Sick sinus syndrome, a type of irregular heartbeat, can happen for many reasons. Sometimes, your physician may not be able to find the cause. Any medical condition that can cause heart damage can damage the sinus node, including:

Changes in heartbeat are expected during sleep, physical activity and moments of stress. However, you should talk to your physician if you experience an irregular heartbeat, as it may be a serious problem.

In addition to the causes of sick sinus syndrome, you are more likely to get sick sinus syndrome if you:

Expect your physician to do a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history and symptoms. They may rule out other conditions first, like electrolyte imbalance, hypothyroidism, or sleep apnea.

Keep track of when and how often your symptoms occur, and bring that information to your appointment. Your observations can help your physician diagnose and treat sick sinus syndrome.

Your physician may order common tests to confirm an irregular heartbeat and any conditions that can cause sick sinus syndrome.

You may undergo: 

• Heart rhythm monitoring (Holter monitor) to record your heart’s activity over a period of time.  
• Blood tests to check your electrolyte levels or look for genetic issues. 
• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) to detect your heart’s electrical activity and measure the time and duration of its activity. 
• Electrophysiology testing (EP study), which shows the electrical activity in your heart through electrodes placed in the heart. 
• Stress tests, which are medically-supervised exercise tests performed on a treadmill or stationary bike. Your physician may use these tests to check if physical activity triggers or worsens an irregular heartbeat and also to see if you have an appropriate response to stress. 

Treatment may not be necessary if you do not have any symptoms. Your physician will review your current medications during an initial exam to make sure they won’t worsen your condition.

Sick sinus syndrome is most often treated with a permanent pacemaker. There may also be alternative treatment options using medications and other procedures. Your physician will recommend treatments based on the type and severity of your condition.

Medications

Your physician may recommend medications to prevent or to slow down a fast heartbeat (tachycardia). Blood-thinners could be prescribed if your sick sinus syndrome is associated with atrial fibrillation, which puts you at risk for a stroke.

Lifestyle Changes

Adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle is the most common way to lower your risk of more severe health complications.

These changes include: 

• Controlling cholesterol levels
• Eating a heart healthy diet
• Exercising regularly
• Limiting or avoiding alcohol consumption
• Losing excess weight
• Managing stress

Quitting smoking or other tobacco use.

Learn about our heart health classes

Surgery

• Pacemaker: Most people with severe sick sinus syndrome symptoms have a permanent pacemaker surgically implanted. This device delivers small electrical pulses to the heart to restore your regular heartbeat. It is placed under the skin, typically below the collarbone.
• Catheter Ablation: This surgical treatment creates tiny scars in the heart. Creating this scar tissue blocks irregular electrical signals and restores a typical heartbeat.