Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
Read more health news
AV Block - Heart Block
- Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
- Symptoms & Signs
- Diagnosis & Tests
- Prevention & Expectations
- Treatment & Monitoring
- Attribution
- View All
Prevention & Expectations
What can be done to prevent the disease?
Treatment of an existing heart problem can make heart blocks less likely to develop or worsen. Avoiding medicines that cause heart block may also help in some people. There is no way to prevent a heart block from occurring in a healthy person.
What are the long-term effects of the disease?
The long-term effects of heart block depend on the underlying heart disease. Heart block is a sign of the disease process. If the underlying disease causes a fixed slow heart rate, less than 45 beats/minute, then a pacemaker will be needed. If the underlying disease does not get worse, then the heart block is not a concern. If a new heart block appears suddenly where there was none before, it can result in a heart attack.
In summary, the worse the underlying disease the worse the block. The worse the block, the slower the heart rate. The slower the rate, the worse the symptoms. Common symptoms are:
What are the risks to others?
Heart block causes no risk to others.