Sinus rhythm

Sinus arrhythmia relates not to the sinus cavities in the face but to the sinoatrial or sinus node in the heart. The sinoatrial or sinus node is in the upper chamber on the right side of the heart, which is the right atrium. The sinus node is the heart’s natural “pacemaker,” which means it is responsible for setting the rhythm of a person’s heartbeats. Normal sinus rhythm is a regular rhythm that occurs in generally healthy people. Sinus arrhythmia In general, sinus arrhythmias can be: • • Sinus This section looks at the different types of sinus arrhythmia. Respiratory sinus arrhythmia Respiratory sinus arrhythmia is not harmful. It occurs when a person’s heart rate relates to their breathing cycle. In other words, when the person breathes in, their heart rate increases, and when they breathe out, the rate decreases. It is The time between heartbeats is the P-P interval. In most people, there is a slight variation of less than 0.16 seconds. In cases of respiratory sinus arrhythmia, the P-P interval will often be longer than As the heart speeds up, such as during exercise, the heart rate rhythm Nonrespiratory sinus arrhythmia Nonrespiratory sinus arrhythmia (NRSA) more Although it can occur in otherwise healthy individuals, NRSA is more likely to occur in those who have heart disease or who have taken excess digoxin. Ventriculophasic sinus arrhythmia Ventriculophasic sinus arrhythmia occurs Third-degree heart block can be Symptoms of a third-degree heart block include The A...

Overview An irregular heartbeat is called an arrhythmia. A sinus arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat that’s either too fast or too slow. One type of sinus arrhythmia, called respiratory sinus arrhythmia, is when the heartbeat changes pace when you inhale and exhale. In other words, your heartbeat cycles with your breath. When you breathe in, your heart rate increases. When you exhale, it falls. This condition is benign. It’s a naturally occurring heartbeat variation, and it doesn’t mean you have a serious heart condition. In fact, this condition is common in young, healthy adults and children. A respiratory sinus Sometimes, sinus arrhythmia occurs with another condition called sinus bradycardia. Another type of sinus arrhythmia occurs when the heart beats too fast. This is called sinus In a young and otherwise healthy person, these conditions are not serious or problematic. Some people with a slow or fast heartbeat might experience symptoms like lightheadedness or shortness of breath, but others may never experience symptoms at all. People with a sinus arrhythmia don’t experience any cardiovascular symptoms. In fact, you may never experience symptoms of any kind, and the condition may never be diagnosed. If you know how to detect your pulse, you might feel a slight change in your pulse rate as you breathe in and exhale. However, the differences may be so slight that only a machine can detect the variations. If you experience heart palpitations or feel like your heart is s...

Other types of sinus rhythm that can be normal include Characteristics [ ] In humans, for an ECG to be described as showing a sinus rhythm, the shape of the P wave in each of the 12 standard • always positive in lead I, lead II, and aVF • always negative in lead aVR • any of biphasic (-/+), positive or negative in lead aVL • positive in all chest leads, except for V1 which may be biphasic (+/-) If the P waves do not meet these criteria, they must be originating from an abnormal site elsewhere in the atria and not from the sinus node; the ECG cannot, therefore, be classed as showing a sinus rhythm. In general, each P wave in a sinus rhythm is followed by a QRS complex, and the sinus rhythm therefore gives rise to the whole heart's depolarization. Exceptions to this include Characteristics of normal sinus rhythm [ ] By convention, the term "normal sinus rhythm" is taken to imply that not only are the P waves (reflecting activity of the sinus node itself) normal in morphology but that all other ECG measurements are also normal. • Normal heart rate (classically 60 to 100 beats per minute for an adult). • Regular rhythm, with less than 0.16-second variation in the shortest and longest durations between successive P waves • The sinus node should pace the heart – therefore, P waves must be round, all the same shape, and present before every • Normal P wave axis (0 to +75 degrees) • Normal • QRS complex positive in leads I, II, References [ ] • Hampton, John R (2013). The ECG Made...

Overview Sick sinus syndrome is a type of heart rhythm disorder. It affects the heart's natural pacemaker (sinus node), which controls the heartbeat. Sick sinus syndrome causes slow heartbeats, pauses (long periods between heartbeats) or irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias). Sick sinus syndrome is relatively uncommon. The risk of developing it increases with age. Many people with sick sinus syndrome eventually need an implanted device called a pacemaker to keep the heart in a regular rhythm. Symptoms Most people with sick sinus syndrome have few or no symptoms. Symptoms may be mild or come and go — making them difficult to recognize at first. Signs and symptoms of sick sinus syndrome may include: • A sensation of rapid, fluttering heartbeats (palpitations) • Chest pain or discomfort • Confusion • Dizziness or lightheadedness • Fainting or near fainting • Fatigue • Shortness of breath • Slower pulse (bradycardia) When to see a doctor Talk to your health care provider if you have any signs or symptoms of sick sinus syndrome. Many medical conditions can cause these problems. It's important to get a timely and accurate diagnosis. If you have new or unexplained chest pain or think you're having a heart attack, call for emergency medical help immediately. Typical heartbeat In a typical heart rhythm, a tiny cluster of cells at the sinus node sends out an electrical signal. The signal then travels through the atria to the atrioventricular (AV) node and into the ventricles, causing t...

Typical heartbeat In a typical heart rhythm, a tiny cluster of cells at the sinus node sends out an electrical signal. The signal then travels through the atria to the atrioventricular (AV) node and into the ventricles, causing them to contract and pump blood. A heart arrhythmia (uh-RITH-me-uh) is an irregular heartbeat. Heart rhythm problems (heart arrhythmias) occur when the electrical signals that coordinate the heart's beats don't work properly. The faulty signaling causes the heart to beat too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia) or irregularly. Heart arrhythmias may feel like a fluttering or racing heart and may be harmless. However, some heart arrhythmias may cause bothersome — sometimes even life-threatening — signs and symptoms. However, sometimes it's normal for a person to have a fast or slow heart rate. For example, the heart rate may increase with exercise or slow down during sleep. Heart arrhythmia treatment may include medications, catheter procedures, implanted devices or surgery to control or eliminate fast, slow or irregular heartbeats. A heart-healthy lifestyle can help prevent heart damage that can trigger certain heart arrhythmias. Types In general, heart arrhythmias are grouped by the speed of the heart rate. For example: • Tachycardia (tak-ih-KAHR-dee-uh) is a fast heart. The resting heart rate is greater than 100 beats a minute. • Bradycardia (brad-e-KAHR-dee-uh) is a slow heartbeat. The resting heart rate is less than 60 beats a minute. Fast ...

While it may seem odd to call an abnormal heart rhythm a sign of a healthy heart, this is actually the case with sinus arrhythmia. Your heart beats at a different rate when you breathe in than when you breathe out. And it’s normal. If your heart doesn’t have sinus arrhythmia, it’s a reason for concern. Overview Time between heartbeats can vary when you breathe in and out. What is sinus arrhythmia? Sinus arrhythmia is a kind of What is the difference between sinus arrhythmia and other conditions? Respiratory sinus arrhythmia is usually normal and doesn’t have symptoms, but the conditions below aren’t normal and do have symptoms. Using EKG results, your provider will make sure you don’t have: • • Atrial flutter. • Multifocal atrial tachycardia. • • • Bradyarrhythmia, such as some second-degree and third-degree Who does sinus arrhythmia affect? Providers see this a lot in healthy children and young adults. How common is sinus arrhythmia? It’s very common in young, healthy people. It’s actually a sign of good heart health. How does sinus arrhythmia affect my body? Usually, there are no symptoms. Symptoms and Causes What are the symptoms of sinus arrhythmia? It’s rare for people to have symptoms of sinus arrhythmia. What causes sinus arrhythmia? Providers separate different kinds of sinus arrhythmia based on their causes. Respiratory sinus arrhythmia It’s normal to have respiratory sinus arrhythmia simply because you’re breathing. When you take a breath, your heart rate goes up...

While similar, sinus rhythm is a little different from heart rate. Your For most people, a resting heart rate of Sinus rhythm, on the other hand, refers to the pattern of your heartbeat. It corresponds to the rate at which electrical pulses are sent out from the sinus node. When these pulses are sent out at a normal rate, it’s referred to as normal sinus rhythm. As you can probably see, sinus rhythm and heart rate are linked. Electrical pulses must first be generated by the sinus node (sinus rhythm). As these pulses travel through the heart muscle, they cause it to beat (heart rate). Because of this, sinus rhythm often aligns with your heart rate. Normal sinus rhythm is defined as the rhythm of a healthy heart. It means the electrical pulse from your sinus node is being properly transmitted throughout the heart muscle. In adults, normal sinus rhythm usually accompanies a heart rate of Sinus tachycardia • are exercising • are feeling stressed or anxious • have taken certain types of medications • have used a stimulant, such as • have a However, when you’re having sinus tachycardia at rest, it can put you at risk of potentially serious health complications. Sinus bradycardia A heart rate below 60 bpm can be normal for some people, particularly younger adults and athletes. It can also happen when you’re in a deep sleep or are taking certain types of medications. For some people, however, it can be a sign that your heart isn’t distributing enough oxygenated blood to your body....

Your heart's job is to pump You probably don't think much about your heartbeat because it happens so easily. It's really like a complex dance. During each beat, the two upper chambers of your When the chambers contract, they move the What Happens With a Normal Sinus Rhythm? Each heartbeat starts with a signal from the sinoatrial (SA) node, in your right atrium. The SA node is called the heart's pacemaker because it adjusts your The signal spreads across the right and left atria. That makes them contract and forces blood into your ventricles. Then, the signal moves to the atrioventricular node (AV) node, which is near the middle of your heart. From there, the signal travels through the ventricle walls. That makes them contract and squeeze blood out of the heart. The right ventricle sends blood to your When everything is working smoothly, you have a normal sinus rhythm and your heart beats between 60 and 100 times per minute. What's Atrial Fibrillation? Sometimes the heart's electrical system doesn't work the way it should. In this case, the signals get jumbled. As a result, instead of beating strongly and regularly, the atria quiver. So blood doesn't move into the ventricles very well. Instead of the dance being nice and organized, things are hectic and confusing. Many signals -- sometimes as many as 600 -- leave the atria at the same time, competing to get through the AV node to the ventricles. However, the AV node prevents them all from getting through. Only about one or ...

While similar, sinus rhythm is a little different from heart rate. Your For most people, a resting heart rate of Sinus rhythm, on the other hand, refers to the pattern of your heartbeat. It corresponds to the rate at which electrical pulses are sent out from the sinus node. When these pulses are sent out at a normal rate, it’s referred to as normal sinus rhythm. As you can probably see, sinus rhythm and heart rate are linked. Electrical pulses must first be generated by the sinus node (sinus rhythm). As these pulses travel through the heart muscle, they cause it to beat (heart rate). Because of this, sinus rhythm often aligns with your heart rate. Normal sinus rhythm is defined as the rhythm of a healthy heart. It means the electrical pulse from your sinus node is being properly transmitted throughout the heart muscle. In adults, normal sinus rhythm usually accompanies a heart rate of Sinus tachycardia • are exercising • are feeling stressed or anxious • have taken certain types of medications • have used a stimulant, such as • have a However, when you’re having sinus tachycardia at rest, it can put you at risk of potentially serious health complications. Sinus bradycardia A heart rate below 60 bpm can be normal for some people, particularly younger adults and athletes. It can also happen when you’re in a deep sleep or are taking certain types of medications. For some people, however, it can be a sign that your heart isn’t distributing enough oxygenated blood to your body....

• Blood enters the right atrium and passes into the right ventricle. • The right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs where it becomes oxygenated. • The oxygenated blood is brought back to the heart by the pulmonary veins and passes into the left atrium. • Blood passes into the left ventricle and is pumped out to the body. • American Heart Association. • Davidovic G, Iric-cupic V, Milanov S, et al. Am J Cardiovasc Dis. 2013;3(3):120-8. • American Heart Association. • Choudhury M, Boyett MR, Morris GM. Arrhythm Electrophysiol Rev. 2015;4(1):28-34. doi:10.15420/aer.2015.4.1.28 • Bibas L, Levi M, Essebag V. CMAJ. 2016;188(17-18):e466-73. doi:10.1503/cmaj.160079 • Wettersten N, Fan D, Hsia HH. The American Journal of Medicine. 2015;128(9):e13-e14. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2015.04.024 • Page RL, Joglar JA, Caldwell MA, et al. Heart Rhythm. 2016;13(4):e136-e221. doi:10.1016/j.hrthm.2015.09.019 • Mortola JP, Marghescu D, Siegrist-Johnstone R. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2018 Jul;118(7):1397-1406. doi:10.1007/s00421-018-3871-6 • Lee JN, Whang MC, Kang BG. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Feb 13;19(4):2087. doi:10.3390/ijerph19042087.