Heart Block Type Mobitz II: Causes, Symptoms, and Therapeutic Approaches
Mobitz Type 2 heart block is a type of heart rhythm disorder that can lead to a range of symptoms, including dizziness, fainting, chest pain, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, feeling sick, fatigue, and the sensation that the heart has skipped a beat. If you or someone around you experiences these symptoms, it's crucial to seek immediate medical attention and call 911.
This heart block occurs when the electrical impulses between the atria and the ventricles are intermittent. If left untreated, it can progress to third-degree heart block, a more severe condition that can lead to severe bradycardia, syncope, sudden cardiac arrest, and hemodynamic instability due to impaired cardiac output.
To prevent or manage these complications, the key approach is early implantation of a permanent pacemaker. This is recommended regardless of symptom presence, as Mobitz Type 2 has a higher risk of progression to complete heart block and sudden cardiac death. Pacemaker placement helps maintain adequate heart rate and prevents bradycardia-related symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, syncope, and hemodynamic compromise.
In addition to pacemaker implantation, other management considerations include addressing underlying causes, such as myocardial infarction or cardiomyopathies, avoiding medications that induce bradycardia, and monitoring and managing other conditions that may exacerbate bradycardia.
Learning about foods to eat and avoid to promote heart health is also important. Prevention typically focuses on managing risk factors, such as discussing medications with a doctor, leading a heart-healthy lifestyle, maintaining a healthy body mass index (BMI), quitting smoking, and limiting intake of foods high in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium.
Anyone who develops symptoms of Mobitz Type 2 heart block should contact a doctor. Regularly discussing medications with a doctor is also essential to ensure that they are not increasing the risk of developing a heart block. People with a heart block should aim to exercise for at least 30 minutes per week and monitor their blood pressure.
Some causes of Mobitz Type 2 heart block include congenital heart block, aging and fibrosis of the wires connecting the atria and ventricles, coronary artery disease, autoimmune conditions, inflammatory conditions, electrolyte imbalances, sarcoidosis, amyloidosis, heart surgery, and certain medications.
In summary, the most important long-term complication is the potential progression to complete heart block, which is life-threatening without pacemaker implantation. Permanent pacing remains the definitive prevention and management strategy for Mobitz Type 2 heart block.
- Maintaining cardiovascular health is crucial in managing or preventing other heart diseases, and this can be achieved by keeping a heart-healthy lifestyle, discussing medications with a doctor, and monitoring conditions like Mobitz Type 2 heart block, whose progression can be life-threatening if not treated with a permanent pacemaker.
- To avoid complications associated with Mobitz Type 2 heart block, such as bradycardia, syncope, or sudden cardiac arrest, it's essential to address underlying causes like myocardial infarction or cardiomyopathies, avoid medications that induce bradycardia, and learn about which foods promote heart health to minimize risk factors like high saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium intake.
