Heart Block

Question: How can a heart block effect my career? what is morbitz type two second degree block and how will effect my military career no pacemaker and i dont have much confidence in military dr's. I have recieded two different opinions from two different dr's one says i need more tests and not to do anything that will elevate my heart rate to much and the other say nah your fine...so i dont know what to do

Answer: I don't know, do you have a pacemaker?

Question: My 3yr old son has pacemaker since birth for congenitive heart block have concerns about battery change soon? Battery to be changed within 6mo, had a hard time recovery when pacemaker was placed at birth. Also they (DR.'S) don't know why he has congenitive heart block. Any ideas of where to go for more answers?

Answer: He should have a faster recovery time this time around. I have a heart block also and they don't know why, i think that's normal. Try this web site, www.pacemakerclub.com good luck and stay strong mom!

Question: Is a First Degree AV Heart Block condition even treatable? Three weeks ago I was diagnosed with a first degree level AV heartblock and sinus arythmia. So far, I've had a stress test, an EKG, echocardiogram, pulmonary testing and my cholesterol levels checked (good was low, bad was high, tri was perfect). The cardiologist I saw today is not taking my concerns about this diagnosis seriously. Google has helped me learn more about the condition but there is no information about how to treat this heart conduction defect. I have shortness of breath, dizziness and am lightheaded. And two months ago I quit smoking (smoker 1 pk a day for 15 years), changed my diet and started trying to walk 30 minutes at least 3 times a week. All my tests fall within the "normal" range. If its all about a numbers game, how can I be sure my cardiologist, or any cardiologist will help me? So far, the only action taken by my cardiologist was to prescribe some lipitor (I'm 36 with high cholesterol and a family history of congestive heart failure) for me to take. I also want to add I have two previous brain injuries from car accidents and have been treated for neck and back injuries and dizzines related to those accidents. I also have a CT scan test scheduled to measure the plague in my heart in two weeks. I told my cardiologist this today at my appointment, and he tried to disuade me by telling me to cancel it. He added that I already know I have high bad cholesterol and that the heart CT scan will only show that amount of plague in my heart and add un-necessary worry. What kind of cardiologist tries to disuade a patient from getting further testing, knowing my family history of heart disease? Obviously, I can find more cardiologists to get more opinions. But what more can I do to empower myself knowing what I do know, despite the normal results of all my testing? My cardiologist even told me that my sinus arythmia was a common thing and not to worry. So I'm supposed to be okay with being short of breath the rest of my life? Allison, you are wrong when you say there are no symptoms with a First Degree AV Heart Block. It is a DISEASE of the heart's electrical conduction system and it has symptoms. The heart's electrical imulses move through the heart's chambers slower than normal AND in a very small subset of people, it can progress to 2nd, 3rd, 4th degree heart blocks that are more dangerous. These are the symptoms of a First Degree Heart Block; lightheadedness, shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue. Neither of you have helped me at all. I'm really disappointed. I will have to just figure this out on my own.

Answer: Ok, just to allay your fears some, your cardiologist is right to try to get you to relax about these conditions. Sinus arrhythmia is quite common, especially for young people, say under 35. If you're older and have SA it can indicate a person is prone to other more serious arrhythmias. 1st degree AV block is also a VERY minor condition. It doesn't result in any symptoms either. However, it can indicate a propensity to developing more serious blocks, like 2nd and 3rd degree blocks, which can be very symptomatic. I understand why your doc is discouraging the CT. The amount of radiation you receive from a CT is equivalent to approx. 500 chest Xrays. You don't want to have that level of radiation exposure unless there is a current and pressing need. The test might show some degree of plaque accumulation, but it's more likely to result in a cancer that might not have developed otherwise. You already know you need to modify your lifestyle. The lipitor, exercise and diet are a great start. Quitting the smoking is the BEST thing you've done so far. It's very likely the smoking is the cause of the plaque. Stopping smoking combined with your lifestyle change will likely result in a reduction of any accumulated plaque over the next few years. The family history of CHF is not a huge concern to your cardiologist, because CHF is ordinarily brought on by a heart muscle weakened by heart attack, ongoing ischemic heart disease, hypertrophy of the heart or respiratory dysfunction that puts strain on the heart. Smokers are much more prone to CHF. If all your tests, EKG, stress test... have come out normal, you need to relax and continue the positive lifestyle changes you've made so far and add one or two more. It is ESSENTIAL that you bring down your stress levels. When they say stress kills, they are not exaggerating in the least. Type A personalities dominate the cardiac patient population. I would guess they make up at least 95 percent of my patient population. I've also noticed that "Early Birds" are equally dominating in that group. Guess it goes hand in hand with the Type A group. I've asked every pt I test in the morning if they're early birds and the VAST majority are. 26 years worth of polling supports my theory. I really do understand your concerns, but listen to your cardiologist and just keep doing what you're doing. If you do, you should the healthiest in the pack. If, in the future, you feel your heart rhythm change, race for no reason, or seem fluttery, go and get assessed again. They'll do a 24 holter monitor recording and determine the severity of the arrhythmia. Until then, keep up the good work and RELAX!!! ;D

Question: is first degree heart block is a threat to aviation medical class 3? im an ATCO, ive done class 3 aviation medical three times before, but the fourth time, which is recently, i got this, and i was asked to do a copmlete investigation by a cardiologist. is it like im gonna lose my license?

Answer: A first degree heart block shows up on an ecg as a prolonged PR interval. You do not state what this interval is. Are you currently taking any medications? Who told you that you have this heart block? Please post information.

Question: I need information on how to treat 2ND degree heart block (Wenkebach) with acupuncture or acupressure? I don't feel the palpitations all the time. When I do get symptoms, they last awhile. I have had ALL the studies done by my electrophysiologist, etc. My condition cannot be medicated. My doctor is not very concerned about this condition, as I need not see him for 3 years. I want to know what can be done with acupuncture or acupressure. Known experiences wanted. Thanks!!

Answer: Do these exercises and over time your symptoms will reduce.Drink warm water. Build up your timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after one minute. Anulom Vilom – Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril then -keeping the left nostril closed deep breath-in through right nostril then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril. This is one cycle of anulom vilom. Repeat this cycle for 20 to 30 minutes twice a day(maximum 60 minutes in one day). You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed. Kapalbhati -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and do for 20 to 30 minutes twice a day.(Max 60 min/day) Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.

Question: I have asymptomatic congenital heart block (heart rate is around 40 bpm). Should I get a pacemaker? Thanks m? Does anyone know if the risks associated with total heart block outweigh the risk of getting a pacemaker?

Answer: OMG!!! Why don't you have a pacemaker in already especially if you heart rate is only 40? Yes get a pacemaker ASAP before your heart rate goes down to 0 that's the risk. How old are you now? You should of already have a pacemaker in! Why didn't you cardiologist put one in? You will propable feel better when you get improved cardiac function. Best of luck with your surgery, take care Donna

Question: I have 2 brain aneursyms and a left branch bundle block in my heart. How will I heal and will I? The 2 aneursyms broke and I have clamps in them and I still have another on the right side of my brain they say they need to keep an eye on the rest of my life. And now I have to worry about my heart thing.

Answer: You may not heal, but you'll be able to continue your life, although you'll have to take it easy and probably be on medications for the rest of your life, and get frequent check ups. You may have to take blood thinners, start eating right, cut out cigarettes and alcohol, and do small exercises to keep yourself healthy. If you do these things, and get healthy and in shape, you could quite possibly have many years of a good life ahead of you. But if you don't, your risk for having more of these problems and symptoms from them would be through the roof. So looks like you should start on a healthy diet right away and cut out all cigarettes and alcohol (and illegal drugs if you do them...i'm not saying you do any of these things....only saying to quit them if you do). Hope this helps -monco

Question: Does repetitive drug use take a toll on a persons heart where they can develop a bundle branch block? My friend claims her boyfriend whose 22 has a bundle branch block from inheriting it from his father but we know for a fact he is a drug user and does speed or something they call tweak. Can his drug use be the real affect of his heart condition?

Answer: You bet it can cause bundle branch block, in addition to a whole host of other heart problems. Speed has no mercy on a person's heart.

Question: What is complete heart block? .. and what is the problem in the heart that causes it? Also, what effect would this condition have on cardiac output? Thanks a lot.

Answer: The main rhythm generator in your heart is in the right atrium (the SA, or sinoatrial node). The next rhythm generator is the AV, or atrioventricular node. The SA node talks to the AV node. The SA node fires up to 100 beats per minute; the AV node is closer to 40. A complete heart block is when the signal from the SA node does not reach the AV node, for whatever reason. On an EKG, there will be two separate rhythms: one at about 70-100 beats per minute from the SA node, and the other at about 30-40bpm from your AV node. The cardiac output is determined by your ventricle contractions (left ventricle, specifically). Because the signal from the SA node has to go through the AV node before the AV node can tell your ventricles to contract, this will be disrupted in complete heart block. Since the AV node fires independently at 30-40 bpm, your ventricles will contract 30-40 times per minute. The normal rate of contraction is 60-70, so your rate of contraction would be halved. Your cardiac output is tougher. Because you heart is beating slower, there is more time for the ventricles to fill. However, your heart can normally take it, and it's likely that the cardiac output would actually remain the same (simply because the ventricles will be pushing out twice as much volume, but beating half as fast). Therefore, at resting states, cardiac output may not change that much. However, the heart will not be able to accommodate increases in activity since the fastest it can beat is 40bpm, the rate set by the AV node, and there is a limit as to how much blood the ventricles can fill and contract.

Question: I have been diagnosed with a right bundle branch block of the heart, what can I do to reverse this? Please give me some feedback on this, I know it's not that serious. I have been on medication in the past, and I wonder if that would cause this?. What can I do to stay healthy, and ultimately try to recover from this?

Answer: There is no way to reverse a bundle branch block. It simply means you have a delay in the electrical conduction to the right ventricle of your heart for some reason. It was not likely caused by medication, you could have been born with an incomplete block and it's just not been diagnosed until now. You can only detect it on an EKG, it doesn't make noise like a murmur- so docs can't hear it when they listen to your heart. To stay healthy, all you have to do is follow the same recommendations as everyone else to lower your risk of cardiovascular problems. That is, eat a low fat diet, maintain a healthy weight, exercise, and lead an overall low stress, sensible lifestyle. You will not "recover" from a bundle branch block. It will likely stay stable, that is, it won't do anything one way or another, for your entire life. It will need periodic monitoring, a simple EKG once a year is enough to monitor it, just to ensure it doesn't lead to something else. Even if it does become symptomatic, as long as the heart tissue itself is healthy, it can be handled with a pacemaker. The person to best explain all this to you is your cardiologist or personal physician. You will feel a lot better if you get the scoop from the experts, and then you can ask these questions to a live warm body and get the answers you need in person. I encourage you to do this, although you will be told exactly what I've said here- it's always best to get the advice from the folks with the diplomas to back them.

Question: Does atrioventricular dissociation lead to heart block? Or is it actually a form of heart block?

Answer: Considering the fact that A-V dissociation is when the atria and ventricles beat independent of each other, it is not necessarily considered a heart block. A-V block, however, is considered by some as one form of A-V dissociation. It's worth looking into further. A-V dissociation can be caused by either slowing of the sinus node (causing an escape beat) or acceleration of a ventricular or junctional pacemaker. A-V block definitely falls into the definition of A-V dissociation, but doesn't have the same pathophysiology. I think it would be safe to consider the two as separate entities. Therefore, let's throw A-V dissociation in a separate box, and keep heart blocks where they belong. Watch out, though. The EKG can lie.

Question: what is the meaning of "heart in hand" quilt block? I'm looking for the meaning of this quilt block. I am not sure when it originated. You see in colonial designs so I don't think it appears any earlier than that.

Answer: A symbol of friendship

Question: In Second-degree type I SA heart block, why do the P-P intervals get shorter? Given that during this type of SA block conduction time between the SA node and the surrounding atrial tissue becomes longer, why would the P-P interval get shorter?

Answer: I agree, it should get longer. I've also heard a similar thing about R-R getting shorter on AV blocks, and can't even get an answer from Cardiologists on why either would occur. I'm actually looking at a strip of one right now that we just treated tonight, but unfortunately, every third beat is dropped, so there is only one P-P before each drop. Can't tell if it would lengthen or shorten. To the people talking about PRI's they don't lengthen in SA blocks. The lengthening of PRI occurs in AV blocks, a totally different and more common block than SA blocks. I think the reason for the confusion is that Cardiologists use the same terms(degree, Mobitz, and Wenkebach) to describe both SA and AV blocks, and when people see these terms they automatically think of the more common AV blocks. Also, In an AV block with widening PRI's, the P-P is constant, since the SA node and atria are firing regularly. The delay is in the AV node so the change would only effect the R-R, not the P-P.

Question: can someone explain the process before a heart block? the doctors did a ecg and one of those lines that goes up and down was more prolonged than the others but he was using words that i couldnt understand please help i dont know what type of heart block - i didnt even know there was more than one otherwise i wouldnt be here asking it but i thing jen7267 it is first degree caue he didnt seem too worried about it if you know what i mean.

Answer: So what kind of heart block are we talkin' there is a first, second, Wenckebach's block and third degree block...A heart block is a disease in the electrical system of the heart. Your heart uses electrical conduction to pump blood...if there is a problem with your electrical system it can create a pause or disruption in your conduction. In first-degree heart block, the electrical signal is slowed as it moves through the heart. In second degree heart block, electrical signals between the atria and ventricles are slowed to a large degree. In third degree heart block, none of the electrical signals reach the ventricles. This type also is called complete heart block or complete AV block. Wenckebach's block the electrical signals are delayed more and more with each heartbeat, until the heart skips a beat.

Question: Has anyone had treatment for left bundle branch block of the heart? I am undergoing test for this condition and was wondering what the treatment was.. if any, on the final outcome.

Answer: It depends on the findings of your testing. What type of test are you having done? A left bundle branch block is simply conduction delay, but it also can indicate the presence of heart disease. Sometimes, a chemical stress test will be performed to look for possible flow limiting coronary artery disease. An echocardiogram may be done to look at the structure of your heart and to evaluate EF (ejection fraction). This will tell your doctor how efficienctly your heart muscle squeezes and to look for any wall motion abnormalities. If there are any abnormalities with either test, and/or you are having problems such as shortness of breath, chest pain, etc, then you MAY be set up for a heart cath. If they are negative tests, then the treatment is nothing. It's just something that you and your doctors will note. Hope this helps!

Question: Can I do weight-training or Bodybuilding if I have 1st degree heart block?

Answer: Yes it is fine, as long as you do not get too breathless (by which i mean you absolutely wear yourself out each time you finish a training session)