Heart blockade - what is it? Causes, symptoms and treatment of heart block

More and more people suffer from heart problems. Excessive physical and emotional stress, chronic diseases, bad habits - all this can not but affect the work of the cardiovascular system. One of the dangerous pathologies of the body is blockade of the heart - a disease that occurs either as an independent or against the background of other diseases. So, the condition in which the impulse on the heart muscle is slowed or stopped 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 arise by itself or as a result or complication of other diseases. In the first case, the role is played by a hereditary predisposition. If a person in the family has someone suffering from heart problems, then he has a much better chance of being stricken with a disease called a "heart block". That this is a serious risk, not everyone knows, and in many cases, patients do not even suspect about possible malfunctions in the cardiovascular system, continuing to lead a habitual way of life. Congenital pathologies are another factor that contributes to the development of heart problems in a person.

Blockade of the heart can also develop against a background of such diseases as myocarditis, angina, cardiosclerosis, myocardial infarction, thickening of the heart muscle, etc. One more reason is an overdose of medications or improper intake of medications. It follows that one should always follow the doctor's recommendations or carefully read the instructions for use.

Kinds

The blockade can be localized in different parts of the organ, on which its classification and treatment depends.

Atrial (synotrial) blockades at the level of the atria muscle slows down the conduction of a nerve impulse. If the atrium is left, then this condition is also called left heart block, if right, then right. This pathology is very easy to confuse with bradycardia - a slow heart rhythm. Sometimes a healthy person can manifest this type of blockade. The expressed degree is accompanied by cramps and fainting.

Atrial-gastric or atrioventricular blockades develop due to impulse conduction disorders on the way from the atria to the ventricles. The blockade of the ventricle of the heart is a condition in which the conductivity is disturbed in the bundle of His. To provoke the disease can such problems as cardiomyopathy, ischemic heart disease, infective endocarditis, myocarditis, myocardial infarction. Another condition is the blockade of the heart. Another common name for the disease is the disease of the bundle of the bundle. If only the block of the right leg of the heart is found (or left), then she does not give any danger to life. It is much worse when the patient has a blockage of both legs, then immediate hospitalization and adequate treatment are required.

Atrioventricular blockade of I and II degree

If an atrioventricular heart block is found in the patient (which is a good indication of an electrocardiogram), the condition and prognosis depend on the degree to which there are three. At the first degree, a delayed impulse is observed. The causes of development are most often electrolyte disturbances, acute myocardial infarction, myocarditis, increased tone of the vagus nerve, an overdose of cardiac drugs. Ignoring the disease can lead to an increase in the degree or progression of the blockade.

The second degree is characterized by the intake of not all impulses into the ventricles. Clinical signs of the condition: pain in the chest, dizziness, hypoperfusion, bradycardia, low blood pressure, irregular pulse. Provoke the development of the disease can engage in professional sports, acute myocarditis, operation on the valves, heart defects, vagotonia.

Atrioventricular block of degree III

Blockade of the third degree, or complete blockade, is a state in which the impulse is not carried out at all. The contractions of the ventricles and atria occur independently of each other. The patient may have 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, postoperative complications, drug overdose.

Incomplete heart block

This disease is often found in young people and even considered a variant of the norm. The only danger that incomplete blockade of the heart bears 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" (a bundle of His). This disease can have an innate or acquired character, and is associated with a partial violation of the passage along the right leg of the electric impulse. It is benign, it does not require special treatment and it is extremely rare to go into a complete blockade. Incomplete cardiac blockade of the heart is also not dangerous, but monitoring it is necessary to prevent progression.

Heart Blockade in Children

When the second and third type conductor cells responsible for the transfer of impulses to the contractile myocardium through the entire conductor system are poorly functioning, the children develop cardiac blockade. By localization, this can be a ventricular block (left and right heart block), atrioventricular or sinoatrial block, in full - complete and incomplete, with respect to the bundle of the Gis - transverse or longitudinal.

Heart problems in a child can be congenital and acquired. If the children have any heart pathology, it is necessary to urgently contact the doctors (pediatrician, cardiologist) and begin treatment. The appearance of a heart block in childhood will deprive the child of the opportunity to lead a normal life, he will be constantly harassed by symptoms, and life expectancy will be significantly reduced. Therefore, it is important not to allow the development of complications of heart diseases, to monitor the health of the child, or to fight for his life by any methods.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of heart blockages at an early stage can be a successful step towards recovery. Therefore, it is recommended to seek help when the minimum signs are disturbing, and not when the ambulance is already taking away. The danger of the disease depends on each case. And if the incomplete patient can continue the usual way of life, then the full forms can turn into serious complications, up to a lethal outcome.

Diagnosis of the 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

The treatment of blockades is divided into several important steps. Firstly, it is timely diagnosis, then - the establishment of the nature and cause. Further, most actions should be aimed at eliminating the cause (if it is acquired). In some cases (incomplete blockade) only observation is carried out. Only then they proceed to the immediate treatment of blockades, which, depending on the severity, can be medicated or surgical.

In the treatment of medications most often prescribed drugs such as "Orciprenaline sulfate", "Isoprenaline hydrochloride", "Atropine." The patient's serious condition and ineffectiveness of medications can become a signal for temporary or permanent pacing. Implantation of a pacemaker is performed mainly for patients of 60-70 years of age.