Heart block
Heart block happens when the heart beats more slowly or with an abnormal rhythm and the block happens if there is a problem with the electrical pulses that control how your heart beats.
Symptoms of heart block
First-degree typically has no symptoms. Most people are tested for a different medical issue and only learn they have it as a result.
Second-degree some may experience,
- Chest ache
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
Third-degree or complete indicates the following sign,
- Feeling lightheaded
- Short of breath
- Highly exhausted and frequently confused
- A chest pain
The severity of your heart block will determine your symptoms. First-degree heart block, which could not show signs, is the least threatening.
The most severe and occasionally life-threatening heart block is the third-degree condition.
Reasons for heart block
Congenital heart block is a condition in which some people have a heart block from birth.
However, heart block typically appears later in life.
The following factors may contribute to acquired heart block:
- Further heart issues, including a heart attack
- Some prescribed drugs
- Other ailments, including Lyme illness
- Undergoing cardiac surgery
Detecting blocks in the heart
Heart block is frequently discovered during routine examinations for other illnesses, even if you are symptom-free.
The primary examination for diagnosing heart block is an electrocardiogram (ECG). It monitors your heart’s electrical activity. It offers a helpful general evaluation of how well your heart is functioning.
The ECG readings can occasionally determine a person’s type of heart block.
Treatments for a heart block
Treatment and symptoms can differ from person to person.
Sometimes altering a patient’s pharmaceutical prescription or course of heart disease treatment can relieve heart block.
First-degree block: You generally won’t need treatment
Second-degree block: A pacemaker is employed to keep your heart beating normally. A pacemaker is a little gadget that delivers electrical impulses to your heart.
Third-degree block: Frequently discovered for the first time in an emergency. A peacemaker is an aid.
Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
Page last reviewed: 16 JULY 2022