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Slowness of the heartbeat, usually defined (by convention) as a rate under 50 beats/min. SYN: brachycardia, bradyrhythmia. [brady- + G. kardia, heart]

- central b. b. due to disease of the central nervous system, usually with increased intracranial pressure.

- essential b. a slow pulse for which no cause can be discovered. SYN: idiopathic b..

- fetal b. a fetal heart rate of less than 120 beats/min.

- idiopathic b. SYN: essential b..

- marked fetal b. a fetal heart rate less than 100 beats per minute.

- mild fetal b. a fetal heart rate between 100-120 beats per minute.

- nodal b. SYN: atrioventricular junctional rhythm.

- postinfectious b. a toxic b. occurring during convalescence from various infectious diseases, such as influenza.

- sinus b. b. originating in the normal sinus pacemaker.

- vagal b. any excessive cardiac slowing due to stimulation of the vagus nerves.

- ventricular b. slowness of ventricular rate, usually implying the presence of atrioventricular block.

bra·dy·car·dia .brād-i-'kärd-ē-əalso .brad- n relatively slow heart action whether physiological or pathological compare TACHYCARDIA

slowing of the heart rate to less than 50 beats per minute. Sinus bradycardia is often found in healthy individuals, especially athletes, but it is also seen in some patients with reduced thyroid activity, jaundice, hypothermia, or vasovagal attack. Bradycardia may also result from arrhythmia, especially complete heart block, when the slowing is often extreme and often causes loss of consciousness.