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Heart block is a disruption in the relay of electrical signals that control activity of the heart muscle.

What is going on in the body?

The heart beats by using electric impulses. These impulses follow a specific route through the heart. These routes or pathways are sometimes grouped together into specialized areas called nodes and bundles.

Bundles send out small fibers that go into the muscle of the heart. The nodes, bundles, and fibers are responsible to keep the heart muscles beating all together and at the correct rate.

• First-degree heart block. This type occurs when the electrical impulse passes through the heart slower than normal, but heartbeat and rhythm are still within a healthy range. This type of block does not mean there is anything seriously wrong with the heart.
• Second-degree heart block. This occurs when some of the electrical signals from the upper chamber of the heart, called the atrium, fail to reach the lower chamber of the heart, called the ventricle. This results in what are called "dropped beats."
• Complete heart block.This is the most serious type of heart block. In this condition, no electrical impulses pass from the upper to the lower parts of the heart. The lower part starts beating on its own, but at a much slower rate than normal. This heart rate may be too slow and irregular to maintain an adequate blood supply to the vital organs.

What are the signs and symptoms of the disease?

Symptoms depend on how severe the heart block is and in what part of the heart it occurs. Often, heart block causes no symptoms. If the heart block is severe enough, the heart rate will slow, and symptoms of low blood pressure will appear. The person may feel dizzy, weak, confused, or may have less tolerance for exercise. Sometimes, a person may pass out or even suffer a stroke, heart attack, or sudden cardiac arrest.

What are the causes and risks of the disease?

• history of heart attacks
• coronary artery disease
• infectious diseases of the heart, such as endocarditis
• hereditary defect of the heart, called congenital heart block

• beta blockers, such as propranolol (i.e., Inderal), metoprolol (i.e., Lopressor, Toprol) or pindolol (i.e., Visken)
• calcium channel blockers, such as verapamil (i.e., Calan, Isoptin, Verelan) or diltiazem (i.e., Cardiazem, Cartia, Dilacor)
• digitalis glycosides, such as digoxin (i.e., Lanoxin, Lanoxicap)

Highly-trained athletes may also have the less severe forms of heart block, but will most likely have no symptoms other than a slow heartbeat.

A block that has existed for a long time may pose no problem. A block that appears suddenly is likely to be more serious and alerts the healthcare provider to a new or worsening underlying heart condition.

What can be done to prevent the disease?

Treatment of an existing heart problem can make heart blocks less likely to develop or worsen. Avoiding medicines that cause heart block may also help in some people. There is no way to prevent a heart block from occurring in a healthy person.

How is the disease diagnosed?

An electrocardiogram, (called ECG), can diagnose the disorder. Heart blocks often have a certain pattern that the ECG machine traces on special paper. In some cases, special tests using probes placed into the heart can measure the flow and direction of electricity.

What are the long-term effects of the disease?

The long-term effects of heart block depend on the underlying heart disease. If the underlying disease causes a fixed slow heart rate, less than 45 beats/minute, then a pacemaker will be needed. Otherwise, the heart block in and of itself is not a major concern so long as the underlying disease is stable.

If a new heart block appears suddenly where there was none before, it can result in a heart attack. In summary, the worse the underlying disease the worse the block. The worse the block, the slower the heart rate and the more sever the symptoms.

What are the risks to others?

Heart block causes no risk to others.

What are the treatments for the disease?

Many times heart blocks are not treated at all. Treatment of other heart problems reduces the risk that the block will become more severe. In some cases, an electrical device called a pacemaker can be used to help the heart beat at a healthy rate. Medicines can also be used to help increase the heart rate. The healthcare provider may substitute a different medicine when the block is the result of a medication side effect.

What are the side effects of the treatments?

Pacemakers use batteries to work. These batteries can last for years, but will need to be replaced at some point. The pacemaker itself may also need replacing after years of use. Each medicine used to treat heart disease has its own side effects.

What happens after treatment for the disease?

Once a pacemaker is implanted, the healthcare provider monitors the person's heart rate at each office visit. Medicine for existing heart disease may also need to be adjusted periodically. With the correct treatment, most people are able to continue with their regular activities.

How is the disease monitored?

Regular visits to the healthcare provider and repeat ECG testing, sometimes by telephone, helps pick up any changes in the heart's status. Any new or worsening symptoms should be reported.