Q: Who should I consult if have an irregular pulse and shortness of breath with frequent fainting spells?
A: If these symptoms are experienced you should visit your general practitioner. A clinical history and complete physical examination will be done, following which you will be referred to cardiovascular specialist if there are symptoms of end organ hypoperfusion for further diagnostic tests.
Q: Is there a cure for sick sinus syndrome?
A: There are treatments for Sick sinus syndrome that help in improving the symptoms of the patient and the quality of life. The treatment depends on the type of symptoms and the arrhythmia experienced by the patient.
Q: Is sick sinus syndrome the same as sinus node dysfunction?
A: Sinus node dysfunction is similar to sick sinus syndrome; it refers to the sino-atrial node of the heart and related to the heart conditions that affect the cardiac rhythm.
Q: Is sick sinus syndrome a hereditary condition?
A: Most cases of sick sinus syndrome are not seen as an inherited case but rather among people who have no similar history in family (also called sporadic cases).
But the mutation of the HCN4 gene and the SCN5A gene can result in sick sinus syndrome in the following generation where the inheritance follows an Autosomal dominant and Autosomal recessive pattern, respectively.
