$Unique_ID{BRK00753}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{What is "Bundle Branch Blockage"?}
$Subject{cardiogram block Circulatory sinus node atrioventricular electrical
impulse tracts branches Bundle Branch Blockage atria ventricles ventricle
electrical impulse impulses nervous system heart sinuses nodes}
$Volume{G-1}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


What is "Bundle Branch Blockage"?


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QUESTION:  I am a 27 year old female in good health.  However a recent EKG
turned up a "bundle branch blockage".  The doctor says it is an interruption
in the heart's electromagnetic field.  What else can you tell me about it?

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ANSWER:  Your question is a difficult to answer in easy to understand language
and I think your physician gave it a good try.  Like mud, it's not too clear
but it covers the ground.  The heart muscles contract in response to
electrical impulses which follow specific pathways in the heart itself.  The
impulse is first generated in a special tissue area of the heart known as the
sinus node.  From there it spreads out through the muscle cells of the atria
(the upper two of the heart's four chambers).  That causes the atria to beat a
fraction of a second before the ventricles do.  The ventricles are the larger
and lower two of the heart's chambers, the right ventricle pushing the blood
through the lungs, and the left ventricle has the biggest job of all, pushing
blood through the aorta to the entire body.  When the nerve impulses have
crossed the atria, they meet at another special area at the junction of the
atria and ventricles.  This tissue, not surprisingly, is called the
atrioventricular node.  It captures the impulses from the atria, delays them
slightly to allow all the blood to pass from the contracting atria into the
ventricles, and then passes the electrical impulse on.  Normally there are two
special tracts (or branches) to carry the impulse throughout the ventricles, a
left bundle branch and a right bundle branch.  They carry the impulse to the
ventricles which then contract together, completing the cycle of one heart
beat.  Now we come to your problem.  One of these branches, although you did
not specify I suspect it is the right one, is not carrying the impulses as it
should, or "blocking" them.  Thus the name "bundle branch block".  The reason
I think that it is your right branch that is affected is because this can
occur in people with no other signs of heart problems, and because you mention
no treatment for your problem.  When this block occurs, an EKG which charts
the impulses can reveal the blockage by providing a typical tracing that your
physician has used to make the diagnosis.  The bottom line; I doubt that you
have any cause for concern, but now that you understand about bundle branch
blocks, check back with your doctor.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.