hi I'm 38 and just been told I have a righ branch block on my heart has anyone else got one on here ??

[Markcarper]

hi can anyone give advise on right bridge block

[PadThaiNoodles]

It's usually referred to as right bundle branch block or RBBB. There are quite a few post here on it (though I confess to having not paid much attention to them as I'm a valve issue person).

But I'm sure some folks will be along shortly....

[RufusScamp]

I have LBBB. I was diagnosed over 5 years ago. I had never heard of it, but when I mention it, lots of people either have L or R, or know someone who has.

[Markcarper in reply to RufusScamp]

Hi rufus how did they manage yours

[RufusScamp in reply to Markcarper]

I was also diagnosed with severe heart failure, for which I take a fistful of meds, and have a pacemaker which is supposed to help with the LBBB.

[Ennasti]

A right bundle branch block is not life threatening and normally requires no treatment.

I’ve explained before on here what a bundle branch is. Basically: the heart beats boom-boom, boom-boom. The first boom is the atria contracting, the second is the left and right ventricles beating. The left and right ventricles beat in unison.

The signal for the beat travels from the atria to the ventricles via the bundle branches to the left and right ventricles. If there is a block, the signal cannot get through the bundle branch. So, in my example with a left bundle branch block, the signal travels from the atria down the branch and goes to the right and then travels from the right ventricle to the left as the left branch is blocked. This causes a slight delay in one side of the ventricles. A right bundle branch works in the reverse obviously.

[Markcarper in reply to Ennasti]

So this is nothing to worry about then as my head is going round in circles

[Silvertail in reply to Markcarper]

If you've been through tests and have no other underlying conditions, you should be OK, but please be guided by your medical team.

[Ennasti in reply to Markcarper]

You’re going to be okay. A right bundle branch block is not considered life-threatening. Left bundle branch blocks, on the other hand, can have more significant effects and are sometimes linked to more serious concerns.

My LBBB causes me some breathlessness, and I have a progressive cardiac conduction disorder that I take medication for. I do experience symptoms, but that doesn’t stop me loving life. I still travel, walk, sometimes even party, and enjoy my life without fear. You can too!

[Sd26]

I have one which was first highlighted during an ECG in 1991. It may have been there all my life. I am now 64. I ran the London marathon in 1999 so it hasn't held me back at all.

I don't think it had anything to do with my recent heart attack and stent. It's always been my understanding that the left bundle branch block is the more worrying one.

Just my experience and best to discuss with your GP for advice..

[Sambobs17]

hello markcarper I was told many years ago I had a RBBB but over the last two years and various tests since nobody has mentioned it to me - as I worked in general practice when mine was first highlighted the general consensus was no worries it won’t cause any problems, it turned out there were three other people I worked with had the same issue so I’m assuming or have done since that this is quite common 😊

[Markcarper in reply to Sambobs17]

hi do u get short of breath with it

[Sambobs17 in reply to Markcarper]

Hi markcarper sorry for delay in replying - I’ve only been a bit breathless of late due to PVC’s can’t say previously when originally told about the RBBB that I ever felt breathless - hope things settle for you very soon 😊

[Welshwomanarrythmia]

It means the conduction pathway is blocked, usually because you have had a heart attack/ cardiac event at some stage in the past.

There are impulses that cause polarisation and depolarisation in sync with the physical activity of the heart (beats). The disruption of RBBB causes the impulse to return back to the start of the process.

Sorry if this isn’t making sense.

[Ennasti in reply to Welshwomanarrythmia]

That’s not really accurate. Some people can develop an RBBB after a heart attack, but it more commonly has no known cause.

[Markcarper in reply to Ennasti]

Hi ennasti that's what I thought the hospital ran lots of different blood tests and confirmed my heart is healthy and there's been no stress on it ?

[Ennasti in reply to Markcarper]

Yes. It’s your normal, and it’s not life-threatening, so rest assured that you’re okay. Your doctor will monitor the RBBB to make sure there are no other cardiac issues, and that’s typically all that’s needed. Generally, no medication or further treatment is required for RBBB alone.

[Welshwomanarrythmia in reply to Ennasti]

Usually not definitely

[Lezzers]

Hi Markcarper

My husband has LBBB which is pretty much the same condition as RBBB though LBBB is slightly more serious.

I had a very long conversation about this just recently with my husband's nurse. Both conditions are incredibly common, most people don't even know they have this, it's usually found when they're being investigated for something else totally unrelated. Basically, it just means your heart beats slightly out of sync. The nurse explained as it the electrics of your heart takes a slight detour & therefore you have a slower heartbeat.

For the very vast majority of people neither condition will impact your life or life expectancy, unless you already have a serious health condition which you would already have been investigated for.

Hope this helps

[Markcarper in reply to Lezzers]

Hi how is he with it

[Lezzers in reply to Markcarper]

Tbh, you can't really use my husband as an example as he does have severe heart failure so his situation is completely different from yours. However, he had no idea he had it & I believe it's only an issue with my husband because he also has bradycardia which also slows his heart beat & was causing his ICD to pace him too much. He's now has a CRT-d fitted which is synchronising his heart to beat as normal.

However the LBBB didn't cause his HF , his nurse believes the cause may be because his ICD was pacing too much. She did actually say that for anyone else the LBBB would not be an issue.

[Manderson27]

Hi Mark. I have a LBBB with no underlying heart conditions. I may have had this for decades if not all my life. It was diagnosed at a yearly health check a couple of years ago. After having a 7 day holter monitor, an ecg and an MRI it was decided that I did not need any meds or treatment as my heart was fine for my age in general. I get palpitations especially after strong coffee ( I avoid) or if under stress, but apart from that I live a normal life. I can exercise without issue but will have a yearly follow up. I don't really think about it. I did have to get clearance from my cardiologist when having anesthetic for some dental treatment as they use adrenaline in the anesthetic and they did monitor me more closely by putting in an extra line to watch my heart recently when I had my gall bladder removed. Otherwise for me it is fine.