We are well aware of the havoc anxiety can wreak on our mental health, but not many talk about how it affects our physical health as well. From insomnia and difficulty in digestion to high blood pressure and asthma, anxiety can affect your physical health in many folds.
But what about heart conditions like the right bundle branch block? Can anxiety trigger blockage in your right bundle branch?
Heart bundle branch blocks are formed when the branch bundles get damaged. This damage can be caused due to multiple reasons, such as natural decay with age or heart attacks.
Now anxiety is known for increasing the risk of heart disease, but does that mean it can lead to the right bundle branch block? Keep reading as we discuss it all.
What Is Right Bundle Branch Block?
The heart is a pump that circulates blood throughout the body and is controlled by the timing of electric signals. The timing and the frequency of those electric signals need to be consistent in order for the heart to function properly.
The Right Bundle Branch Block (RBBB) is a condition where the heart’s physiological electrical conduction system (specifically the His-Purkinje system) is interpreted, resulting in a delay of these electrical signals.
In simple terms, it is an obstacle in your right bundle branch that delays your heartbeat signals, making it out of sync with the left bundle branch. As a result, you get an irregular heartbeat.
These abnormal heartbeats can have side effects such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest pain. However, most of the time, the side effects are not prominent enough and thus can only be detected by electrocardiogram (ECG) test.
Please remember the right bundle branch block is not a disease but a sign of an underlying condition such as high blood pressure, heart disease, or lung disease.
Symptoms Of Right Bundle Branch Block
Usually, the symptoms of the right bundle branch block are not that evident or unique. This is why most people with this condition are unaware that they have it, and it is more likely to happen in older people.
However, here are some of the symptoms people with RBBB experience quite often:
- Difficulty in breathing due to shortness of breath.
- Feeling weak or tired all the time.
- Frequent chest pains and uneasy feelings.
- Dizziness or lightheadedness.
- Having fainting or near-fainting episodes is quite regular.
- Feeling palpitations or fluttering sensations in the chest.
- Swelling in the legs or ankles.
On that note, please remember these symptoms are very common and can point towards various other health conditions apart from RBBB. Therefore, it is essential to consult a doctor for the right diagnosis.
How Anxiety Is Related To Right Bundle Branch Block?
Anxiety is your body’s natural response to negative emotions like stress, fear, or anticipation. It makes you feel restless and causes increased heartbeats. Repeated episodes of intense anxiety, terror, and fear are what we know as panic attacks. But how is this all related to the right bundle branch block?
Theoretically, there is no well-established cause-and-effect relationship between anxiety and RBBB, but here’s how the two can be correlated.
Anxiety impacts heartbeats and can increase the electrical activity in your heart. In such cases, our heart overworks and gets overwhelmed very quickly. Such recurring conditions can lead to second-degree heart block, escalating to a heart attack.
And if the person already has a history of heart attacks and other heart diseases, the probability increases.
Along with that, anxiety and stress can have other physiological responses, which can heighten the chances of the right bundle branch block.
Please note that these are all assumed relationships between anxiety and RBBB and are not backed by any research. The exact nature of this relationship is still unclear.
Proven Causes Of RBBB
The right bundle branches are responsible for pumping blood to the lungs to get recharged with oxygen molecules. This is why the blockage caused in this bundle branch is often associated with lung problems.
Lung conditions like pulmonary embolism and cardiomyopathy are sometimes related to right bundle branch blocks.
While some other potential causes of this blockage include:
- Cardiac arrest
- Cardiac failure
- Heart infections (in the cardiac tissues or valves)
- Chest trauma
Apart from all of this, the most common cause of the right bundle branch block is aging. As we age, cardiac tissues mature as well, which leads to them getting decayed and causing RBBB.
Frequently Asked Questions About RBBB
If you don’t have a history of cardiac diseases (like a heart attack) and have overall good health, you can easily live with a right bundle branch block without any treatment.
However, if you had serious heart problems in the past, you may need cardiac resynchronization therapy to synch your right bundle branch to the left.
Having the right bundle branch block is common. In fact, 11% of people develop it by age 80. However, it is very rare for young people as it occurs with the natural degeneration of heart conditions.
The right bundle branch block itself isn’t a very harmful condition if you are a healthy individual with no history of cardiac disease. But it shouldn’t be taken lightly.
If you are young and have been diagnosed with a right bundle branch block, it can be an indicator of underlying myocardial diseases. So it’s better to take a professional’s opinion.
So, Can Anxity Cause Right Bundle Branch Block?
While it is established that anxiety can cause abnormal heartbeat rates and increase the chances of exhaustion, hence leading to a heart attack. It cannot be said that anxiety directly causes the right bundle branch block.
However, that does not lighten the situation. Even if you have anxiety and RBBB separately, you must consult a professional and take the required steps.
She is an experienced Clinical Psychologist and Mental Health Writer with a decade of expertise in psychology. Skilled in assessment, therapy, and patient care. Committed to helping individuals through clinical practice and mental health writing at Therapyjourney.co. Passionate about promoting mental well-being and awareness. Open to aligned opportunities.