Heart Block

Disrupted electrical signals make your heartbeat irregular or slow and that reduces vital blood flow throughout your body.

Heart block ranges from mild to severe, but we can re-establish a steady heartbeat so you can enjoy life again.

Signs and symptoms of heart block

There are three stages of heart block symptoms and the first stage is asymptomatic. 

Symptoms associated with a more urgent heart block condition include:

• dizziness 
• fainting 
• chest pain 
• fatigue 
• shortness of breath 
• nausea

The most severe heart block symptoms include:

• extreme fatigue
• irregular heartbeats
• dizziness
• fainting
• cardiac arrest

When to seek care

Anytime you have symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, or a sudden, irregular heartbeat, please call 911 or go to the emergency room. 

Our cardiology specialists treat every aspect of your heart care from diagnosis to surgery. They distinguish between different cardiac conditions that look similar in order to get you the right treatment. 

Heart block diagnosis at UCI Health

We classify heart block in three levels of increasing severity.

First-degree heart block

First-degree heart block is the mildest form and may not require any treatment. However, you may be at greater risk of developing an arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) called atrial fibrillation.

Second-degree heart block

The electrical signals between the atria (upper chamber) and ventricles (lower chamber) are slower than in first-degree heart block. Second-degree (and third-degree) heart block causes uncomfortable symptoms and you should seek care.

Third-degree heart block

Third-degree heart block is the most severe. Electrical signals don't travel at all, preventing your heart from pumping blood through your body. This can lead to cardiac arrest and loss of life. 

Diagnosing heart block

Your doctor will evaluate you by considering:

• Your overall health
• Family history of heart disease
• Medications you are taking
• Lifestyle choices
• Your description of symptoms
• A physical exam
• An electrocardiogram (ECG), which records your heart's electrical impulses
• Testing with a Holter monitor that tracks your heart for a period of time
• An electrophysiology study, which uses wires inserted into your heart to track rhythm changes

Heart block treatment at UCI Health

First-degree heart block usually doesn’t need treatment. However, we’ll follow up with you to prevent or treat the potential onset of an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). For either second- or third-degree heart block, you may need lifelong treatment with a pacemaker to keep your heart rhythm steady. 

Lifestyle changes

In some cases, you can influence your recovery by making strong and permanent lifestyle changes. A whole food diet, increased exercise and quitting smoking will improve your overall heart health and help prevent heart block. Our cardiac rehabilitation program professionals can work to help adjust your habits.

Why choose UCI Health for heart block care?

Our UCI Health heart specialists use state-of-the-science equipment to identify the cause of your heart condition with the right tests

Our multidisciplinary team then stabilizes your condition and identifies a comprehensive treatment plan for you. 

The UCI Health Heart Failure Care Program is the first such program in Southern California to earn the Gold Seal of Approval™

This certification is from The Joint Commission, the nation’s predominant, standards-setting and accrediting body in healthcare. We adhere to The Joint Commission’s standardized guidelines, a practice that reduces errors.

UCI Health has the largest team of specialists dedicated to women's heart health in Orange County

For certain cardiac conditions, women can have different symptoms than men and may need other treatments. Part of our team approach to comprehensive care is a thorough diagnosis that takes all of you into account.