Heart Block

A heart block occurs when there is a disturbance in the electrical impulses of the heart. These electrical impulses are responsible for producing the beats of the heart and guiding the rhythm of those beats. When there is a problem in the transfer of these electrical impulses, it leads to irregular heart beats and an irregular rhythm of those heart beats as well. This condition is called a heart block. In the following article we will learn a little something more about this medical condition and what causes it, along with what the treatment methods for the same are.

Complete Block

The human heart is made up of four chambers. The two chambers present above are called atria while the two chambers present below are called ventricles. The electrical impulses are transferred from the atria to the ventricles and that is how they produce the heart beats and guide their rhythm. A heart block, we know, occurs when there is a disturbance in the transfer of these electrical impulses. This block is classified into 3 different degrees - namely, first, second and third degree heart blocks.

In a first degree heart block, the electrical impulses move slower than normal, in a second degree heart block, the electrical impulses are not able to reach from the atria to the ventricles and can thus result in a skipped beat or produce a very weak heartbeat. A third degree heart block is considered the most dangerous and is usually referred to as a 'complete heart block'. In this, the signals from the upper chambers do not get transferred onto the lower chambers and an independent pacemaker takes over, but it might not be able to keep pace with the regular and normal functioning of the heart and is therefore dangerous.

Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

It is said that a third degree heart block is the kind that will lead to all the major symptoms and this is what requires treatment. Let us look through the causes, symptoms and treatment methods of this condition.

Causes

• Heart attacks
• Heart muscle disease
• Coronary artery disease
• Side effects of certain medication forms
• Genetic disorder
• Infectious diseases like arthritis

Symptoms

• Sensations of fainting
• Feeling of dizziness
• Chest pain
• Seizures
• Breathlessness and shortness of breath

Treatment
The treatment needs to be undertaken after a diagnosis of the ailment has been done. Knowledge of what has caused the block is something that needs to be reviewed before anything else. If all the other factors have been ruled out (side effects of medication and the like), then the only option that needs to be looked into is that of having a pacemaker fitted in. A pacemaker will monitor the patient's heartbeats and produce electrical impulses so that the heart can continue to function well enough.

Heart Blockage

A heart blockage might sound similar to a heart block, but these two conditions are not similar in the way in which they are brought on. A heart blockage is a condition that prevents optimal supply of blood and oxygen to the heart due to a block in the arteries, and thereby leads to complications. A heart blockage can be caused by several factors like an accumulation of plaque in any of the arteries of the body. Why does the plaque accumulate? When a person consumes fatty substances that lead to accumulation of fats and cholesterol in the arteries of the body, the arteries become narrower and therefore cannot supply proper oxygen and blood throughout the body. This is what will lead to a heart blockage.

The condition of heart block is something that is very serious and needs to be treated in that way. Make sure that you take care of your health and provide for proper preventive measures so that this condition does not affect you. Hope this article has helped.