Bradycardia

Symptoms

Bradycardia describes heartbeat rates that drop below 50 beats per minute, compared to a normal heartbeat rate of about 72. This slower heart rate occurs in many people routinely during sleep. Trained athletes may have resting heart rates of 40 to 50 beats a minute. But if the condition occurs due to malfunctions within the heart's electrical control systems, problems can result.

Symptoms include:

• Heart palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Fainting

Some people with bradycardia have no symptoms and are unaware of their condition until it's discovered by their doctor during a physical examination.