Sick sinus syndrome

Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Get Started

Free

E-Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer

Risk factors

By Mayo Clinic staff

Sick sinus syndrome can occur in people of all ages, even infants. Because it usually develops slowly, over many years, it's most common in people who are age 70 or older.

In rare cases, sick sinus syndrome may also be associated with certain conditions such as muscular dystrophy and other diseases which may affect the heart.

References
  1. Sick sinus syndrome. Heart Rhythm Society. http://www.hrspatients.org/patients/heart_disorders/sick_sinus/default.asp. Accessed March 19, 2009.
  2. Ferri F. Sick sinus syndrome. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2009. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/127077711-3/819048192/1701/546.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-04134-8..50022-7--cesec438_11555. Accessed March 19, 2009.
  3. Bradyarrhythmias. In: Libby P, et al, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=aboutPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4106-1..X5001-8--TOP&isbn=978-1-4160-4106-1&uniq=127077711#lpState=open&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4106-1..50038-8--cesec163%3Bfrom%3Dindex%3Btype%3DbookPage%3Bisbn%3D978-1-4160-4106-1.  Accessed March 12, 2009.
  4. Arnsdorf MF. Manifestations and causes of the sick sinus syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 19, 2009.
  5. Dual-chamber pacemakers for symptomatic bradycardia due to sick sinus syndrome and/or atrioventricular block. Rockville, Md.: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?ss=15&doc_id=8124&nbr=4526. Accessed March 19, 2009.
  6. What is a pacemaker? National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/pace/pace_all.html. Accessed March 19, 2009.
  7. Arnsdorf MF. Treatment of the sick sinus syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 19, 2009.

DS00930

May 23, 2009

© 1998-2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Reliable tools for healthier lives," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Print Share Reprints

Text Size: smaller largerlarger