What is classified as bradycardia?

Bradycardia is classified as a heart rate that is less than 60 beats per minute. This condition can be a normal physiological response in some individuals, such as athletes who have a trained cardiovascular system. However, it can also indicate an underlying medical issue, especially if the heart rate falls below this threshold in a non-athletic person.

Understanding that a heart rate is pivotal in assessing cardiac function helps in recognizing when bradycardia may require further evaluation. While a heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute signifies tachycardia and a heart rate between 60 and 100 beats per minute is considered normal, the definition of bradycardia specifically focuses on the lower limits of heart rate.

An irregular heart rate does not specifically indicate bradycardia but rather suggests a variety of arrhythmias. Therefore, the specific delineation of bradycardia as a heart rate under 60 beats per minute is vital for accurate diagnosis and clinical management.