last more than 30-40 minutes, a person may be allowed to serve in the army.

If the pulse rate is below 50 beats per minute, attacks occur 3-5 times a month, and last 40 minutes or more, and there are associated pathologies such as arrhythmia, extrasystole, other signs of cardiovascular dysfunction, probably the person will be contraindicated army.

A conscript is considered unfit for military service if he/she has a severe degree of bradycardia, medication is ineffective, or surgical treatment is required. The presence of a pacemaker, pacemaker driver, or extra-cardiac (temporary) stimulation is also a contraindication to military service.

Nevertheless, in any case, it is necessary to take into account the fact that the decision is made by a committee, and in each case is strictly individualized. It takes into account the current state, anamnesis, the state in dynamics, the effectiveness and type of treatment, the degree of limitation of the functional state of the organism.

Mortality

With bradycardia, there is a fairly high mortality rate. Low heart rate leads to slow blood flow, metabolic processes. Cells and tissues do not receive oxygen, nutrients, metabolites, carbon dioxide are not removed from them. Against the background of bradycardia develops hypoxia and hypercapnia. When the heart rate drops below 40 beats per minute, a person may fall into a coma, or there is a lethal outcome.

Individual syndromes can be harbingers of critical condition, lethal outcome. For example, Frederick's syndrome may develop, in which a sharp decrease in heart rate is combined with atrial fibrillation.

An even more unfavorable sign is the development of Morgagni-Adams-Stoke syndrome (MAS), in which there is a sharp loss of consciousness, convulsions, respiratory arrest may occur. Treatment of bradycardia in this condition does not always have positive dynamics, and in case of untimely assistance, may end in death.