6 Heart Blockage Symptoms You Need To Know About

Heart block, or arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), is a health condition characterized by inefficient electrical conduction in your heart. It causes interference in the signals traveling from different heart chambers and regions, resulting in irregular blood pumping.

What you need to know:

What is heart blockage?
Common symptoms of heart blockage
Causes of heart blockage
How to detect heart blockage?
Treatment options for heart blockage
Preventing heart blockage: Lifestyle changes

What is heart blockage?

Every time your heart beats, an electrical signal travels from the upper chambers (atria) to the lower chambers (ventricles). The signal, in turn, directs your heart to pump blood and contract. When this signal gets slowed or disrupted, it leads to heart blockage, changing the heartbeat’s rhythmic pattern and speed.

Electrical signals and their role in a healthy heartbeat

Your body utilizes electric impulses to control several muscle movements, including your heart. It works with your autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for all involuntary body functions involving heartbeat, breathing, digestion, etc. The timing of your heart muscle’s action is also essential. Your brain relies on your heart’s electric signals to make the heart chambers squeeze a certain way, resulting in a heartbeat. Usually, your heart beats 50 to 100 times per minute when you are inactive or resting.

How blockage disrupts the heart’s electrical system?

Blockage in the coronary arteries, also known as coronary artery disease (CAD), disrupts your heart’s electrical system by limiting the blood flow necessary for the heart to function effectively. The heart requires a consistent blood flow to provide oxygen and nutrients to its cells and regulate your heartbeat.

Plaque buildup in your coronary arteries can restrict blood flow to the heart muscle, disturbing the electrical impulses that manage your heartbeat. These disturbances may lead to arrhythmias or heart attacks if the blockage causes oxygen deprivation in a part of the heart muscle, leading to tissue death.

Common symptoms of heart blockage

Heart blockage symptoms depend on what type of heart blockage you are experiencing. Here are the signs for the three types:

First-degree symptoms:

First-degree heart block is the mildest type of heart blockage. While there are no explicit symptoms of this type, in some cases, individuals may experience an abnormal heart rate and rhythm detected in an ECG (electrocardiogram).

Second-degree symptoms:

Here are some of the most common second-degree heart blockage symptoms:

Chest pain
Nausea
Shallow or fast breathing
Heart palpitations
Lightheadedness
Fatigue

Third-degree symptoms:

Symptoms of this type of heart blockage are often severe, and they require immediate medical attention:

Dizziness
Fainting
Shortness of breath
Decreased pulse rate
Severe chest pain

Causes of heart blockage

Heart block is a medical condition that develops in the later stage of your life. However, some people are born with congenital heart block (a defect in the heart’s structure). Here are some of the factors that may cause heart blockage:

Individuals with a history of heart attack
Recent open heart surgery
Rheumatic fever
High potassium intake
Lymphoma
Cardiac tumors
Hyperthyroidism
High blood pressure levels
High blood sugar levels

How to detect heart blockage?

You can opt for specific tests to check your heart health. Your cardiologist may ask you to undergo these tests:

ECG: Electrocardiograms record your heart’s activity, rate, rhythm and timing of the electrical signals as they go through your heart. In this process, a portable ambulatory monitor is placed on your chest for 48 hours to collect information about your heart’s electrical activities.
Electrophysiology: This test involves inserting a long tube through a blood vessel and guiding it to your heart to measure and record accurate electrical activity from inside your heart.
Angiogram: It is a diagnostic procedure using X-ray imaging to view how blood flows through the heart’s blood vessels. This process can help medical professionals detect blood vessel abnormalities, clots, or plaque build-up.

Treatment options for heart blockage

You often don’t need medical attention if you are going through a first-degree heart blockage. Still, you should check the underlying cause and incorporate lifestyle changes like swimming or brisk jogging to stay active. Consuming heart-healthy whole grain foods, fruits and vegetables, omega-3 rich nuts, fish, and vegetable oils are some dietary changes you can include. Steer clear from excess oily, fried, salty, or sugary foods, which are common causes of high cholesterol and plaque build-up in the arteries.

However, if you have second or third-degree heart blockage, you will need a pacemaker (a battery-powered device) that sends electrical signals to your heart.

Preventing heart blockage: Lifestyle changes

Here are some lifestyle changes you can incorporate to reduce the risk of heart blockages:

Incorporate a heart-healthy diet, like the Mediterranean diet, including lots of green vegetables and whole grains.
Exercise daily and aim for at least 150 minutes of physical activity every week.
Get 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night.
Quit smoking.
Practise yoga and mindfulness meditation and channel your negative thoughts into positive habits to manage stress.

Heart blockage is a serious condition requiring immediate attention, as it can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Most people suffering from heart blockage can lead normal lives. A medical expert can help you get the right treatment and management plan for a healthy heart.

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