Cardiac Symptoms of Lyme Disease
Cardiac symptoms of Lyme disease occur when infection affects the heart and its electrical conduction system. Some patients develop palpitations, dizziness, fainting, or abnormalities in heart rhythm as part of Lyme infection.
Although cardiac complications are less common than neurologic or musculoskeletal symptoms, heart involvement can occur as part of the broader multisystem pattern seen in Lyme disease. Cardiac symptoms may appear alongside fatigue, neurologic symptoms, or autonomic dysfunction, which can make the clinical picture difficult to recognize early.
Heart involvement is most commonly associated with Lyme carditis, a condition in which inflammation disrupts normal electrical signaling in the heart. Although cardiac complications are less common than neurologic or musculoskeletal symptoms, they can be serious if not recognized promptly.
This page highlights cardiac manifestations associated with Lyme disease and links to clinical articles discussing these symptoms in greater detail.
Common Cardiac Symptoms of Lyme Disease
- Heart palpitations
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Fainting (syncope)
- Chest discomfort
- Irregular heart rhythm
- Shortness of breath
In some cases, patients develop Lyme carditis, which may lead to heart block or abnormalities in the heart’s electrical conduction system.
Cardiac Symptom Patterns
Cardiac symptoms of Lyme disease often fall into several recognizable patterns involving electrical conduction abnormalities, autonomic regulation, or inflammatory involvement of the heart.
- Electrical conduction abnormalities – Lyme carditis can interfere with the heart’s electrical signaling, sometimes producing varying degrees of heart block.
- Palpitations and rhythm disturbances – patients may experience irregular heartbeats, skipped beats, or episodes of rapid heart rate.
- Syncope or near-syncope – fainting or sudden lightheadedness may occur when heart rhythm disturbances affect blood flow to the brain.
- Autonomic-related cardiac symptoms – some patients experience palpitations or heart rate instability related to autonomic dysfunction rather than structural heart disease.
Articles on Cardiac Symptoms of Lyme Disease
- Lyme carditis
- Heart block and Lyme disease
- Palpitations in Lyme disease
- Fainting associated with Lyme disease
- Cardiac complications of Lyme disease
Why Cardiac Lyme Disease Can Be Missed
Cardiac symptoms caused by Lyme disease can resemble other heart conditions. Patients with palpitations or fainting may initially be evaluated for arrhythmias, anxiety, dehydration, or primary autonomic disorders before Lyme disease is considered.
To learn more about diagnostic challenges, see our page on Lyme disease misdiagnosis.
Related Hubs
- Neurologic Lyme Disease
- Autonomic Dysfunction
- Lyme Disease Fatigue
- Persistent Lyme Disease Mechanisms
- Recovery from Lyme Disease
- Lyme Disease Symptoms Guide
Editor’s note: In my clinical experience, cardiac symptoms from Lyme disease are uncommon but important to recognize early because timely treatment can prevent serious complications.
