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HowToPreventHeartDisease.com |
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Should One Worry About Bundle Branch Block? Sometimes, a doctor may tell a patient that he or she is having a bundle block because the electrocardiogram (ECG) is displaying an abnormal and distinctive pattern, which indicates that the electrical impulse of the heart is not being distributed normally through the cardiac ventricles. A bundle branch block is a delay or obstruction along the pathway that electrical impulses travel in the heart to make it beat. It sometimes makes it harder for the heart to pump blood efficiently through the body. But it is not an obstruction of blood flow in an artery or anywhere else. Instead, it highlights an electrical problem. Normally, the electrical impulse travels down both the right and left bundle branches at the same speed so that both ventricles contract at the same time. Occasionally, there is a block in one of the bundle branches, so impulses must travel to the affected side by a detour that slows them down. That means one ventricle contracts a fraction of a second slower than the other.
The delay or blockage can occur on the pathway
that sends electrical impulses either to the left or the right side of the
bottom chambers (ventricles) of the heart. There are several different types of
bundle branch blocks, some more serious than others. In general, the blocks can
be classified into right bundle branch block (RBBB) and left bundle branch block
(LBBB). The left bundle branch block can be further sub classified into left
anterior fascicular block (LAFB). In this case only the anterior half of the
left bundle branch (fascicle) is involved, and left posterior fascicular block (LPFB),
only the posterior part of the left bundle branch is involved.
Causes for bundle branch blocks can differ depending on whether the left or right bundle branch is affected. It is also possible that this condition can occur without a known cause. Heart attack or myocarditis (a viral or bacterial infection of the heart muscle) can both cause LBBB and RBBB. Cardiomyopathy (thickened, stiffened or weakened heart muscle) and high blood pressure can trigger LBBB while a heart abnormality present at birth (congenital) like atrial septal defect, a hole in the wall separating the upper chambers of the heart, pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries), and pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lungs ) can lead to RBBB. While a bundle branch block can occur in people who appear healthy, it can also be a sign of an underlying heart condition. People with high blood pressure or heart disease have a higher risk of having bundle branch block. Meanwhile, bundle branch block is more common in older adults than in younger people. In most people, bundle branch blocks are benign and nothing to worry about, especially if they have normal exercise tolerance and have had normal stress test results. In most people, bundle branch block does not cause symptoms. Some people with the condition does not even know they have a bundle branch block. Possible signs and symptoms in people who have bundle branch block include fainting (syncope), feeling as if one is going to faint (presyncope). Patients with bundle branch block can progress to a complete block of the electric conduction from the upper chambers of the heart to the lower. This can slow the heart rate that can cause fainting and lead to serious complications and abnormal heart rhythms. For those who have a heart attack and develop a LBBB have a higher chance of complications, including sudden cardiac death. Furthermore, bundle branch block can sometimes complicate the accurate diagnosis of other heart conditions, especially heart attack, and lead to delays in proper management of those problems. Most of the time, no treatment is required for bundle branch block. But if it is being caused by underlying heart disease, then treatment is needed for the heart disease. Occasionally, severe bundle branch block affecting both bundle branches may require the placement of a pacemaker to prevent episodes of complete heart block. Date: April 4, 2019
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