This article explores sinus arrhythmia, including its cause, types, and whether treatment is warranted.
The ECG machine then records the heart’s electrical activity on a page of moving paper.
The heart’s electrical activity appears as a series of wavy, spiky lines.
Ivan-balvan / Getty Images
Insinus arrhythmia, the P-P interval is slightly varied by 120 milliseconds or more.
Thevagus nervea vital component of the parasympathetic nervous systemmediates this patterned change in heart rate during the breathing cycle.
What Is the Parasympathetic Nervous System?
Diagnosis and Symptoms of Sinus Arrhythmia
In most cases, sinus arrhythmia is harmless and not problematic.
Symptoms
Respiratory sinus arrhythmiais usually an incidental finding on ECG and does not cause symptoms.
Non-respiratory sinus arrhythmiamay be associated with symptoms if heart problems or digoxin toxicity are present.
No further evaluation is needed.
Finally,ventriculophasic sinus arrhythmia from a complete heart blockrequires immediate attention in a hospital setting.
Respiratory sinus arrhythmia is common in children and young individuals with a healthy and well-functioning heart.
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