Experiences with

Heart block

Symptoms of heart block

Symptoms of heart block may include:

  • dizziness
  • fainting or feeling like you're about to faint
  • chest pain
  • tiredness
  • shortness of breath

These symptoms can range from mild to severe depending on the type of heart block you have and how it's affecting you.

You may have no symptoms and only find out you have heart block during tests for something else.

  • you feel dizzy all the time or it keeps coming back
  • you've fainted
  • you have shortness of breath that gets worse when you've been doing your normal activities, or when you lie down

It's important to get medical advice to make sure it's nothing serious. You are not wasting anyone's time by getting it checked out.

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online .

  • you've been diagnosed with heart block and have chest pain
  • you have severe difficulty breathing – you're gasping, choking or not able to get words out
  • you feel sweaty, sick or lightheaded
  • someone faints and they are not breathing or cannot be woken up within 1 minute

Call 999 straight away as you may need immediate treatment in hospital.

Do not drive yourself to A&E.

The person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do.

How heart block is diagnosed

The main test used to diagnose heart block is an electrocardiogram (ECG), which measures the electrical activity of your heart.

It usually only takes a few minutes, but you may be asked to wear a portable ECG for 1 or 2 days to monitor your heart.

Other tests that may be used to help diagnose heart block include:

  • an echocardiogram or MRI scan – to get a picture of your heart and the nearby blood vessels
  • exercise tests – to check your heart while you use a bike or treadmill
  • blood tests

Types of heart block

The most common type of heart block is called AV (atrioventricular) heart block.

AV heart block may be diagnosed as:

  • 1st-degree – which does not usually need treatment
  • 2nd-degree – which sometimes needs treatment
  • 3rd-degree (complete) – which often needs treatment

There are other types of heart block which affect different areas of the heart, but the symptoms are often similar.

Treatments for heart block

The treatment for heart block depends on what's causing it and whether you have any symptoms.

If you have heart block that is not causing any symptoms, you will not usually need any treatment.

If you have severe symptoms, you may need a pacemaker, which keeps your heart beating regularly and not too slowly.

You may need a pacemaker for a short time or permanently, depending on what's causing your heart block.

Causes of heart block

Heart block is most often caused by a heart condition such as coronary heart disease, or a heart attack.

Sometimes babies are born with heart block, known as congenital heart block.

Other possible causes of AV heart block include:

  • taking some types of medicine
  • infection and inflammation of the heart, caused by another condition
  • having heart surgery

Sometimes there's no obvious cause.

Help and support for heart block

If you're diagnosed with heart block, you can get advice and support from your GP or other healthcare professionals.

You can also get information and support from the British Heart Foundation.

The British Heart Foundation

The British Heart Foundation is a charity that provides information and support for anyone living with a heart condition.

SymptomsDiagnosisCausesTypesMedical treatments

Symptoms of heart block can include dizziness, fainting, chest pain, tiredness or shortness of breath. Some people do not have any symptoms.

Heart block can be diagnosed using an electrocardiogram (ECG). Some people only find out they have it during routine tests for something else.

Heart block may be caused by coronary heart disease, a heart attack or taking some types of medicine. Sometimes babies are born with heart block.

The most common type of heart block is called AV (atrioventricular) heart block, but there are other types which affect different areas of the heart.

The main treatment for heart block that is causing symptoms is a pacemaker, which keeps your heart beating regularly.

Related links

Heart block

Content supplied by the NHS website

HealthUnlocked contains information from NHS Digital, licensed under the current version of the Open Government Licence

6,624 public posts

Heart Block after ablation

Has anyone had the unfortunate experience of ending up in complete heart block after an ablation. I recently had a PFA done by the world renown Dr. Andrea Natale at his clinic in Texas for aflutter and fib.
Foreverfibber profile image

Ongoing PVC Bigeminy - heart block?

The only thing that was highlighted back in September last year from a 24 hour Holter, was possible borderline heart block.
Benno2k24 profile image

heart block

Has anyone had heart block that hasnt progressed? My son has first degree heart block, via a defected gene which he inherited from his father, and he's checked annually. His dad has a pacemaker and complete heart block. I'm worry a lot about my son and what the future may hold.
JoW2023 profile image
Want to take advantage of all our features? Just log in!
or

Pacemaker

I recently wore a heart monitor for one week and they detected an episode of complete heart block lasting a few seconds. I believe I was sitting down while it occured and did not feel faint or have any other symptoms. I think I may have coughed for no reason when it occured.
nmack profile image

av heart block

I have pauses of around 77seconds And my heart rate drops to around 35 bpm when I sleep relax. A normal daytime around 50 70 . I have a loop device in and they don't seem worried but everytime I feel dizzy and check my heart rate to see it low I panic. I know they wouldn't leave me if it was dangerous
Laurenwhy profile image

pacemaker

I had pacemaker fitted 4 days ago after emergency admission for total heart block. I’m at home but feeling my heart fluttering occasionally. Is this normal to feel something happening?
Rockgran profile image

Afib a year post heart attack

Over a month ago ( 10 months post HA) the cardiologist noted a first degree heart block on my ecg ( nothing worrying) so reduced my bisoprolol from 2.5 to 1.25 ( which I've been taking for 4 weeks).
Casualvisitor profile image

Facebook group for parents of children with heart block

My daughter was diagnosed with heart block when she was a year old. I've found it really hard that so little information is available about heart block in children, and there is no specific group for affected families in the UK.
Ladybird_22 profile image
Ladybird_22
in LUPUS UK

AV Heart block, possible Latanoprost connection

Hi, I have just been diagnosed with 2:1 AV heart block following a week long Holter monitor.
LionsMagenta profile image

First Degree Heart Block

Hello, I’m 30 and have recently been told I have a first degree heart block. A holter has seen my heart rate drop to 30. I’m worried as I don’t feel the doctors are taking it seriously enough and are being really dismissive. I’m very active but now I’m scared to run at all.
Cocoloco11 profile image

Heart block stage One

Hi has anyone else just being diagnosed this, I'm finding it hard to sleep due to palpitations and shortness of breath, not sure if it's anxiety or the condition.
Oatmeallover123456 profile image

Flutter?Tachycardia 5mths after ablation

As posted recently I started experiencing tachycardia before and after Afib recently and sometimes by its own. I had a phone appointment with my cardio nurse this week and and looking at the cardio readings I sent her, she agreed that there seems to be a new arrhythmia. Apparently this is very common
aFibber55 profile image

Edoxoban v Apixaban (again)

yup it’s me again , after research and advice I started taking the Apixaban 5mgx 2 ,two days ago in place of 6Omg of Edoxoban daily ., which I have been taking for a few years with no problem. As stated in my previous post this was a decision made by our area medical group. since then I have had episodes
Pugsley profile image

heart rate staying high after afib episode

I have been wrestling with paroxysmal a fib since a stroke in 2018. I had a cryo-ablation in 2018 and a pulse field ablation this past June. I’m F, 67, and recently had to switch to dofetilide when the flecainide ceased to keep the rhythm in check. Since beginning the dofetilide in late December
hartbeast profile image

Question about Cardiologist

Hi everyone, I have had diagnosed afib for about 5 years now and am on Bisoprolol and Apixaban. Lately my symptoms have got much worse and I have had five attacks since the end of Jan, with my Heart Rate sometimes reaching 140bpm. The attacks last about four hours and then for the next couple of days
Attic profile image

Pip post responses

My last update was after cardioversion 2 weeks ago then back in AFib after 18 hours and my physician diagnosing permanent AF last Friday, no more interventions other than meds. No more flec, doubling up on apixaban and bilocor. Et voila, I went back into NSR on Saturday! Now am experiencing low BP
stormy25 profile image

Bigeminy, Kardia readings, dinner etc

Too often after eating a small meal between 5:00 & 6:30pm, I’ll notice I have rather frequent bigeminy beats. Most of the time, this is always in the evening, after dinner when I’m relaxing, my body sitting upright but in a comfy chair with my legs up. Is it weird that this occurs mostly and always
Doggiemomma profile image

Anyone have hair loss problems?

I began my Atrial Fibrillation journey in January and have now been on Apixaban and bisoprolol since then. I have noticed a few episodes lately of sinus rhythm with Premature ventricular contraction and one sinus rhythm with Supraventricular ectopy so I am seeing the doctor tomorrow to find out what
Carolyndecharny profile image

beta blockers

Hiya. I have been on 2.5 Mg bisoprolol for 10 years. Recently my blood pressure and heart rate have been low so the doctor said to just stop them. I was a bit dubious about going cold Turkey. It was then decided to wean me off them. I have developed the shakes in my hands. Has anybody else had this.
Black16 profile image

Rectal bleeding

Ive been on Apixaban for a couple of years with no problem. This week I started noticing dark red blood in my poos! No pain anywhere - but known to have haemorrhoids which occassionally show streaks od bright red blood. I read that apixaban can cause bleeding - anyone else had the problem?
Jaggie21 profile image
Filter results
Posted in
Sort by