Sick sinus syndrome is the name for a heart rhythm disorder. The condition occurs when the sinus node malfunctions, affecting the heart's natural pacemaker. The sinoatrial node (SA node) is like a drummer that tells other parts when to start and keeps the beat for others to follow. A defect in natural pacemakers or SA node syndrome causes slow heartbeats, pauses, or irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias). Sometimes, defects in the SA node do not show any symptoms, while some may require sick sinus syndrome treatment. The condition is treated by medication or specific medical procedures.
What are the Treatments for Sick Sinus Syndrome?
You can achieve the sick sinus syndrome cure by reducing, eliminating, or controlling symptoms that contribute to sinus node defects. SA node syndrome involves these treatment types:
- Regular checkups
- Medications
- Surgical procedure
- Catheter procedures
- Regular checkups
Doctors may recommend regular health checkups to monitor your heart health even if you don't exhibit the known symptoms. Those with symptoms require special treatment from a cardio surgeon who performs the procedure by implanting a pacemaker to maintain a regular heartbeat.
Medications: Your doctor may include some medications to treat your condition, including high blood pressure or a heart-related disorder. The medication prescribed may support sinus node function to mitigate irregular heartbeats in patients with sick sinus syndrome.
If you have a history of heart disease such as stroke, atrial fibrillation, or irregular heart rhythm, your doctor may prescribe blood-thinning medicines called anticoagulants. These medicines can include warfarin (Jantoven), dabigatran (Pradaxa), etc.
Surgical procedures: When sick sinus syndrome is not fully treated with medications, the cardiologist may suggest surgical procedures to correct the irregular heart rhythm. The procedure involves inserting a pacemaker. This device is a small, battery-powered equipment that's implanted under the skin near the collarbone through a minor surgical procedure. The pacemaker stimulates the heart to keep beating regularly, thereby maintaining proper blood supply to the heart.
If sick sinus syndrome symptoms are mild or infrequent, the doctor will decide whether there is a need for a pacemaker. Their decision is based on the results of electrocardiograms (ECGs), which will indicate your overall health and the risk of contracting more serious problems. Different types of pacemakers are available, and the doctor decides the type of pacemaker needed to correct a particular type of irregular heart rhythm.
Types of pacemakers
- Single chamber pacemaker. This type is generally used when a patient needs electrical signals to the right lower side of the heart chamber (ventricle) in the heart.
- Dual chamber pacemaker. This type of pacemaker controls the right lower heart chamber (ventricle) and the right upper heart chamber (atrium) separately. Those with sick sinus syndrome can benefit by using dual-chamber pacemakers.
- Biventricular pacemaker. This pacemaker is used when a person has heart failure and heartbeat problems. The pacemaker is stimulated in both lower heart chambers (the right and left ventricles) to make the heart beat more efficiently. Such a pacemaker is known as biventricular pacing or cardiac resynchronisation therapy.
Catheter procedure: In some cases, even a pacemaker is not enough to treat the heart rates. Such cases require medications or a catheter-based procedure called cardiac ablation to correct or control the heart rhythm.
In cardiac ablation, heat or cold energy is used to create tiny scars in the heart. These scars block faulty signals and restore regular heartbeats by using thin, flexible tubes called catheters. These catheters are inserted through the veins or arteries via atrioventricular (AV) node ablation to control rapid heart rhythms among those using pacemakers.
Conclusion
Some individuals with sick sinus syndrome don't show any symptoms, while the known symptoms include fainting, chest pain, heart palpitation, dizziness, etc. Studies focused on sick sinus syndrome have shown the condition usually worsens with time. What is necessary is regular checkups, medicines, or surgery. Anyone can be confronted by health-related issues, and the best way to address them is by remaining prepared. Hence, maintaining a comprehensive health insurance policy can provide the necessary protection and coverage, particularly when settling expensive hospital bills.