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Mayo Clinic is internationally recognized for its expertise in the treatment of bradycardia (the heart beats abnormally slow). At Mayo, thousands of bradycardia patients are treated each year. Heart specialists and surgeons consult with patients to determine the best treatment. Mayo Clinic has expertise and experience in the most advanced treatments for bradycardia.
Mayo Clinic is an international leader in catheter ablation and implantable devices and uses the most advanced technology to treat bradycardia. Mayo has over 25 years of experience in using catheter ablation to treat patients who have various heart arrhythmias. Over 10,000 electrophysiology procedures have been performed during the past six years.
For patients with bradycardia, electrophysiologists lead the medical team at Mayo Clinic. These physicians are cardiologists (medical experts in heart care) with specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of heart rhythm disorders. Diagnosis often includes electrophysiologic testing to determine the cause and type of bradycardia. Read more about bradycardia diagnosis.
The decision for medical treatment, and the method selected, can be made only after a comprehensive diagnosis. The Mayo Clinic model of care emphasizes an integrated, collaborative team approach to provide the best possible care for each patient. The patient's case is examined from the perspectives of highly subspecialized medical experts, who collaborate to determine the most accurate diagnosis and the most effective treatment.
At Mayo Clinic, the first step in bradycardia treatment is a thorough evaluation to identify the underlying cause of the abnormally slow heart rate. If the patient has no symptoms, medical treatment may not be necessary. In some cases, the bradycardia is caused by medication. If the medication can be safely stopped, the heart rhythm may return to normal.
Usually, the slow rhythm is related to underlying problems with the heart's pacemaker cells or conducting system. Medications are not effective. If so, surgeons can implant a pacemaker. Read more about bradycardia treatment options.
Bradycardia describes a heart rate that drops below 50 beats per minute, compared to a normal heartbeat rate of about 72.
Although a heart rate below 50 beats a minute while at rest is considered a bradycardia, a low resting heart rate doesn't always signal a problem. A person who is physically fit may have a heart capable of pumping an adequate supply of blood with fewer than 50 beats a minute at rest. This slower heart rate also occurs in many people during sleep. However, if a slow heartbeat isn't pumping enough blood, bradycardia is possible.
Read more about bradycardia and other hear arrhythmias at
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