User:Mr. Ibrahem/Atrioventricular block

Atrioventricular block (AV block) is a type of heart block were the electrical signal from the upper to lower chambers of the heart is impaired. Symptoms may include tiredness, shortness of breath, chest pain, and syncope. Complications may include ventricular tachycardia or sudden cardiac death.

Types include first degree, second degree type 1 and type 2, and third degree. Frist degree AV blocks may be normal in athletes and children. Others occur due to an underlying condition such as cardiac ischemia, cardiomyopathy, autoimmune disease, medications, and electrolyte abnormalities. Medications involved may include digoxin, calcium channel blockers, and beta blockers. Diagnosis is by electrocardiogram (ECG).

People with first and second degree type 1 do not generally require treatment other than removing medications that can worsen the condition. For those second degree type 2 or third degree a pacemaker is recommended. Higher degree blocks are more likely to develop complications. Additionally second degree type 2 is more likely than second degree type 1 to progress to a third degree block.

About 5% of young adults have short periods and less than 1% have ongoing AV block. More than 5% of those over the age of 50 have ongoing issues. Higher degree blocks that result in symptoms newly occur in about 1 in 5,000 people per year. The condition was first identified in an animal model in 1852 by Hermann Stannius.