A 72-year-old woman presents with presyncope, lightheadedness, and syncope. Her medications include diltiazem, metoprolol, digoxin (recently started), and levothyroxine. Vital signs show HR 44 bpm with orthostatic hypotension (BP 108/68 supine → 88/54 standing). Physical examination reveals cannon A waves in the JVP. ECG shows a regular narrow-complex rhythm at 45 bpm with inverted P waves in leads II, III, and aVF (some buried within QRS, others after QRS). Digoxin level is 3.2 ng/mL (therapeutic 0.8–2.0). The pattern marked **C** in the diagram is identified as junctional escape rhythm with sinus arrest. Which of the following BEST explains the mechanism by which this rhythm protects the patient from a more catastrophic outcome?
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