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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffMost people with sick sinus syndrome initially have few or no symptoms. In some cases, symptoms may come and go.
When they do occur, sick sinus syndrome symptoms may include:
- Slower than normal pulse (bradycardia)
- Fatigue
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Fainting or near-fainting
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pains
- Trouble sleeping
- Confusion or difficulty remembering things
- A sensation of rapid, fluttering heartbeats (palpitations)
Many of these signs and symptoms are caused by reduced blood flow to the brain when the heart beats too fast or too slowly.
When to see a doctor
If you have spells of lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting, fatigue, shortness of breath, palpitations or trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor. Many medical conditions can cause these signs and symptoms — including sick sinus syndrome — and it's important to identify the problem.
- Sick sinus syndrome. Heart Rhythm Society. http://www.hrspatients.org/patients/heart_disorders/sick_sinus/default.asp. Accessed March 19, 2009.
- 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.
- 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.
- Arnsdorf MF. Manifestations and causes of the sick sinus syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 19, 2009.
- 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.
- 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.
- Arnsdorf MF. Treatment of the sick sinus syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 19, 2009.
