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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staff
Age
A key risk factor for bradycardia is age. The degeneration of tissue associated with many cases of bradycardia is more common in older adults.
Risk factors related to heart disease
Bradycardia is often associated with damage to heart tissue from some type of heart disease. Therefore, factors that increase your risk of heart disease may also increase the risk of bradycardia. Lifestyle changes or medical treatment may decrease the risk of heart disease associated with the following factors:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Smoking
- Heavy alcohol consumption
- Use of recreational drugs
- Psychological stress or anxiety
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- Kaszala K, et al. Contemporary pacemakers: What the primary care physician needs to know. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2008;83:1170.
