title: Complete heart block and physical performance.
abstract: Complete heart block (CCHB) is a very rare finding. The problems in such patients are: additional heart malformations, the appearance of Stokes-Adams or syncopal attacks, and the occurrence of different grades of ectopy. Most patients with CCHB without structural heart disease develop normally and can lead a normal life. If there are no Stokes-Adams attacks or high grades of ectopy at rest and exercise, they have a normal physical capacity and can perform strenuous work and sports. Increased stroke volume, cardiac enlargement, and extraction of very large amounts of oxygen from the blood were found to be compensatory mechanisms of adaptation. Some authors have discussed the possible role of training in this adaptation.
mesh_terms: D000219:Adams-Stokes Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001283:Atrioventricular Node / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005117:Cardiac Complexes, Premature / Q000503:physiopathology; D002302:Cardiac Output; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006327:Heart Block / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011247:Pregnancy; D013178:Sports Medicine; D013318:Stroke Volume