Imagine the system of your heart like a network of roads that allows signals to move smoothly. Bundle branch blocks act as roadblocks in a similar network in the heart and can slow down the signals. While bundle branch blocks can occur in healthy individuals, too, they often indicate health issues.
What are the Causes of Bundle Branch Block?
Let's explore what could be causing these "roadblocks".
Heart disease:
Conditions such as artery disease, heart attacks or other heart ailments can harm the pathways. This can be a major cause of RBBB.High blood pressure:
Prolonged high blood pressure puts stress on the heart. This stress may lead to branch blockages.
Cardiomyopathy:
Diseases that enlarge or weaken the heart muscle can disrupt smooth signal conduction.Myocarditis:
Inflammation of the heart muscle from an infection may result in bundle branch blockages that sometimes resolve once the infection clears.Ageing:
The natural ageing process can impact the heart's functioning without any other issues.Other factors:
Common lung problems, specific medications or congenital heart defects could also play a role.
Meanwhile, right bundle branch block causes can be several. A few of them are blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), heart attack (myocardial infarction), and high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries (pulmonary hypertension).
Conclusion
Discovering a branch block often triggers a thorough examination of your heart’s overall health. It can feel a bit unsettling. It also provides an opportunity for detection and treatment of potentially serious issues. Remember, taking care of your heart through a healthy lifestyle and having health insurance are wise decisions.