Third Degree Heart Block

What is it?

Otherwise known as complete heart block. Heart beats are not conducted from the upper chambers to the lower. Because of this block in conduction, the lower chambers may contract at a much slower rate than normal.

Additional Information

Third Degree Heart Block tends to be associated with a problem with the electrical connection between the artria (upper chambers) and ventricles (lower chambers) of the heart resulting in the 2 parts of the heart not beating together at the same rate. Symptoms include dizziness, slow heartbeat, fainting, shortness of breath, chest pain etc. Some people may not have any symptoms at all. The exact cause is not often known, however suffers tend to be the elderly. Other causes may include infections of the heart, traumatic injury to the heart, poor blood supply to the heart, heart attack, rheumatoid arthritis and medication overdose.

Treatment Options

Treatment varies dependent upon your own situation and should be discussed with your doctor. Depending on the cause, a pacemaker may or may not be recommended.