Increasingly, people suffer from heart problems. Excessive physical and emotional stress, chronic diseases, bad habits - all this cannot but affect the work of the cardiovascular system. One of the dangerous pathologies of the body is heart block - a disease that occurs either as an independent, or against the background of other diseases. So, a condition in which the transmission of an impulse through the heart muscle slows down or stops, is called heart block. What is this disease, what are the causes of its development, symptoms, signs, how to protect yourself from it?
Causes
Pathology can occur on its own or as a result or complication of other diseases. In the first case, a hereditary predisposition plays a role. If a person in the family suffers from heart problems, then he has a much greater chance of being affected by a disease called “heart block”. Not everyone knows that this is a serious risk, and in many cases, patients are not even aware of possible malfunctions in the cardiovascular system, continuing to lead a familiar lifestyle. Congenital pathologies are another factor that contributes to the development of human heart problems.
Heart block can also develop against the background of diseases such as myocarditis, angina pectoris, cardiosclerosis, myocardial infarction, thickening of the heart muscle, etc. Another reason is an overdose of drugs or improper medication. From this it follows that you always need to follow the doctor’s recommendations or carefully re-read the instructions for use.
Kinds
The blockade can be localized in different parts of the body, on which its classification and treatment depend.
With atrial (sinotrial) blockages at the level of the atrial muscle, the conduction of a nerve impulse slows down. If the atrium is left, then this condition is also called the left heart block, if it is right, then right. This pathology is very easy to confuse with bradycardia - a slowed heart rhythm. Sometimes in a healthy person, this type of blockade may occur. A severe degree is accompanied by convulsions and fainting.
Atrial-gastric or atrioventricular blockade develops due to impaired conduction of the impulse on the way from the atria to the ventricles. Ventricular blockade - a condition in which conduction is disturbed in the bundle of His. Problems such as cardiomyopathy, coronary heart disease, infectious endocarditis, myocarditis, myocardial infarction can provoke the disease. Another condition is a blockade of the leg of the heart. Another common name for the disease is the bundle branch block disease. If only the blockade of the right leg of the heart (or the left) is detected, then it does not pose a danger to life. It is much worse when the patient has a blockade of both legs, then immediate hospitalization and adequate treatment are required.
Atrioventricular block I and II degree
If an atrioventricular block of the heart is detected in the patient (that this is an electrocardiogram will show well), then the condition and prognosis depends on the degree of which there are three. At the first degree, slow conduction of pulses is noted. The causes of development are most often electrolyte disturbances, acute myocardial infarction, myocarditis, increased vagus nerve tone, and an overdose of cardiac drugs. Ignoring the disease can lead to an increase in the degree or progression of blockade.
The second degree is characterized by the intake of not all impulses into the ventricles. Clinical signs of the condition: chest pain, dizziness, hypoperfusion, bradycardia, low blood pressure, irregular heartbeat. Occupational sports, acute myocarditis, valve surgery, heart defects, vagotonia can provoke the development of the disease.
Atrioventricular block III degree
Blockade of the third degree, or complete blockade, is a condition in which an impulse is not carried out at all. Contraction of the ventricles and atria occurs independently of each other. The patient may experience the following symptoms: chest pain, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness, sweating, impaired consciousness, sudden death may occur.
The causes of acquired blockade are metabolic disorders, acute rheumatic fever, myocarditis, myocardial infarction, complications after operations, drug overdose.
Incomplete heart block
This disease is often found in young people and is even considered a normal option. The only danger that an incomplete heart block carries is that this condition can develop into a complete one. In most cases, the development of the disease is associated with organic heart disorders: cardiomyopathy, aortic valve dysfunction, hypertensive heart disease, coronary artery disease. Diagnosis of incomplete blockade is carried out using an electrocardiogram.
Sometimes patients are diagnosed with “incomplete blockade of the right leg of the heart” (His bundle). This disease can be congenital or acquired in nature, and is associated with a partial violation of the passage of an electrical impulse along the right leg of His. It proceeds benignly, does not require special treatment, and extremely rarely can go into complete blockade. Incomplete blockage of the ventricle of the heart is also not dangerous, but monitoring it is necessary to prevent progression.
Blockade of the heart in children
When the conduction cells of the second and third types, responsible for the transmission of impulses to the contractile myocardium through the entire conduction system, function poorly, children develop heart block. By localization, it can be a ventricular block (left and right heart block), atrioventricular or sinoatrial block, in completeness - complete and incomplete, with respect to the His bundle - transverse or longitudinal.
Heart problems in a child can be congenital and acquired. If a heart pathology of any nature is found in children, it is necessary to immediately consult a doctor (pediatrician, cardiologist) and begin treatment. The occurrence of heart block in childhood will deprive the child of the opportunity to lead a normal lifestyle, he will constantly be haunted by symptoms, and life expectancy will be significantly reduced. Therefore, it is important to prevent the development of complications of heart disease, monitor the state of health of the child, and fight for his life by any means.
Diagnostics
An early diagnosis of heart block can be a successful step towards recovery. Therefore, it is recommended to seek help when the minimum symptoms are disturbing, and not when the ambulance is already picking up. The danger of the disease depends on each case. And if, with an incomplete patient, he can continue his usual lifestyle, then the full forms can turn into serious complications, even death.
Diagnosis of pathology is possible by the results of an electrocardiogram, which at the time of the study allows you to assess the condition of the organ. But it is worth considering the fact that the occurrence of blockades can be periodic. Transient blockades are examined using a treadmill test, Holter monitoring, and echocardiography can also be prescribed to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment
Blockade treatment is divided into several important steps. Firstly, this is timely diagnosis, then - the establishment of the nature and cause. Further, most actions should be aimed at eliminating the cause (if acquired). In some cases (incomplete blockade), only observation is carried out. Only then do they begin the direct treatment of blockade, which, depending on the severity, can be medication or surgical.
In the treatment with medicines, such preparations as Orciprenaline Sulfate, Isoprenarin Hydrochloride, Atropine are most often prescribed. The serious condition of the patient and the ineffectiveness of medications can be a signal for temporary or permanent pacemaking. The implantation of a pacemaker is carried out mainly by patients 60-70 years of age.