Heart problems - AV Block

[gilly]

Can anyone help me where I can find out more information about this condition and whether being a still fit and running runner should affect the approach to treatment?

After seeing my GP about suffering from occasional dizziness, I was sent off for a 24 hour ECG tape. This showed a number of short AV blocks (Grade 3) during the night, the longest of which (I think) was about 8 secs. I have seen a consultant, whose inclination was to fit a pacemaker but felt that it was not urgent as the blocks were asymptomatic and nocturnal. He did talk about the fact that athletes with low pulse rates (my resting rate is 46) sometimes have more pronounced irregularities at night but said (without explaining why) that he felt that these abnormalities could not really be explained by that alone. He sent me off for an exercise test, which was fine (whew!). The dizzy spells are unconnected, he thinks.

I am in my late 40s. I have trained regularly and enjoyed my running for 20 years. I am still running though rarely racing now. All this has been a bit of a shock. I feel that I need to make a big decision without really knowing enough. Should I really be having a pacemaker fitted to a heart because of irregularities which (the consultant implies) may not be a problem at all? Really, I suppose I want to find out more about the sorts of irregularities that might be normal (or, at least, harmless) for my sort of heart.

Any help would be most welcome. Thanks.

[IanDarkpeak]

Hi Gilly
I'm not sure this exactly the same but there are a fewe AF sufferers on the forum and a cardiologist or two.

But this might help.....http://forum.fellrunner.org.uk/showt...ght=heart+rate

[andy k]

physiology of the heart 101

listen to the heart - it ges "bumpBUMP"

contraction of the heart is caused by the spread of an elecrical pulse across the muscle
normally this electrical pulse starts from the Sino-Atrial Node and spreads across the Atria (upper chambers of the heart.) causing them to contract and push blood from the Atria into the Ventricles.
this is the "bump"
The pulse then passess tthrough a particular point - The Atrio Ventricular Node - from where it causes the Ventricles to contract ( just after they have been filled form the Atria - nicely co-ordinated). Contraction of the ventricles pushes blodd to the body / lungs.
Ventricular contraction is the "BUMP"
passage of the pulse between Atria and Ventricles via The Atrio Ventricular Node maintains co-ordinated contraction across the heart.

An AV - Atrio Ventricular - block is a delay in the passage of the pulse through the AV node. It causes a delay in ventricular contraction
so instead of the normal "bumpBUMP" you get "bump..... wait for it....... BUMP"

AF - Atrial Fibrillation is when the electrical pulse across the Atria is not properly / solely started from the Sino Atrial Node and instead of a co-ordinated contraction pushing blood into the ventricles the Atrium flutters and flaps and the everything gets a bit unco-ordinated
you get "bu, bu, bu, bu BUMP"

[IanDarkpeak]

physiology of the heart 101

listen to the heart - it ges "bumpBUMP"

contraction of the heart is caused by the spread of an elecrical pulse across the muscle
normally this electrical pulse starts from the Sino-Atrial Node and spreads across the Atria (upper chambers of the heart.) causing them to contract and push blood from the Atria into the Ventricles.
this is the "bump"
The pulse then passess tthrough a particular point - The Atrio Ventricular Node - from where it causes the Ventricles to contract ( just after they have been filled form the Atria - nicely co-ordinated). Contraction of the ventricles pushes blodd to the body / lungs.
Ventricular contraction is the "BUMP"
passage of the pulse between Atria and Ventricles via The Atrio Ventricular Node maintains co-ordinated contraction across the heart.

An AV - Atrio Ventricular - block is a delay in the passage of the pulse through the AV node. It causes a delay in ventricular contraction
so instead of the normal "bumpBUMP" you get "bump..... wait for it....... BUMP"

AF - Atrial Fibrillation is when the electrical pulse across the Atria is not properly / solely started from the Sino Atrial Node and instead of a co-ordinated contraction pushing blood into the ventricles the Atrium flutters and flaps and the everything gets a bit unco-ordinated
you get "bu, bu, bu, bu BUMP"

I know it's not funny Andy but that really cheered me up. a great explanation..Thanks

[gilly]

I thought that it was a fantastic explanation, too. And I laughed ... Thanks.