What term describes an abnormally slow heartbeat?

Bradycardia refers to an abnormally slow heartbeat, typically defined as a resting heart rate of fewer than 60 beats per minute in adults. This condition can occur as a result of various factors including aging, certain medical conditions (such as hypothyroidism or sleep apnea), medications, or inherent electrical issues in the heart. Understanding bradycardia is important in clinical settings because it can result in inadequate blood flow to the organs, leading to symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, or fainting.

In contrast, tachycardia is characterized by an increased heart rate above the normal range, while cardiomyopathy refers to diseases of the heart muscle that can affect its size, shape, and ability to pump blood effectively. Arrhythmia is a general term that encompasses any irregularities in the heartbeat, including both slow (bradycardia) and fast (tachycardia) rhythms, as well as other abnormalities in heartbeat patterns. Thus, the term that specifically denotes a slow heartbeat is bradycardia.