Brugada syndrome

Brugada syndrome is a rare but serious condition that affects the way electrical signals pass through the heart. It can cause the heart to beat dangerously fast.

These unusually fast heartbeats – known as an arrhythmia – can be life threatening in some cases.

Brugada syndrome is usually caused by a faulty gene that's inherited by a child from a parent. A simple heart test can be done to see if you have it.

Symptoms of Brugada syndrome

Many people with Brugada syndrome don't have any symptoms and don't realise they have it.

Some people experience:

• blackouts
• fits (seizures)
• occasional noticeable heartbeats (palpitations), chest pain, breathlessness, or dizziness

These symptoms can occur at any time, but are sometimes triggered by something such as a high temperature (fever), drinking lots of alcohol, or dehydration.

Symptoms typically first appear at around 30-40 years of age, but they can occur at any age. They're more common in men than women or children.