Brugada syndrome

Brugada syndrome is a rare problem with the heart's electrical system. This system controls the speed and rhythm of your heartbeat. Brugada syndrome may cause your heartbeat to be very fast and abnormal. If this causes the heart to stop pumping blood normally, sudden death can happen. The syndrome often runs in families.

Symptoms happen because the heart beats too fast. It can't pump enough blood to the rest of the body.

Symptoms include:

• Fainting.
• Palpitations. This is an uncomfortable feeling that your heart is beating too fast or with an abnormal rhythm. You might feel pounding or fluttering in your chest. Or you may feel like your heart skips a beat.
• Chest pain and pressure.
• Sudden gasping. This most often happens at night.
• Sudden cardiac arrest. This means that the heart suddenly stops beating.

Your doctor will do an electrocardiogram (EKG). It shows your heart's electrical activity as line tracings on paper. People with the syndrome have a certain pattern to their heartbeat. Your doctor can see the pattern on the tracing.

Sometimes the test doesn't show the pattern. If your doctor thinks you have Brugada syndrome, you may be given medicine before you have another EKG. The medicine can bring out the abnormal heartbeat during the test. This way the pattern can be seen on the tracing.

Your doctor may do tests to check for other heart diseases. The doctor will do a physical exam and ask about your symptoms and past health. The doctor may also ask if family members have symptoms or have been diagnosed with the syndrome. The doctor may also ask if any family members died suddenly and without warning. You may have a genetic test.

The goal of treatment is to keep your heart beating normally and help improve symptoms. It's also to prevent sudden death.

Your doctor may suggest a device called an ICD (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator). It can detect an abnormal heartbeat and help bring back a normal rhythm. It is placed in the chest with minor surgery.

Your doctor might prescribe medicines. They can help control your heart's rhythm.

Sometimes a procedure called catheter ablation is used. It destroys tiny areas of the heart that cause the heart rhythm problem. It may make the abnormal heartbeat happen less often or stop it from happening again.