Sick Sinus Syndrome: Symptoms, Complaints, Signs

The following symptoms and complaints may indicate sick sinus syndrome (SSS):

Leading symptoms

  • Alternating tachycardic and bradycardic atrial replacement rhythms.
  • Symptoms of bradycardia (heartbeat too slow: < 60 beats per minute).
    • Lack of rate increase during exercise (max. 80-90/min).
    • Vertigo (dizziness) (at rest).
    • Fatigue
    • Syncope (momentary loss of consciousness)
    • Adams-Stokes seizure – syncope (brief loss of consciousness) due to brief asystole (cessation of electrical and mechanical cardiac action for more than 2 seconds) as a result of sinus node arrest, SA block, or AV block [patient looks dead and has prominent facial flushing on recovery] (information on the sequence of events should be obtained via an observer/bystander)
  • Symptoms of tachycardia (heartbeat too fast: > 100 beats per minute).
    • Palpitations (heart palpitations)
    • Angina pectoris (“chest tightness”; sudden pain in the region of the heart)
    • Dyspnea (shortness of breath)

The symptomatology depends on the severity of the syndrome.