Bradycardia vs Tachycardia

[hanakimi4]

Which is more life-threatening bradycardia or tachycardia?

[twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN]

It would depend on how tachy or how brady the patient is. Both can be equally life threatening.

[MunoRN, RN]

"Neither" and "Both" are equally correct.

Both of those terms simply refer to a HR within a common range or outside of a common range. Depending on the factors affecting a patient's perfusion and cardiac output demands, a HR of 55 might be more than enough for one person, but life threatening for another. Likewise, a HR of 130 might be totally appropriate in someone under high physiological stress, but unsustainable for someone else.

[Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN]

It would depend on how tachy or how brady the patient is. Both can be equally life threatening.

Also depends on what's causing it.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I always say too fast is better than not enough but that comes with a big asterisk.

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

Assuming this is a homework question like it appears to be, how about you tell us your thoughts first?

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

I always say too fast is better than not enough but that comes with a big asterisk.

I dunno. I've seen some perfuse ok with a hr of 29-40, hypertensive, but some not tolerate 160 at all. No time for the ventricles to fill.tend to get hypotensive

[Guest219794]

What are your thoughts on the matter?

What is the context of the question?

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I dunno. I've seen some perfuse ok with a hr of 29-40, hypertensive, but some not tolerate 160 at all. No time for the ventricles to fill.tend to get hypotensive

Thats why it comes with a big asterisk. It doesn't apply to all situations.

[offlabel]

As a practical matter, I'd rather treat too slow than too fast. Less to think about, differential list is shorter, overall easier to treat IMO

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

What is the context of the question?

I am curious to find this out as well. Short answer: both can be not so bad, both can be really bad. It depends on how high or low and on the overall clinical picture.

[Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP]

Both can cause unstable hemodynamics and it's the unstable hemodynamics that kill, not the blood pressure itself. It's all about the oxygenation, and if that's not happening then it's over. A tachycardia can turn to V Fib which is lethal, and sinus brady can turn to worse sinus brady and then asystole which is not compatible with life.