Causes, Risks & Prevention Tips for Heart Blockage

In simple language, a heart block means your heart’s “electrical wiring” is not working properly. In a healthy state, the heart’s signals travel effortlessly from the top chambers (known as “atria”) to the bottom chambers (known as “ventricles”) via a tiny relay point called the AV node. This signal communicates to your heart when to beat.

If these signals get delayed or blocked due to factors like high bad fat, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, and an unhealthy diet, the bottom chambers don’t always get the message. This makes your heart beat too slowly and skip beats, leading to inefficiency.

In mild cases, you may not even notice symptoms. However, in severe situations, the heart may struggle to pump blood properly, leading to fatigue, dizziness, or even fainting because your body isn’t receiving enough oxygen. While some individuals can be born with a heart block, it can develop later in life because of ageing, heart disease, or certain medicines.

What are the alternative names of heart block?

The other names for heart block are:

Atrioventricular (AV) block
AV nodal block
Conduction disorder

What are the causes of heart blockage?

The causes of heart disease, like heart block, are:

1. Heart Attack

A heart attack (blood to the heart is abruptly blocked due to a blood clot) can damage the heart’s electrical connections. This interrupts the messaging between the upper and lower chambers.

2. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

The blocked heart arteries reduce blood flow. This blockage starves the heart’s conduction/electrical system, leading to rhythm issues.

3. Cardiomyopathy or Heart Muscle Disease

A weak or stiff heart muscle due to medical conditions, unhealthy lifestyle factors, or extreme stress can strain the electrical wiring and block signal transmission.

4. Heart Valve Disease

Valves act as one-way doors, preventing the backflow of blood. However, faulty valves can put pressure on the heart tissue, interfering with the signals that move across the heart.

5. Structural Defects

Some individuals are born with heart blockage issues affecting the conduction system over time without a clear cause.

6. Surgery or Medications

Open-heart surgery can disturb the heart’s electrical tissue, while medications like beta blockers or calcium channel blockers can slow the electrical signal too much.

7. Infections, Thyroid or Autoimmune Conditions

Diseases such as Lyme (a bacterial infection caused by the Borrelia bacterium), thyroid imbalances, or immune attacks damage heart tissue, causing the signal pathway to malfunction.

The other causes of heart disease are exposure to toxins, unhealthy lifestyle, poor diet, chronic stress, high bad cholesterol and obstructive sleep apnea, which you need to be aware of.

What Are The Risk Factors For Heart Disease, Like Heart Block?

There is a greater risk of heart block if you have the following condition:

High bad cholesterol (LDL) levels
Hypertension or high blood pressure
Overactive vagus nerve slowing your heartbeat
Older age
Diabetes or high sugar/glucose levels
Diseases like rheumatic heart disease or sarcoidosis
Smoking and tobacco use
Obesity
Lack of physical activity
Heart surgery or injury
Poor diet and high alcohol consumption
Long-term constant stress
Family history of heart disease

Ways for the Prevention of Heart Disease: Heart Block

If you are wondering, “Can heart block be prevented? Yes, but with doctor advice and following lifestyle changes.

Eat a healthy diet full of fruits, veggies, whole grains and less fried food.
Say no to sugary foods and high-fat foods.
Get regular heart-healthy exercise, like walking, swimming, or cycling.
Avoid smoking and limit alcohol, as they can harm your heart’s electrical signal.
Manage stress with hobbies, relaxation, and deep breathing.
You can do meditation for a healthier heartbeat.
Visit your doctor regularly and follow their advice on blood pressure, cholesterol, and medicines to detect any heart disease early.

The Difference Between Coronary Artery Disease & Heart Block

The main difference between coronary artery disease and heart block is:

Feature	Heart Block	Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
Definition	Happens when electrical signals in the heart get blocked or disturbed.	Happens when plaque accumulates in the heart arteries, narrowing them and reducing blood flow.
Causes	Ageing, heart conditions, certain medicines, or damage to the electrical paths of the heart.	Plaque (cholesterol) buildup (known as atherosclerosis) in arteries.
Main Issue	Signals from the upper chambers (atria) to the lower get (ventricles) are disrupted, leading to irregular heartbeats.	Less blood and oxygen travel to heart muscle, risking chest pain or often heart attack.
Symptoms	Slow heartbeat, skipped beats, dizziness, fainting, tiredness.	Chest pain, shortness of breath, tiredness, heart attack.
Serious Risks	Very slow heart rate, reduced blood flow, or sudden collapse.	Heart attack or heart failure if the blood is entirely blocked.
Treatment	Pacemaker, treating the underlying cause, and sometimes prescription drugs.	Lifestyle changes, medicines, angioplasty, and bypass surgery.
Connection	Heart block is not because of artery blockage but due to problems in the electrical signaling.	It can cause heart block if blood flow to the heart’s electrical system is interrupted.

Conclusion

Your heart’s electrical signals help the blood and oxygen flow properly throughout your body every millisecond. Taking care of your heart by consulting a cardiologist in Bikaner for a proper diagnosis and early treatment for problems like heart block can help keep your heart beating strong and healthy. Contact Artemis Cardiac Care for the best heart advice today.

FAQs

Q1: What Are The Clogged Arteries Symptoms?
A: Common symptoms of clogged arteries may include chest pain or tightness (angina), feeling out of breath, dizziness, fatigue, and heart palpitations. A few times symptoms may appear only during physical activity or stress.

Q2: How To Check Heart Blockage At Home?
A: There’s no accurate home test for heart blockage; if you notice chest pain or breathlessness, contact your doctor. They will conduct medical tests for diagnosis.

Q3: What Are The Blood Tests For Heart Blockage?
A: Blood tests for heart blockage include markers like cholesterol, triglycerides, and cardiac enzymes. These can evaluate heart risk but cannot directly detect blockage. Imaging tests, angiography or echocardiograms are needed for confirmation.