A heart that beats too slowly can be just as disruptive as one that races. Fatigue that will not lift, dizziness that comes out of nowhere, or a fainting spell you cannot explain. These are signals that your heart’s electrical system may not be working as it should. Bradycardia and heart block are two closely related conditions that affect how electrical impulses travel through the heart, and both deserve a careful, expert evaluation.
Dr. Menachem Wakslak and his team at Valley Heart & Rhythm bring subspecialty-level electrophysiology expertise to every patient, providing clear answers and a treatment plan built around your specific situation.
What Is Bradycardia?
Bradycardia is a heart rate that is slower than normal, generally defined as fewer than 60 beats per minute. In some people, such as highly trained athletes, a slow resting heart rate is completely natural. But when bradycardia causes symptoms or stems from an underlying problem with the heart’s electrical conduction system, it needs proper assessment and treatment.
Common causes include:
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Age-related changes to the heart’s electrical conduction system
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Certain medications, such as beta-blockers
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Hypothyroidism or electrolyte imbalances
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Prior heart damage or disease
Understanding Heart Block
Heart block occurs when the electrical signals that coordinate your heartbeat are delayed or interrupted as they travel from the heart’s upper chambers to the lower chambers. It ranges from first-degree heart block (a slight delay that often causes no symptoms) to third-degree, or complete heart block, in which the upper and lower chambers beat independently, and the heart cannot pump blood effectively. Complete heart block is a serious condition that typically requires treatment.
Recognizing the Symptoms
Bradycardia and heart block often share similar symptoms:
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Unusual or persistent fatigue
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Lightheadedness or dizziness
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Fainting (syncope) or near-fainting episodes
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Shortness of breath with normal activity
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A sensation that the heart has paused or skipped
Fainting or recurrent near-fainting spells are particularly important to have evaluated promptly, as they may point to a significant conduction problem.
How Bradycardia and Heart Block Are Diagnosed
Evaluation typically begins with an electrocardiogram (ECG) and a detailed review of your symptoms and medical history. Depending on what is found, additional testing may include a Holter monitor or implantable loop recorder to capture rhythm changes that come and go, or an echocardiogram to assess the heart’s overall function. These conditions fall within the broader category of arrhythmias and other heart rhythm disorders, and an accurate diagnosis shapes every subsequent treatment decision.
Treatment Options
For bradycardia and heart block that cause significant symptoms or pose a health risk, a pacemaker is typically the most effective treatment. A pacemaker is a small implanted device that continuously monitors your heart rhythm and delivers a gentle electrical signal whenever your rate drops below a safe threshold.
That said, not every slow heart rate requires a device. Dr. Wakslak first determines whether symptoms are truly linked to bradycardia, whether a correctable cause, such as a medication change or a thyroid condition, can be addressed, and whether the degree of heart block genuinely warrants intervention. The goal is always the right treatment for the right patient, not a reflexive recommendation.
Why Choose Valley Heart & Rhythm for Bradycardia and Heart Block Care in Tarzana, CA?
Dr. Wakslak is a board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist who has cared for patients across the San Fernando Valley since 2012. His training spans the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Maimonides Medical Center, and the University of Rochester Medical Center, and he manages the full range of heart rhythm conditions, including pacemaker implantation for bradycardia and heart block, with the precision that comes from subspecialty focus.
What separates Valley Heart & Rhythm from larger, high-volume practices is a genuine commitment to knowing each patient as a person, not a case. The practice is intentionally small. Dr. Wakslak makes every clinical decision personally, with no rotating physicians, no unfamiliar faces, and no handoffs. When a pacemaker is the right answer for you, you will hear exactly why. When it is not, you will hear that, too. That kind of honesty is built into the way this practice operates.
Get the Answers Your Heart Deserves
Persistent fatigue, unexplained fainting, or a heart rate that simply does not feel right should not be pushed aside.
At Valley Heart & Rhythm in Tarzana, CA, Dr. Wakslak and his team are ready to evaluate your symptoms thoroughly and give you a clear picture of what is going on. Call (818) 724-8000 to schedule a consultation.
