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Original poster

Medical people - what's the name of this heart condition please?

36 replies

CleanQueen123 · 10/12/2023 21:04

I had to have paramedics out a few months ago and whilst checking me over they mentioned that I have something which means that my heart's electrical signals take longer to get round, but I can't for the life of me remember what it's called.

They well quite casual about it and said it's very common.

I've googled and wondered if it was Long QT syndrome.

Has anyone got any ideas?

OP posts:
Firefly2009 · 10/12/2023 23:00

It's easy to get an ECG done again. I've had one done at my GP practice. So do that again.

ZombiePara · 10/12/2023 23:35

@CleanQueen123 if it was something to do with the electrical signals taking longer to get around, it is most likely to be a first degree heart block, left bundle branch block or a right bundle branch block. You do also have second degree heart blocks type 1 and 2 (mobitz and wenkebach).

Tachycardia wont be what you've described - that is simply the heart beating faster!

It wont be a third degree heart block because that would have been a conveyance into hospital and a follow up with the doctor, as would a long qt.

My money would honestly be on a first degree heart block (lengthened PR interval). That sounds exactly like the sort of thing we do as a crew - we verbalise what we find, but it isn't anything we would be concerned over, and nor would a doctor, and many people live with it and never know! I imagine we do come across as quite casual about it, but I do always try my best to explain it more if asked, and reassure the patient about it being nothing to be concerned about!

If you have paramedics out again anytime and they do an ecg, keep it somewhere safe!
Your Gp may be able to advise you what was found, or they may not be able to access the paramedic paperwork (depends on Trust and systems used unfortunately!).

Original poster
CleanQueen123 · 11/12/2023 19:04

ZombiePara · 10/12/2023 23:35

@CleanQueen123 if it was something to do with the electrical signals taking longer to get around, it is most likely to be a first degree heart block, left bundle branch block or a right bundle branch block. You do also have second degree heart blocks type 1 and 2 (mobitz and wenkebach).

Tachycardia wont be what you've described - that is simply the heart beating faster!

It wont be a third degree heart block because that would have been a conveyance into hospital and a follow up with the doctor, as would a long qt.

My money would honestly be on a first degree heart block (lengthened PR interval). That sounds exactly like the sort of thing we do as a crew - we verbalise what we find, but it isn't anything we would be concerned over, and nor would a doctor, and many people live with it and never know! I imagine we do come across as quite casual about it, but I do always try my best to explain it more if asked, and reassure the patient about it being nothing to be concerned about!

If you have paramedics out again anytime and they do an ecg, keep it somewhere safe!
Your Gp may be able to advise you what was found, or they may not be able to access the paramedic paperwork (depends on Trust and systems used unfortunately!).

Thank you @ZombiePara. I think you're right. They only told me what they meant because I asked so it obviously wasn't something that worried them or needed further treatment.

Interesting that they've been the only ones to pick it up. I've had various ECGs and three echoes done in the last 18 months due to right side heart damage caused when I had bilateral PEs and no one else has mentioned it. I can only assume it's because it's a complete non-issue.

OP posts:
overwhelmed2023 · 11/12/2023 20:46

Sinus tachycardia wouldn't be ' picked up' as such because it's not a diagnosis, just a description of a normal heart rhythm going faster than 100 bpm. Causes / reasons include

Physiological on exercise
Infection/ sepsis
Anxiety
Medication eg salbutamol
PE , heart failure etc etc but it would be just a part of it.
It just means normal slightly fast heart beat.

overwhelmed2023 · 11/12/2023 20:48

Oh sorry are you talking about first degree HB? Yes that is sort of an ECG diagnosis but it's not pathological on it's own.
But since we don't know for sure what they said it's hard to say!!

Original poster
CleanQueen123 · 11/12/2023 20:51

overwhelmed2023 · 11/12/2023 20:48

Oh sorry are you talking about first degree HB? Yes that is sort of an ECG diagnosis but it's not pathological on it's own.
But since we don't know for sure what they said it's hard to say!!

I really wish I could remember or kept the ECG. It's difficult enough to get an appointment with my GP when I actually need one. I'm not sure they'd be impressed at me trying to book one for an ECG because I can't remember the name of a condition that appears to be a non-issue 🤣

OP posts:
overwhelmed2023 · 11/12/2023 21:14

Haha that's annoying 😂

Is there one word you definitely remember?

FleasAndKeef · 11/12/2023 21:23

Ectopic beats?

User2346522 · 11/12/2023 21:33

Does your mother have any history (or symptoms) of autoimmune or rheumatic disease like Lupus or Sjorgens Syndrome? Many women carry antibodies that attack the baby's heart (the av node where electrical signals start) during pregnancy and could result in varying degrees of heart block. The antibodies do not cause any problems in the carrier so some mothers may only have mild symptoms or never been diagnosed at all. It's only fairly recently that they've begun screening for congenital heart block and many adults could have been born with it without ever knowing.

Original poster
CleanQueen123 · 11/12/2023 21:39

overwhelmed2023 · 11/12/2023 21:14

Haha that's annoying 😂

Is there one word you definitely remember?

No. I thought it was something posh and medical sounding which I why I asked them what they were talking about. Clearly not posh or medical enough for me to remember 🤣

OP posts:
Original poster
CleanQueen123 · 11/12/2023 21:40

User2346522 · 11/12/2023 21:33

Does your mother have any history (or symptoms) of autoimmune or rheumatic disease like Lupus or Sjorgens Syndrome? Many women carry antibodies that attack the baby's heart (the av node where electrical signals start) during pregnancy and could result in varying degrees of heart block. The antibodies do not cause any problems in the carrier so some mothers may only have mild symptoms or never been diagnosed at all. It's only fairly recently that they've begun screening for congenital heart block and many adults could have been born with it without ever knowing.

Not as far as we're aware. I have a daughter though. Is it something we should keep an eye out for or get looked into?

OP posts:
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