Junctional Rhythm

I had a tilt table test Tues., not fun at all, they said i was having bursts of junctional rhythm. I have a pacemaker but still get dizzy and have wierd sensation in my chest does anyone know what junctional rhythm is. I go back to the dr. in a few days just thought i would find out alittle about it before I go... Thanks Stacy

2 Comments

Junctional Rhythm

by chip - 2009-01-08 02:01:00

I’ve been suffering from a junctional rhythm for some time now so I can empathize with your plight.

When you’re in a junctional rhythm you feel terrible and experience hypotension (at least I do) along with an overall tired “nasty” feeling.

Mine was discovered when I began experiencing almost total cessation of any atrial activity. In my case the junctional rhythm was secondary to the atrial failure, just my heart trying to keep going. My pacemaker would no longer pace the atrium either. Long story short – My EP corrected the problem using a new lead and placing it in the coronary sinus.

View the procedure here: http://wwwp.medtronic.com/newsroom/content/1213706985403.video.wmv

This is not saying that you will need surgery. A junctional rhythm can be controlled in many different ways they just didn’t work for me.

To put it simply (and to the best of my understanding) a junctional rhythm is defined as follows:
In a normal heart the sinoatrial node or SA node sets the pace for your heart beats acting as the hearts pacemaker. The beat starts in the SA node then causes the atrium to beat. It then passes from the atria through the AV bundle, traveling along fibers to the ventrical causing the ventricle to contract thus pumping blood to your body. This is the “sinus rhythm” in which the atria contract before the ventricles.

In a junctional rhythm the SA node does not control the heart's rhythm. The heart's atrioventricular node takes over. (natures backup system) With a junctional rhythm, the atria will sometimes actually contract with the ventricle and try to pump against the closed valve.

The electrical impulses start at the junction between the atrial and the ventricle areas of the heart thus the term junctional rhythm.

Good Luck at your doctors appointment. Don’t let them tell you that you have to learn to live with it because you don’t! There is treatment out there you just have to seek it out.

There is some information on the web you might seek out - the site Cabg Patch lists is a good place to start!

Please drop a message back and let us know how things are going for you!

If you have anymore questions please don't be afraid to ask.

God Bless & Live Well

Thanks for the description

by ElectricFrank - 2009-01-08 10:01:31

Chip,
Thanks for the description. Sounds like a real mess in the heart when the chambers start working against each other. Doesn't sound very comfortable. And I though PVC's didn't feel good!

frank

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