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Physical Abnormalities
Heart Pathologies - Electrical Abnormalities
Some of these heart pathologies have associated audio files to help you hear the problem. For comparision, here is a audio file of a normal heart beat.
Adams-Stokes Disease
Also called Morgani disease, Spens syndrome. This disease is marked by a person’s loss of consciousness due to a lack of blood to the brain. The pulse of the heart drops to extremely low levels because of a heart block. A heart block is when the electrical stimulus does not pass from the upper chambers to the lower chambers.
Arrhythmias
A general term that signifies heart rhythm irregularities. An example of this is Atrial Fibrillation (described below).
Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial Fibrillation is when the atria quiver instead of actually beating properly and effectively. This doesn't allow all of the blood in the atria to be fully pumped out. This blood then might clot. Again, if this blood clot blocks a certain artery, it could result in either a stroke or heart attack.
Atrial fibrillation
Bundle Branch Block
A bundle branch block is when something is blocking one of the electrical impulse branches. Normally, the electrical impulses run down the branches at the same speed, and therefore the ventricles contract simultaneously. When a block is present, the electrical impulses in that certain branch are slowed. Often there are no symptoms, although some diagnosed with this disease feel like they are going to faint.
First Degree A-V Block
This is when the electrical impulse moves through the AV node too slowly. The impulse takes longer than .2 seconds to travel from the atria to the ventricles, therefore it is characterized as a first degree block. Although the impulse is slowed, the heart rate and rhythm stay normal.
Long Q-T Syndrome
This is a syndrome that is a hereditary disorder of the heart's electrical rhythm. The Long Q-T Syndrome is when the time it takes to electrically activate and deactivate the ventricles is too long. One symptom is an abnormally rapid heart beat where the heart can't beat effectively. This can lead to spasms and eventually a deadly arrhythmia.
