Chapter 1
Heart Block
Heart Block is not common in a Family doctor’s practice.
Once in a while I may have cases of first degree heart block or bundle branch block.
In fact as a medical student I had myself tested with an ECG and found that I have mild right bundle branch block.
What Is Heart Block?
Heart block is a medical disorder that affects the heart's electrical system.
The electrical system is the main control of the rate and rhythm of heartbeats.
As it moves, the electrical signal induces the heart muscles to contract and pump blood.
Heart block happens when the electrical signal is delayed or interrupted as it runs through the heart.
Heart block is a form of arrhythmia.
An arrhythmia consists an abnormal rhythm or rate of the heartbeat caused by the abnormal conduction of the electrical conduction from the sinus node to atrioventricular node to the bundles of HIS.
What are the Causes of Heart Block?
1. Congenital:
Some people are born with heart block,
2. Acquired:
Other people acquire it during their life.
Acquired heart block is more common than congenital heart block.
Damage to the heart muscle or its electrical system produces acquired heart block.
Damage occurs as a result from diseases, medicines or surgery
a. Damage to the heart from a heart attack or Coronary heart disease is the most frquent cause of acquired heart block.
b. Atherosclerosis
c. Myocarditis or inflammation of the heart muscle.
d. Heart Failure
e. Rheumatic fever.
f. Cardiomyopathy or heart muscle diseases.
g. Sarcoidosis
h. The degenerative muscle disorders Lev's disease and Lenegre's disease.
i. Certain types of surgery also may damage the heart's electrical system and lead to heart block.
j. Exposure to toxic substances and taking certain medicines such as digitalis, quinidine, beta blockers, and calcium channel blockers also may cause heart block
What are the Types of Heart Block?
The three types of heart block are:
1. First degree is the least severe.
2. Second degree is the moderate form
3. Third degree is the most severe.
Both congenital and acquired heart block have these three degrees of heart block.
A test called an ECG (electrocardiogram) is used by doctors to help diagnose heart block.
The ECG is able to register the heart's electrical activity.
What are the Symptoms of Heart Block?
The symptoms of heart block are dependent on the severity of Heart Block.
1. First-degree heart block may not produce any symptoms.
2. Second-degree heart block may cause the heart to skip a beat or beats and also can cause you to feel giddy or faint.
3. Third-degree heart block decreases the heart's capability to pump blood to the rest of the body.
This type of heart block may cause:
a. Fatigue,
b. Dizziness
c. Fainting.
Third-degree heart block will need quick treatment because it can cause death.
How is the diagnosis of Heart Block Made?
Diagnosis:
1. Doctors make use of an ECG (electrocardiogram) to help diagnose heart block.
This test detects and records the heart's electrical activity.
An ECG records the strength and timing of electrical signals as they pass through the heart.
2. A Holter monitor records the heart's electrical signals for a full 24- or 48-hour period.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Heart Block
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis
Chapter 7 Extrasystole
Chapter 8 Bradycardia
Heart Block
Heart Block is not common in a Family doctor’s practice.
Once in a while I may have cases of first degree heart block or bundle branch block.
In fact as a medical student I had myself tested with an ECG and found that I have mild right bundle branch block.
What Is Heart Block?
Heart block is a medical disorder that affects the heart's electrical system.
The electrical system is the main control of the rate and rhythm of heartbeats.
As it moves, the electrical signal induces the heart muscles to contract and pump blood.
Heart block happens when the electrical signal is delayed or interrupted as it runs through the heart.
Heart block is a form of arrhythmia.
An arrhythmia consists an abnormal rhythm or rate of the heartbeat caused by the abnormal conduction of the electrical conduction from the sinus node to atrioventricular node to the bundles of HIS.
What are the Causes of Heart Block?
1. Congenital:
Some people are born with heart block,
2. Acquired:
Other people acquire it during their life.
Acquired heart block is more common than congenital heart block.
Damage to the heart muscle or its electrical system produces acquired heart block.
Damage occurs as a result from diseases, medicines or surgery
a. Damage to the heart from a heart attack or Coronary heart disease is the most frquent cause of acquired heart block.
b. Atherosclerosis
c. Myocarditis or inflammation of the heart muscle.
d. Heart Failure
e. Rheumatic fever.
f. Cardiomyopathy or heart muscle diseases.
g. Sarcoidosis
h. The degenerative muscle disorders Lev's disease and Lenegre's disease.
i. Certain types of surgery also may damage the heart's electrical system and lead to heart block.
j. Exposure to toxic substances and taking certain medicines such as digitalis, quinidine, beta blockers, and calcium channel blockers also may cause heart block
What are the Types of Heart Block?
The three types of heart block are:
1. First degree is the least severe.
2. Second degree is the moderate form
3. Third degree is the most severe.
Both congenital and acquired heart block have these three degrees of heart block.
A test called an ECG (electrocardiogram) is used by doctors to help diagnose heart block.
The ECG is able to register the heart's electrical activity.
What are the Symptoms of Heart Block?
The symptoms of heart block are dependent on the severity of Heart Block.
1. First-degree heart block may not produce any symptoms.
2. Second-degree heart block may cause the heart to skip a beat or beats and also can cause you to feel giddy or faint.
3. Third-degree heart block decreases the heart's capability to pump blood to the rest of the body.
This type of heart block may cause:
a. Fatigue,
b. Dizziness
c. Fainting.
Third-degree heart block will need quick treatment because it can cause death.
How is the diagnosis of Heart Block Made?
Diagnosis:
1. Doctors make use of an ECG (electrocardiogram) to help diagnose heart block.
This test detects and records the heart's electrical activity.
An ECG records the strength and timing of electrical signals as they pass through the heart.
2. A Holter monitor records the heart's electrical signals for a full 24- or 48-hour period.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Heart Block
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis
Chapter 7 Extrasystole
Chapter 8 Bradycardia
