Brugada Syndrome Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Definition
Brugada syndrome is a genetic disorder characterized by disturbances in the flow of electricity in the heart. This disease is rare. However, when it occurs, the condition is very serious and can cause sudden death.
This disorder makes the rhythm or heartbeat too fast, too slow, or irregular. As a result, the heart cannot pump blood throughout the body optimally.
Brugada Syndrome Symptoms
Some cases of Brugada syndrome don’t show any symptoms. If there are symptoms, what can happen are repeated fainting, seizures, heart palpitations, chest pain, difficulty breathing, or a feeling of floating in the head. These symptoms usually only appear when sufferers are aged 30 years and over.
These symptoms generally appear suddenly. But in some cases, Brugada syndrome symptoms are triggered by fever, dehydration, or drinking too much alcohol.
Brugada Syndrome Reason
Brugada syndrome is a heart disorder associated with genetic disorders. Under normal circumstances, so that the heart can beat, the electric current that is triggered by the right atrium of the heart will flow into a canal to move the heart muscle to beat.
In Brugada syndrome, a genetic abnormality occurs which causes the canal to have abnormalities, so that the heart’s electrical current can flow too fast uncontrollably. People whose parents had Brugada syndrome have a high risk of developing it too.
Diagnosis
The main examination of Brugada syndrome is an examination of the heart record (electrocardiogram / EKG) to see the electrical activity of the heart. When an EKG is done, the doctor can inject certain drugs to see if there is abnormal electrical activity in the heart due to Brugada syndrome.
Genetic testing can also be done to confirm Brugada syndrome. Genetic testing is done by taking samples from the patient’s blood.
Brugada Syndrome Treatment
The goal of treating Brugada syndrome is not to get rid of the disease but to prevent dangerous complications. Treatment is given by a cardiologist. If the doctor assesses that a person with Brugada syndrome has a high risk of experiencing a life-threatening abnormality of the heart’s electrical currents, the doctor will recommend the installation of an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD).
The ICD is a device that is placed under the skin in the chest. If there is an abnormal heart rhythm that is life-threatening, the ICD will detect it and provide cardiac shock therapy so that the heart condition returns to normal.
In addition, sufferers of Brugada syndrome also need to avoid triggers of abnormal electrical currents that they experience. In general, people with Brugada syndrome should avoid dehydration, high fever, and consuming too much alcohol.
Prevention
Until now there is no action that can be done to prevent Brugada syndrome. However, because people who have this syndrome can pass the disease on to their children, the wife/husband who has Brugada syndrome should do genetic counseling first with a doctor before planning offspring.