Heart block

Introduction: Heart block

Heart block: Heart block is a condition in which the electrical signal cannot travel normally down the special pathways to the ventricles. For example, the signal ... more about Heart block.

Heart block: Failure of the heart's normal rhythm controls leading to arrhythmia. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Heart block is available below.

Symptoms of Heart block

• Slow heartbeat
• Irregular heartbeat
• Arrhythmias
• Blackouts (Stokes Adams syndrome)
• Symptoms of severe case:

See full list of 13 symptoms of Heart block

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical testing related to Heart block:

• High Blood Pressure: Home Testing
  • Home Blood Pressure Tests
  • Home Blood Pressure Monitors
  • Home Heart Tests
• Heart Health: Home Testing:
  • Heart Rate Monitors
  • Irregular Heartbeat Detection
  • Heart Electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • Home Cholesterol Tests

Medical Textbooks Online about Heart block

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Wrongly Diagnosed with Heart block?

• Misdiagnosis of Heart block
• Underlying causes of Heart block (possibly wrongly diagnosed)

Misdiagnosis and Heart block

Heart attacks can be undiagnosed: Although the most severe symptoms of heart attack are hard to miss, there are varying degrees of severity. It is altogether too common for people to...read more »

Heart attacks can be overdiagnosed: Although many people die from heart attacks, there are also many cases where people fear that they have a heart attack, but actually...read more »

Rare heart condition often undiagnosed: The rare heart condition called long QT syndrome can lead to episodes of palpitations and rapid heartbeat. In rare cases, this undiagnosed condition can be fatal....read more »

Heart attack can be over-diagnosed: Although heart attack is often undiagnosed, leading to fatality, it can also be over-diagnosed. People become...read more »

Blood pressure cuffs misdiagnose hypertension in children: One known misdiagnosis issue with hyperension, arises in relation to the simple equipment used to test blood pressure. The "cuff" around the arm to measure blood pressure...read more »

Hypertension misdiagnosis common in children: Hypertension is often misdiagnosed in adults (see misdiagnosis of hypertension), but its misdiagnosis is even more likely in children. Some of...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Heart block

Causes of Heart block

• Heart attack
• Coronary artery disease
• Sinus node disease
• Congenital heart defect
• Myocarditis

See full list of 9 causes of Heart block

More information about causes of Heart block:

• Medications, drugs, or substances causing Heart block (8 listings)
• Drug interactions causing Heart block (44 listings)
• Underlying causes of Heart block
• Heart block as a complication caused by other conditions
• Heart block as a symptom

Treatments for Heart block

• Hospitalization
• Artificial pacemaker
• Treatment of any underlying cause

Read more about treatments for Heart block

Videos for Heart block

Patient Surveys for Heart block

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Reseach about Heart block

Visit our research pages for current research about Heart block treatments.

Clinical Trials for Heart block

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Heart block include:

• Dexamethasone Treatment for Congenital Heart Block (CHB) in Newborns With Lupus - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Dexamethasone or other corticosteroid
• Exercise in Chronically Paced Children - This study is not yet open for patient recruitment (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• The Research Registry for Neonatal Lupus - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Austria Study - Analysis of Difference Between Active and Passive Fixation Leads - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Right Apical Versus Septal Pacing Trial - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)

See full list of 14 Clinical Trials for Heart block

Types of Heart block

• First-degree heart block - partial heart block
• Second-degree heart block
• Third-degree heart block - complete heart block

Read more about Types of Heart block

Stories from Users Related to Heart block

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Heart block, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

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• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
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Article Excerpts about Heart block

Heart block is a condition in which the electrical signal cannot travel normally down the special pathways to the ventricles. For example, the signal from the atria to the ventricle may be (1) delayed, but each one conducted; (2) delayed with only some getting through; or (3) completely interrupted. If there is no conduction, the beat generally originates from the ventricles and is very slow. (Source: excerpt from NHLBI, Arrhythmia: NHLBI)

Definitions of Heart block:

Impairment of conduction in heart excitation. It is often applied specifically to atrioventricular heart block. (Dorland, 27th ed) - (Source - Diseases Database)

Recurrent sudden attacks of unconsciousness caused by impaired conduction of the impulse that regulates the heartbeat - (Source - WordNet 2.1)