Brugada Syndrome

Brugada syndrome is a heart rhythm disorder caused by a genetic disorder. Brugada syndrome is often asymptomatic, but can result in sudden cardiac arrest

Irregular heart rhythm will make the heart unable to pump blood throughout the body optimally. Although it often does not cause complaints, some people with Brugada syndrome can feel complaints of palpitations and shortness of breath.

Brugada syndrome is rare, but is one of the leading causes of sudden death in infants to adults.

Causes and Risk Factors of Brugada Syndrome

Brugada syndrome occurs due to changes or mutations in one or more genes that play a role in maintaining a normal heart rhythm. The mutated gene is passed down from one parent.

Brugada syndrome is more common in men than women. While the appearance of symptoms is thought to be triggered and exacerbated by the following conditions:

• Electrolyte disturbance
• Drug side effects, such as antiarrhythmic drugs, hypertension drugs, and antidepressant drugs
• Cocaine abuse
• Fever

Symptoms of Brugada Syndrome

Brugada syndrome often does not cause any symptoms. However, in some patients, Brugada syndrome can show symptoms that are not much different from other heart rhythm disorders, such as:

• Dizzy
• Fainted
• chest pain
• Heart pounding
• Shortness of breath
• Seizure

These symptoms can appear at any age, but are more common at the age of 30-40 years. Symptoms of Brugada syndrome can also appear as a result of being triggered by fever, dehydration, and excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages.

When to see a doctor

If you experience the symptoms of Brugada syndrome as described above, consult a doctor immediately.

If you find someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, call an ambulance immediately and provide CPR or AED assistance as soon as possible. After that, immediately take the patient to the emergency room at the nearest hospital.

Brugada Syndrome Diagnosis

To diagnose Brugada syndrome, the doctor will ask about the symptoms that appear and whether there are relatives of the patient who have experienced a similar condition. The doctor will also perform a physical examination by listening to the heartbeat and rhythm of the heart through a stethoscope.

Furthermore, in order to establish a diagnosis, the doctor requires supporting examinations, such as:

• Record your heart or electrocardiogram (ECG), which can be helped by medication
• Heart catheterization, to check heart rhythm more accurately
• Gene examination, to find out the presence of genetic mutations

Brugada Syndrome Treatment

The main method of treating Brugada syndrome is the implant of an automatic cardiac shock device (ICD) under the collarbone. This device is connected to the heart via blood vessels to monitor the heart rate. If the heart rate is abnormal, the ICD will send a shock signal so that the heart rate returns to normal.

Please note, the ICD can send a shock signal even if the patient's heart rate is normal. To reduce the risk of these conditions occurring, patients who use ICDs need to regularly see a doctor. If the ICD is not effective in treating Brugada syndrome, the doctor will suggest cardiac ablation therapy.

In addition to the above procedures, doctors can also prescribe antiarrhythmic drugs to keep the patient's heart rate normal.

Complications of Brugada Syndrome

The most dangerous complication of Brugada syndrome is sudden cardiac arrest. In addition, the heart rhythm disturbances that occur in Brugada syndrome can make blood flow to the brain not optimal, causing fainting. Both of these complications require immediate medical attention.

Brugada Syndrome Prevention

Brugada syndrome cannot be prevented, because the genetic disorder that causes this condition has been present since birth. Even so, complications of Brugada syndrome can be prevented by early examination when there are symptoms of a heart rhythm disorder.

If you have no symptoms of Brugada syndrome but have a family member who suffered from Brugada syndrome or died of sudden cardiac arrest, you should consult a cardiologist. The goal is that this disease can be detected and treated as early as possible if any.

In addition, people with Brugada syndrome are also advised to:

• Immediately take fever-reducing medication if you start to feel feverish and don't let the fever rise
• Avoiding consumption of alcoholic beverages
• Consult your doctor before taking any medication
• Avoiding strenuous or competitive sports, such as football