Normal Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Levels Can Prevent “Heart Block”

Heart block, also known as atrioventricular block, occurs when electrical signals between the chambers of the heart are disrupted. This is often felt as a skipped beat and can result in the need for a pacemaker. An analysis of data concerning more than 6,000 people, aged 30 and older, showed that every 10 millimeter increase in systolic blood pressure (top number) is associated with a 22% greater risk of heart block, and every millimeter increase in fasting blood sugar is linked to a 19% greater risk of developing the rhythm disorder. Researchers estimate that 47% of the heart block cases in the study could have been prevented with ideal blood pressure, while 11% could have been prevented with normal fasting blood sugar levels. JAMA Network Open, May 2019