1st degree av block, please someone help......

[jgoodwin]

I have been diagnosed with 1st degree av block and my heart is not filling up with blood fast enough.(Which is why I guess, I get light headed and dizzy when I do any kind of assertion or anything)   I am 33 year old female. very healthy, I do not drink, smoke, very rarely drink caffeine.  I always stay fatigued and very tired, but am a mother of 3 and work 40-50 hours a week.  My mother had a heart attack at 58 and survived.  She had a 99 % blockage in an artery and now has a stint.  When I was pregnant with my 4 year old.  My mitral valve was not closing in my heart.  I have had an echo done about 2 years ago and it showed my mitral valve to be closing.  Any time I assert my self, (cleaning , sweeping, walking too fast for about 50 foot steps,) I get lite headed, dizzy and short of breath.  I have to sit down so I don't pass out.  We found this av block a week and a half ago and am running blood work, a full work up.  Can I go like this for ever or will I need a pacemaker?  Can medicine fix this or any help on this matter is greatly appreciated.  Also, do you think their could be some damage to my mitral valve from my pregnancy?  I do even have some sharp piercing pains periodicaly,, racing heart beat, pounding heart beat, even some flutters or quivers and sometimes it feels like a worm is crawling through???     Thanks  Jana........

[RNRita]

"In and of itself, first-degree AV block is a benign condition, with no associated increase in morbidity or mortality."  No medication is given for it, nor pacemaker inserted.  Sometimes it is caused by other factors.  Are you on any cardiac meds at all?  I agree with Jerry that your work load and lifestyle may be causing the fatigue.  Are you conditioned?  Did you know that  trained athletes have been studied with the highest prevalence of 1st degree AV block?  Maybe that will help a bit.

[Jerry_NJ]

I believe 1st degree AV block is not considered a serious rhythm problem, but you are the judge of that.  Seems it is causing you some very uncomfortable symptoms. As for being tired, I think being a mother of three is enough to make most tired, independent of the condition of their heart.  Are you sure you tiredness is due to your heavy work load rather than the AV block?

I understand there is no increased risk from your condition that the heart will stop, and that is main reason for a pacemaker, to kick in if the HR goes below some set threshold, such as 45 bpm, or something lower.

Sounds like your mitral valve is working now, that is good, keep a check on it, maybe an echocardiogram every 5 years or so would be a good practice.  Maybe you can go longer, ask you cardiologist.

I do not know of any medicine that reduces AV block symptoms.