How Is Heart Block Diagnosed?
Heart block may be diagnosed as part of a routine
doctor's visit or during an emergency situation (third-degree heart block is an
emergency).
Your doctor will diagnose heart block based on your
family and medical histories, a physical exam, and results from tests.
Specialists Involved
Your primary care doctor may be involved in
diagnosing heart block. However, if you have the condition, you may need to see
a heart specialist. Heart specialists include:
- Cardiologists (doctors who treat adults with
heart problems)
- Pediatric cardiologists (doctors who treat babies
and youths with heart problems)
- Electrophysiologists (cardiologists or pediatric
cardiologists who specialize in the heart's electrical system)
Family and Medical Histories
To find out your family and medical histories, your
doctor may ask whether:
- You have any signs or symptoms of heart block
- You have any health problems, such as heart
disease
- Any of your family members have been diagnosed
with heart block or other health problems
- You're taking any medicines, including herbal
remedies and prescription and over-the-counter medicines
- You smoke or use alcohol and drugs
Your doctor also may ask about other health habits,
such as how much physical activity you do.
Physical Exam
During the physical exam, your doctor will listen to
your heart's rhythm. He or she will listen carefully for abnormal rhythms or
heart
murmurs (extra or unusual sounds heard during heartbeats).
Your doctor also may:
- Check your pulse to find out how fast your heart
is beating
- Check for swelling in your legs or feet, which
could be a sign of an enlarged heart or
heart
failure
- Look for signs of other diseases that could be
causing a problem with the heart's rate or rhythm (such as
coronary
artery disease)
Diagnostic Tests and Procedures
EKG (Electrocardiogram)
Doctors usually use a test called an
EKG
(electrocardiogram) to help diagnose heart block. This simple test detects and
records the heart’s electrical activity. It shows how fast the heart is
beating and its rhythm (steady or irregular). An EKG also records the strength
and timing of electrical signals as they pass through each part of the heart.
The data is recorded on a graph. Different types of
heart block have different patterns on the graph. (For more information, see
“Types of Heart Block.”)
A standard EKG test only records the heart’s
activity for a few seconds.
Holter and Event Monitors
To diagnose first- or second-degree heart block,
your doctor may have you wear a
Holter
or event monitor.
Holter and event monitors are similar to EKGs, but
they're portable devices. You can wear a Holter or event monitor while you do
your normal daily activities. This allows the device to record your heart's
electrical activity for a longer time than an EKG.
Electrophysiology Study
For some cases of heart block, doctors may do
electrophysiology studies (EPS). During an EPS, a thin,
flexible wire is passed through a vein in your groin (upper thigh) or arm to
your heart. The wire records your heart's electrical signals.
Other Tests
To diagnose heart block, your doctor may need to do
tests to rule out other types of
arrhythmias
(irregular heartbeats). For more information, see
"How
Are Arrhythmias Diagnosed?" |