What are the dangers of sinus arrhythmia

Sinus arrhythmia is mainly manifested as sinus tachycardia or sinus bradycardia. Sometimes it may also cause clinical manifestations such as dizziness and fainting. In treatment, we should pay attention to finding the right disease and focusing on prevention.

1. Any heart rhythm that originates from the sinoatrial node is called sinus rhythm. Sinus rhythm is a normal rhythm. Sinus tachycardia, sinus bradycardia, sinus arrhythmia, sinus arrest and sick sinus syndrome are all sinus arrhythmias. The normal sinus rhythm rate of an adult is >100 beats/minute, which is called sinus tachycardia. The frequency of sinus rhythm is called sinus bradycardia. The origin of sinus rhythm remains unchanged, but the rhythm is irregular. The difference in PP interval in the same lead is >0.12s, which is called sinus arrhythmia, and often exists simultaneously with sinus bradycardia.

2. During regular sinus rhythm, sometimes due to increased vagus nerve tension or sinus node obstruction, the sinus node stops emitting impulses for a period of time, which is called sinus arrest. Degenerative lesions of the pacing and conduction system, as well as diseases such as coronary heart disease, myocarditis (especially viral myocarditis), and cardiomyopathy can affect the sinoatrial node and its surrounding tissues and produce a series of slow sinus arrhythmias, causing clinical manifestations such as dizziness, blackouts, and syncope, which is called sick sinus syndrome.

3. Treatment

The treatment of sinus tachycardia is mainly to eliminate the inducement, such as pain relief, infection control, anemia correction, improvement of cardiac function, control of hyperthyroidism, etc. If necessary, appropriate beta-blocker treatment can be given. However, it should be noted that sinus tachycardia is mostly caused by physiological stress response, so beta-blockers should not be used in large quantities unless the inducement is eliminated to prevent excessive cardiac inhibition. Sinus bradycardia can be observed if the heart rate is above 40 beats/minute. For patients with severe sinus bradycardia, if the treatment is ineffective or cannot be improved, a pacemaker needs to be installed to prevent heart failure.

The prognosis of sick sinus syndrome is closely related to the cause and severity of the lesion. Some patients with sick sinus syndrome caused by viral myocarditis can be cured if treated actively and promptly. For patients with long-term unhealed disease and mild sinus node lesions, there may be no symptoms in the early stages, but heart failure may occur. Patients with severe disease may suffer cardiac arrest or sudden death, and an artificial pacemaker should be installed promptly.