How to Cure a Heart Block?

In our stressful lives today, we often hear about heart blockage. But what does it really mean? What exactly happens in cases of heart blockage? Heart is one of the most important bodily organs responsible for pumping blood. Blood pumping is directly related to the rhythm of heartbeat.

 

Whenever the heart beats, a signal is transmitted that gives the indication to the heart to contract and pump blood. When the pace of the signal is disrupted, slowed down, halted or it isn’t transmitted, heart blockage arises. It affects heartbeat rhythm and other patterns. Since severe cases of heart blockage require immediate hospitalization, choosing an affordable health insurance plan, group health insurance plan with cashless facility and wide range of network hospitals provide great help.

 

Causes of Heart Block?

Heart block can be a birth defect as well as develop later in life due to different reasons, like old age, certain neuromuscular diseases, sarcoidosis and others. In case a person has it since birth, it's called congenital heart block. The main cause of congenital heart block is autoimmune diseases like lupus and other birth defects. Other reasons include genetic modifications, heart surgeries, muscle disorders, inflammation and clogged arteries. The type of heart block affects the kind of heart block treatment.

 

People at Risk of Heart Block

• Elderly people as ageing increases the risk of heart block
• People who have other cardiovascular diseases
• People who have an overactive vagus nerve which causes the heartbeat to slow down
• People who consume medications that disrupt the flow of electrical signals, for example, sedatives, antidepressants, and even some heart medications
• People who have diseases that directly or indirectly affect the heart

 

Heart Block Types

 

Based on the severity of the condition, there are three types of heart blocks:

 

1. First Degree Heart Block:

It has slight disruptions in heartbeat that may not even be noticeable by the patient. Usually, it doesn’t require treatment.

 

2. Second Degree Heart Block :

It's a quite serious case whose effect would hamper a person's life and requires medical intervention. In a second degree heart block, heart signals don't reach the ventricles, leading to irregular heartbeats.

 

There are further two types of second-degree heart block;

• Type I, Mobitz Type I or Wenckebach’s AV block - Although it’s a less serious form of second-degree heart block, as the electrical signal reduces gradually until your heart skips a beat, it still is a serious condition.
• Type II, Mobitz Type II - When some of the electrical signals stop reaching the ventricles, the heartbeat decreases and also becomes irregular.

 

3. Third Degree Heart Block :

This is the most acute case of heart block in which there's no signal transmission. It can lead to heart failure and requires immediate medical treatment.

 

Heart blockage cure is generally decided based on the severity of it.

 

Heart Block Symptoms

Heart block symptoms may vary depending on the severity. In case of first-degree heart block, there may not be any visible symptoms at all. Second degree heart block causes chest pain, fatigue, nausea, dizziness and short breath. Palpitation, extreme tiredness, dizziness, fainting and cardiac arrest, are some of the common symptoms of third-degree heart block. Leading a healthy lifestyle and avoiding stress is also a potent heart blockage remedy in first-degree heart block.

 

Heart Block Diagnosis

If you notice any of the symptoms of heart block or feel uneasy that something's wrong with your heart health, contact a doctor without any delay.  Based on factors like your health status, history of heart issues, medications, family illness, use of substances like tobacco and liquor and any symptoms that you experienced, you will be subjected to an ECG or an electrocardiogram test to determine whether or not you have a heart block and the severity of it.  Doctor will proceed with the heart block cure based on the diagnosis result.

 

In addition to an ECG, other ways in which a heart block may be detected are;

• Via an implantable loop recorder - It is a device that, once implanted in the skin of your chest, monitors the rhythm of your heartbeat for the next five years.
• Through an electrophysiology study - In this process, a long thin tube known as a catheter is inserted through a blood vessel and then measures the electric activity in the heart.

 

Heart Block Treatment

Heart block treatment depends on the intensity of it. While minor heart blocks may be cured by lifestyle modifications like regular exercise, abundant sleep, a healthy diet and cutting down on smoking and liquor, extreme cases require medications and even surgeries or implants.

 

Medications

Doctors may prescribe anti-arrhythmic drugs that regulate the transmission of heart signals and restore the normal pattern of heartbeat. While the medication is ongoing, the patient is kept under medical supervision for a couple of days and then an electrophysiology test is conducted to determine the most-effective drug among those prescribed. Medicines for heart block cure should be strictly taken only upon prescription.

 

Implants

Devices like the pacemaker are implanted under the skin, mostly below the collarbone. These devices are connected to the veins that go towards the heart. They send electric signals that trigger the heart to beat when required. Most of these devices automatically sense slower heart rhythm and the need to correct it via stimulation. In case of severity, pacemaker is among the most widely used heart block cure.

 

Defibrillator

A defibrillator is implanted just like a pacemaker, but it's bigger than it and is used in most severe cases of heart block.  Though inserted beneath the skin like a pacemaker, its functioning is opposite to it. While a pacemaker sends a signal to fasten the heart rate, a defibrillator is activated when heart rate is abnormally fast and needs to be slowed down to resume normal heart function.

 

Catheter

For patients who don't respond to medications or cannot take them due to other existing disorders, a catheter is used. It's a wire inserted into the heart through any artery in the leg to curtail irregular signals. Catheter implant allows for early discharge from hospital though the patient will have to take all the necessary post-surgical precautions suggested by the doctor. All the necessary medical guidelines should be followed while undergoing heart block cure.

 

Lifestyle Changes

Heart blocks are triggered when we lead unhealthy lifestyles. Making lifestyle adjustments like eating a balanced diet, avoiding junk food, quitting smoking, cutting down on liquor, and regular exercise go a long way in improving heart health. People who follow a proper diet have a 31% lower risk of heart disease and a 20% lower risk of stroke. Some food items that prevent heart block and heart-related diseases are fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, fish, poultry, vegetable oils, etc. Similarly, maintaining a healthy sleep schedule is vital in preventing heart-related problems. First-degree heart block can be treated entirely by lifestyle changes. There's also a significant improvement in coronary diseases and arterial congestion if a healthy lifestyle is followed.

 

Post-Surgery Precautions

While it goes without saying that a healthy lifestyle along with timely medication is non-negotiable in cases of heart block, there are few other points that need to be kept in mind: -

 

• In case of any implants, be thoroughly updated about the type.
• Whenever you seek any other form of treatment, proactively notify the doctor that you have a pacemaker.
• Maintain a safe distance from electrical devices that generate a strong magnetic field
• To ensure that there's no defect or malfunction in the pacemaker, check it regularly
• Avoid sports that require heavy physical exertion
• Wear a necklace, locket or a bracelet with a medical ID so that in case of emergency others around you get to know that you have a pacemaker. During an emergency patient may not be in a condition to speak. Lockets, necklaces or bracelets that contain medical ID can be viewed by the doctor and using that he can view the details of the pacemaker and the patient history.

 

Conclusion

Heart-block can be fatal if not timely diagnosed. Depending on the severity, the treatment varies from medications to implants like pacemaker and defibrillator, but it’s strongly recommended to lead a healthy lifestyle and take care of your heart health by daily exercise like brisk walking. Heart block can be due to birth defects as well as develop later in life due to a host of factors ranging from unhealthy lifestyles to autoimmune disorders. There’s no single heart blockage remedy, but leading a healthy life is the best bet. In order to stay safe and get medical treatment at the time of emergency, it’s best to buy health insurance plan. Always look for the best health insurance with the most comprehensive coverage.