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In most people, bundle branch block doesn't cause any symptoms. Sometimes, even people who are born with the condition can have a bundle branch block for years without knowing it.

For those people who do have signs and symptoms, they may include:

• Fainting (syncope)
• Feeling as if you're going to faint (presyncope)
• Having a slow heart rate (bradycardia)

When to see a doctor
If you've fainted, see your doctor to rule out any serious, underlying causes.

If you have heart disease, or if your doctor has already diagnosed you as having bundle branch block, ask your doctor how often you should have follow-up visits. You might want to carry a medical alert card that identifies you as having bundle branch block in case you're seen in an emergency by a doctor who isn't familiar with your medical history.

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
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Normally, electrical impulses within your heart's muscle signal it to beat (contract). These impulses travel along a pathway, including a slender cluster of cardiac fibers called the bundle of His. This bundle divides into two branches — the right and the left bundles — one for each of your heart's two lower chambers (ventricles).

If one or both of these branch bundles become damaged — due to a heart attack, for example — this change can prevent your heart from beating normally. The heart's electrical impulses that make your heart beat may be slowed down or blocked. When this occurs, your heart's ventricles no longer contract in perfect coordination with one another.

The underlying cause for bundle branch blocks may differ depending on whether the right or left bundle branch is affected. Causes may include:

Left bundle branch block

• Heart disease
• Congestive heart failure
• Thickened, stiffened or weakened heart muscle (cardiomyopathy)
• High blood pressure (hypertension)

Right bundle branch block

• A heart abnormality that's present at birth (congenital) — such as atrial septal defect, a hole in the wall separating the upper chambers of the heart
• A heart attack (myocardial infarction)
• A viral or bacterial infection of the heart muscle (myocarditis)
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Scar tissue that develops after heart surgery
• A blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism)

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

The complications of bundle branch block are similar whether the blockage is on the right or left side of your heart. Complications may include:

• Slow heart rate
• Heart arrhythmia
• Cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac death

People who have a heart attack and develop a bundle branch block have a higher chance of complications and death than do people who have heart attacks and don't develop a bundle branch block.

In addition, because bundle branch block affects the electrical activity of your heart, it can sometimes complicate the accurate diagnosis of other heart conditions, especially heart attacks, and lead to delays in proper management of those problems.

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

You're likely to start by first seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner. However, you may then be referred to a doctor who specializes in heart disorders (cardiologist).

Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

• Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there's anything you need to do in advance, such as restrict your caffeine intake prior to having heart function tests.
• Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
• Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
• Make a list of all medications, vitamins and supplements that you're taking. Also, write down the dose that you're taking.
• Ask a family member or friend to come with you, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to remember all of the information provided to you during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
• Write down questions to ask your doctor.

Preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of your time with your doctor. For bundle branch block, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

• What's the most likely cause of my symptoms?
• Are there other possible causes for my symptoms?
• What kinds of tests do I need? Do these tests require any special preparation?
• What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?
• Will the bundle branch block return after treatment?
• What types of side effects can I expect from treatment?
• Are there any alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?
• I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
• Are there any restrictions that I need to follow?
• Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing me?
• Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What Web sites do you recommend visiting?

In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment at any time that you don't understand something.

What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:

• When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?
• Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional?
• Does anything seem to improve your symptoms?
• What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
• Has a doctor ever told you that you have a bundle branch block in the past?

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

Electrocardiogram
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is the most commonly used test for bundle branch block. This noninvasive test is an electrical recording of your heart's activity. In this test, a technician places probes on the skin of your chest that will show the patterns of electric impulses through your heart as wave patterns. Abnormalities in the waves may indicate the presence of bundle branch block. These electrical patterns can also point to whether the block is affecting the right or the left bundle branch.

It's also possible your doctor will discover you have a bundle branch block incidentally — meaning the condition could be found while you're having an ECG to diagnose another heart condition.

Echocardiogram
Once you have been diagnosed with bundle branch block, your doctor may order other tests, such an echocardiogram. An echocardiogram uses sound waves to produce images of the heart. An echocardiogram allows the doctor to see the complicated movement of the heart in motion. An echocardiogram provides detailed images of the heart's structure and shows the thickness of your heart muscle, whether blood flow is obstructed and if your heart valves are moving normally.

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

There's no specific treatment for many cases of bundle branch block. Most people with bundle branch block are symptom-free and don't need treatment.

However, if you have an underlying heart condition causing bundle branch block, treatment of the underlying condition is recommended. Treatment of underlying conditions may involve using medications to reduce high blood pressure or lessen the effects of heart failure, or the use of a coronary angioplasty to open up the artery leading to your heart.

And, if you have signs or symptoms, such as fainting, your doctor may recommend an artificial pacemaker to keep your heartbeat regular.

Medication
Experts recommend treatment called reperfusion therapy for people with left bundle branch block who have had a heart attack. This treatment, given in an emergency situation, involves using medications, such as tissue plasminogen activator, to dissolve blood clots and increase the flow of blood to the heart.

Coronary angioplasty and stenting
Another option to increase blood flow to the heart is to perform coronary angioplasty. Angioplasty opens blocked coronary arteries, letting blood flow more freely to your heart. In this procedure, doctors insert a long, thin tube (catheter) that's passed through an artery, usually in your leg, to a blocked artery in your heart. This catheter is equipped with a special balloon tip. Once in position, the balloon tip is briefly inflated to open up a blocked heart artery. At the same time, a metal mesh stent may be inserted into the artery to keep it open long term, restoring blood flow to the heart. Depending on your condition, your doctor may opt to place a stent coated with a slow-releasing medication to help keep your artery open.

Artificial pacemakers
For some people with bundle branch block and a history of fainting, doctors may recommend implanting an artificial pacemaker. This pacemaker is a compact battery-operated device, which can be implanted under the skin of your upper chest (internal pacemaker).

Internal pacemakers are placed near your collarbone during surgery performed using local anesthesia. The pacemaker provides electrical pulses that keep your heart beating regularly. These devices have sensors that can detect when your heart needs a signal from the pacemaker to normalize your heart rate.

If you need a pacemaker, your doctor can explain any precautions you need to take in order to keep the device working properly and to reduce risks associated with their use.

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

To reduce your risk of heart-related problems that can lead to or worsen bundle branch block, you can:

• Stop smoking
• Control blood pressure
• Reduce the dietary cholesterol and fat in your meals
• Keep your weight at normal levels
• Exercise regularly
• Control diabetes

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.