Instructions

1

Ask questions if you know of a history of slow heart beat from birth or even observed on an ultrasound. Congenital heart block is present from birth.
2

Take your pulse. The most common place to take a pulse is in the wrist. Place the index and middle finger on the inside of your wrist on the thumb side; count beats for 10 seconds, then multiply by six to get the minute total. A resting pulse rate of less than 50 beats per minute for adults should be checked.
3

Get a medical check-up if you notice problems with shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness or lightheadedness. These symptoms occur in Type I second-degree heart block, in which delayed impulses result in an occasional skipped beat. The doctor will listen to your heart. Any irregularities, particularly a faint heartbeat sounding like it's coming from a tunnel, should be checked by a cardiologist who will arrange for further tests.
4

Monitor your condition if you have a history of cardiac disease. Heart surgeries, myocardial infarctions or congestive heart failure can be precipitating factors for heart block.
5

Contact a medical professional for any fainting or loss of consciousness, which can indicate third-degree heart block. Electrical impulses cannot reach the ventricles in what is also known as complete AV block. Ventricles contract and pump blood independently of the atria, but at a slower rate that makes it difficult for the heart to function. Complete heart block without treatment can lead to cardiac arrest.
6

Recognize changes. Heart block often progresses from first degree to complete heart block. Sometimes the process takes years; other times hours. Notify your cardiologist with changes and make regular ECG and Holter monitoring (a portable ECG that records heart activity over longer periods) a part of routine exams.