Bradycardia (Slow Heart Rate)

Living With Bradycardia

Since bradycardia is often the result of an underlying heart condition, making changes to improve your heart's condition will usually improve your overall health. Some of these changes include:

• Not smoking.
• Lowering high blood pressure.
• Controlling diabetes by keeping your blood sugar as close to normal as possible.
• Lowering high cholesterol.
• Staying at a healthy weight.
• Eating a heart-healthy diet.
• Limiting alcohol.
• Exercising on most, preferably all, days of the week.
• Lowering the stress in your life.

For more information on preventing coronary artery disease, see the topic Coronary Artery Disease.

Your doctor may ask you to monitor your heart rate and symptoms. It may be helpful to keep a symptom diary to record your heart rate when you have symptoms.

If you have a pacemaker for bradycardia, home monitoring and follow-up care are needed, including:

• Checking your pulse as directed by your doctor.
• Scheduling and going to your follow-up appointments. You will be monitored frequently right after you have your pacemaker inserted and when it is time to have the battery changed. Batteries last for 5 to 15 years, depending on which kind of pacemaker you have. Your doctor will give you specific information about your type of pacemaker. After initial monitoring, you will see your doctor regularly for checkups.
• Sending information from your pacemaker over the telephone (telephone monitoring) as instructed. Your doctor may ask you to send information from your pacemaker every few months for routine monitoring.

More information How do I avoid electrical interference with my pacemaker? Can I exercise with a pacemaker? Should I limit my driving if I have an arrhythmia? Should I limit my traveling if I have an arrhythmia?

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Author:	Robin Parks, MS	Last Updated: July 7, 2007
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Laurence Epstein, MD - Cardiac Electrophysiologist
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