Bradycardia is a slower than normal heart rate. The adult resting heart rate is usually between 60-100 beats per minute. A person suffering with bradycardia would have a resting heart rate of under 60 beats per minute.  

If the bradycardia means the heart does not pump enough oxygenated blood around the body it can cause serious problems, however many people wont experience symptoms or complications. Symptoms of bradycardia can be fainting, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pains, confusion or memory problems or tiring easily during physical activity.

For some people, especially athletes and young adults a resting heart rate of under 60 beats per minute is normal, and not considered a health problem. However, if you are experiencing any of the symptoms of bradycardia it is important to see a doctor.

Bradycardia can be caused by damage to the heart tissue from aging, or from heart disease or a heart attack. Some congenital heart defects may also cause bradycardia. Other causes could be an infection of the heart tissue, complications from heart surgery, an underactive thyroid gland, imbalances of chemicals in the blood, or inflammatory disease such as rheumatic fever or lupus.  

The most effective may to prevent bradycardia is to reduce your risk of developing heart disease. Exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, stopping smoking, keeping blood pressure and cholesterol under control and eating a healthy diet are all key factors in reducing the possibility of suffering from heart disease.

Treatment for bradycardia will depend on the symptoms and the cause of your slow heart rate. If no symptoms are present, no treatment may be necessary. In other cases, treatment of the underlying cause such as hypothyroidism might help to correct the bradycardia. Some medications that are used to treat other heart conditions can cause bradycardia, your doctor may recommend a change of medication or a lower dose to see if that might correct problems associated with a slower heart rate.

When other treatments are not possible, a pacemaker may be required. A pacemaker is a small battery-operated device that is implanted into your chest, it monitors your heart rate and generates electrical impulses to maintain a healthy heart rate.