Yet another one

What is the difference in bradycardia and third degree heart block?

5 Comments

difference

by wjs1954 - 2014-03-16 04:03:04

Bradycardia is a slower than normal heart rate. The heart usually beats between 60 and 100 times a minute in an adult at rest. If you have bradycardia (brad-e-KAHR-de-uh), your heart beats fewer than 60 times minute.

Bradycardia can be a serious problem if the heart doesn't pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the body. For some people, however, bradycardia doesn't cause symptoms or complications.

An implanted pacemaker and other treatments may correct bradycardia and help your heart maintain an appropriate rate.

Heart Block
Definition
Heart block refers to a delay in the normal flow of electrical impulses that cause the heart to beat. They are further classified as first-, second-, or third-degree block.
Description
The muscles of the heart contract in a rhythmic order for each heart beat, because electrical impulses travel along a specific route called the conduction system. The main junction of this system is called the atrioventricular node (AV node). Just as on a highway, there are occasionally some delays getting the impulse from one point to another. These delays are classified according to their severity.
In first-degree heart block, the signal is just slowed down a little as it travels along the defective part of the conduction system so that it arrives late traveling from the atrium to the ventricle.
In second-degree heart block, not every impulse reaches its destination. The block may affect every other beat, every second or third beat, or be very rare. If the blockage is frequent, it results in an overall slowing of the heart called bradycardia.
Third-degree block, also called complete heart block, is the most serious. When no signals can travel through the AV node, the heart uses its backup impulse generator in the lower portion of the heart. Though this impulse usually keeps the heart from stopping entirely, it is too slow to be an effective pump.

an excellent explanation

by pace-man - 2014-03-16 11:03:45

Hi Tgirl77, like you I have often wondered the differences between those conditions, wjs1954 gave one of the best explanations of those conditions that I have read or been told, even by my cardiologist ,well done,wjs1954. Rick, allias pace-man

Pacemaker readout and heart blocks

by bzam - 2014-03-17 01:03:35

I have been trying to understand heart blocks and the explanation by wjs1954 sure sums it all up.

My followup question is about the pacemaker readout. In the readout report, does it show heart blocks? For instance if the pacer is pacing 12% does that mean I had heart blocks 12% or time and the pacer kick in to take over?

I was pacing 80% in one side and they adjusted the pacer, as they said my heart was lazy and letting the pacer do the work so they wanted to adjust it so my heart would be more active. Not sure what all that meant.

Bob

pacing / HB explanation

by bluebowtye - 2014-03-17 09:03:52

Hi Bob, I just got my first PM report last week and am still trying to figure it out. According to my PM nurse and Dr. they both said I am pacing 14.1% of the time and it was all due to heart block so my PM was doing the work during that time. I found that on the printout but it didn't say that it was due to the block. My Dr. told me that he wants my own heart to do as much of the work as possible too. I need to do more research as to what everything means on the printout. Good luck to you!

wjs 1954 ~ what a great explanation! Thank you!!
~Sheila

not me,

by wjs1954 - 2014-03-18 07:03:59

they were cut and paste from the net,,

Wally

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I am just now 40 but have had these blackouts all my life. I am thrilled with the pacer and would do it all over again.