What First-Degree AV Block Looks Like on Your Watch ECG

Key Takeaways

First-Degree AV Block is a condition where your heart's electrical signal slows down as it passes through your atrioventricular (AV) node, leading to a prolonged PR Interval on your ECG of 200 milliseconds or more.
It's usually harmless and often doesn't cause any symptoms. However, it can be associated with certain heart conditions or medications.
Although First-Degree AV Block is generally not a cause for concern, it's important to consult a healthcare provider if you think you have it, especially if you have an existing heart condition, are on certain medications, or experience any symptoms. Prompt evaluation can help monitor and manage the condition effectively to prevent potential complications.

First-Degree AV Block is a condition where your heart's electrical signal slows down as it passes through your atrioventricular (AV) node, leading to a prolonged PR Interval on your ECG of 200 milliseconds or more.
It's usually harmless and often doesn't cause any symptoms. However, it can be associated with certain heart conditions or medications.
Although First-Degree AV Block is generally not a cause for concern, it's important to consult a healthcare provider if you think you have it, especially if you have an existing heart condition, are on certain medications, or experience any symptoms. Prompt evaluation can help monitor and manage the condition effectively to prevent potential complications.

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‍Got other questions on First Degree AV Block? See the Qaly guides on First Degree AV Block:

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Introduction

Hello, heart hero. In your quest to identify that irregular heart rhythm you just felt, you may have come across the terms First-Degree Atrioventricular Block or First-Degree AV Block. With your trusty watch ECG now in hand, you may be wondering, "What does First-Degree AV Block look like on my watch ECG?" In this guide, we'll help you see First-Degree AV Block on your watch ECG. Let's dive in.

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What's First-Degree AV Block?

Before trying to identify First-Degree AV Block in your ECG, it's helpful to remind yourself what First-Degree AV Block actually is. (If you're confident in your First-Degree AV Block knowledge, though, skip on ahead to the next section for some visual examples of a First-Degree AV Block ECG).

To start, remember how your heart beats? It produces an electrical signal, which squeezes and unsqueezes your heart, which in turn pumps your blood to your lungs for oxygen and then out to the rest of your body.

Your heart produces that electrical signal from your "sinus node" to generate a normal heartbeat. Then, that electrical signal travels from your heart's upper chambers, or atria, to your heart's lower chambers, or ventricles. To do this, your heart's electrical signal moves through a "gatekeeper" called your atrioventricular node, or AV node. In First-Degree AV Block, your heart's electrical signal incorrectly slows down as it travels through your AV node, which shows up as a prolonged PR Interval on your ECG.

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In First-Degree AV Block, your PR Interval is greater than 200 milliseconds.

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So What Does First-Degree AV Block Look Like on My Watch ECG?

To identify First-Degree AV Block in your ECG, look for this tell-tale sign:

A PR Interval that is prolonged, or longer than usual, at 200 milliseconds or more.

For visual examples, take a look at First-Degree AV Block seen on Qaly members' watch ECGs.

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Here's First Degree AV Block caught on a Qaly member's Apple Watch ECG. Notice the prolonged PR Interval of 220 milliseconds, a tell-tale sign of First Degree AV Block. You may have also noticed Sinus Arrhythmia in this ECG.

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Here's another First Degree AV Block caught on a Qaly member's Apple Watch ECG. See those abnormally long PR Intervals just before the 4s mark, and at the 6s mark?

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Is First-Degree AV Block a Cause for Concern?

First-Degree AV Block is almost always harmless, and it usually doesn't require treatment or show symptoms.

While some people are born with it, it's more common for First-Degree AV Block to develop later in life. It can sometimes develop if you have an existing heart condition like angina, or if you've had a heart attack. It's also common after heart surgery, if you're on medications such as digoxin, or if you have Lyme disease.

Most people don't realize they have First-Degree AV Block because they don't have any symptoms. And some folks endeavor to learn how to read ECGs. That being said, if you believe you have First-Degree AV Block, discuss it with your healthcare provider as soon as possible, since it can become a more serious heart condition.

If you're curious to learn about some other heart blocks, here's what 2:1 AV Block looks like on your watch ECG, here's what Second-Degree AV Block Type 1 looks like on your watch ECG and here's what Second-Degree AV Block Type 2 looks like on your watch ECG, and here's what Complete Heart Block looks like on your watch ECG.

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Conclusion

Well, that just about wraps up our guide on what First-Degree AV Block looks like on your watch ECG. We hope this could be of some help to you.

If you still need help interpreting your ECGs, don't worry, we understand how scary and confusing it can be to experience irregular heartbeats. That's why we created the Qaly app for you and for the hundreds of millions of people around the world who live with heart palpitations and abnormal heart rhythms. On the Qaly app, human experts will interpret your ECGs within minutes for clarity and peace of mind.

To get started with the Qaly app, grab the Qaly app from the App Store or Play Store today. If you have any more questions, or if you need our help in any other way, don't hesitate to reach out to us at support@qaly.co.

As always from the team at Qaly, stay heart healthy ❤️