Symptoms of Brugada Syndrome
Symptoms of Brugada Syndrome can range from subtle to life-threatening. The most common symptoms of Brugada syndrome include fainting (syncope), irregular heartbeats, nighttime seizures, and in severe cases, sudden cardiac arrest. Unfortunately, many individuals remain asymptomatic until a serious event occurs.
Fainting is often the first noticeable symptom and may happen during rest or sleep. This occurs when the heart goes into an abnormal rhythm and cannot pump enough blood to the brain. The episodes are sudden, may be brief, and are sometimes mistaken for seizures due to limb jerking or unconsciousness.
Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), especially ventricular fibrillation or polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, are common in Brugada syndrome. These rhythms are fast and chaotic, leading to reduced blood flow and oxygen delivery throughout the body. If not corrected immediately, they can result in death.
Nocturnal symptoms are particularly important. Brugada syndrome arrhythmias often occur during rest or sleep, making sudden unexplained deaths during the night a key red flag — especially in young, otherwise healthy adults.
Symptoms of Brugada Syndrome
Seizure-like episodes at night may also occur. These are not true epileptic seizures but result from reduced blood flow to the brain during arrhythmic episodes.
Palpitations, dizziness, and shortness of breath may occur in some people, but these symptoms are non-specific and can be easily overlooked or attributed to other causes.
Some individuals with Brugada syndrome remain completely asymptomatic, only discovering the condition through family screening or after an abnormal ECG done for unrelated reasons.
It’s crucial to recognise symptoms of Brugada syndrome, especially in people with a family history of unexplained fainting or sudden cardiac death. Even a single fainting episode in these individuals warrants urgent cardiac evaluation.
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