Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Low Heart Rate After Gastric Bypass Surgery?
Question: I've had a gastric bypass 1 year ago and recently have noticed I get bradycardia at rest down 50. I does get quite dizzy at times and down if I stand up to fast my hearing and vision starts to go as if I'm about to collapse. What would be the causes of my low heart rate ?
Brief Answer:
A common complication
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to HCM. Thank you for your question. I understand your concern.
Yes, due to reductions and changes made due to surgery in the sympathetic-vagal tone, some studies report up to 25% of patients being complicated with sinus bradycardia. Also, some of the patients may have bradycardia during sleep, and this, besides the disinhibiton of the vagal tone, may be due to sleep apnea. Nevertheless, since you also suffer from symptoms of bradycardia (symptomatic sinus bradycardia), such as dizziness, blurry vision, dark vision, fatigue, this problem requires further investigation and treatment. First, I would recommend you to wear a 24-hour Holter rhythm monitor, to carefully depict the sinus node's "behaviour" spun throughout a day, and blood electrolyte levels should be measured. If in the Holter there is constant bradycardia, accompanied by conduction blocks and/or pauses, in addition to the symptoms you are having, the permanent pacemaker implantation is indicated. If this is a bradycardia only during sleeping period (as it can be seen in the Holter), then proper treatment of sleep apnea should be done.
I hope I was helpful with my answer. I am happy to help, if you have follow-up questions. Please rate the answer, if you do not. Wish you the best.
Best regards,
Dr. Meriton
A common complication
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to HCM. Thank you for your question. I understand your concern.
Yes, due to reductions and changes made due to surgery in the sympathetic-vagal tone, some studies report up to 25% of patients being complicated with sinus bradycardia. Also, some of the patients may have bradycardia during sleep, and this, besides the disinhibiton of the vagal tone, may be due to sleep apnea. Nevertheless, since you also suffer from symptoms of bradycardia (symptomatic sinus bradycardia), such as dizziness, blurry vision, dark vision, fatigue, this problem requires further investigation and treatment. First, I would recommend you to wear a 24-hour Holter rhythm monitor, to carefully depict the sinus node's "behaviour" spun throughout a day, and blood electrolyte levels should be measured. If in the Holter there is constant bradycardia, accompanied by conduction blocks and/or pauses, in addition to the symptoms you are having, the permanent pacemaker implantation is indicated. If this is a bradycardia only during sleeping period (as it can be seen in the Holter), then proper treatment of sleep apnea should be done.
I hope I was helpful with my answer. I am happy to help, if you have follow-up questions. Please rate the answer, if you do not. Wish you the best.
Best regards,
Dr. Meriton
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
