Sick sinus syndrome history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sahar Memar Montazerin, M.D.[2]

Patients with sick sinus syndrome (SSS) may present with nonspecific symptoms or be asymptomatic. 50 percent of patients present with syncope or pre-syncope related to the decreased cerebral perfusion secondary to bradyarrhythmias or tachyarrhythmias. Some of the symptoms that may develop among patients include memory loss, dizziness or light-headedness, Palpitations, chest pain or angina, shortness of breath, fatigue, and headache.

Patients with sick sinus syndrome (SSS) may present with nonspecific symptoms or be asymptomatic. 50 percent of patients present with syncope or pre-syncope related to the decreased cerebral perfusion secondary to bradyarrhythmias or tachyarrhythmias.^[1]

Patients with mild SSS may be asymptomatic and unaware of any underlying illness. Other patients with symptomatic SSS may experience brief symptoms or more severe manifestations. Some of the symptoms that may develop among patients include: ^[2][3][4]

• Dementia
• Irritability
• Lethargy
• Memory loss
• Nocturnal wakefulness
• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Palpitations
• Chest pain or angina
• Shortness of breath
• Decreased exercise tolerance
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Focal neurologic symptoms due to cerebrovascular accidents

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