:) i, too, have a right bundle branch block (rbbb). I was diagnosed almost 3yrs ago with it, but only because I had other heart issues. I had a valve problem but had it repaired back then. My understanding is that a rbbb is ok to have. Many people do have it with no problems occurring. I was told not to worry also. Better to have a rbbb then a lbbb (left side). Lbbb usually means you have a diseased heart of some form, according to my research. Don't worry so much about it, just keep it monitored from time to time. Take care.

i am a member of the armed forces and went in for a routine physical. the doctors diagnosed me with RBBB. is this a serious problem? should i reduce my physical training? is there anything special that i should do?

jay,
I had what you have, I went through the testing (EKG, Xray, etc), plus had a scope put into my heart to look for "disease".The doctors didn't see anything bad.

This is a disease like many others where doctors say the same thing;
1 you have it
2 we don't know why
3 we don't know what will happens
4 if it gets worse, come back, we can put in a pacemaker.

Right side block is better than left side block by the way, so you have the better of the two.

I solved mine by breathing slower, but it took a year. I know, sounds absolutely ridiculous, so here's some more info to hopefully make you think about breathing and how it really kicked my butt. It's called "hyperventillation" if you search on the internet.


Here's a test, breathe 5x in/out....in/out and see how long it takes. Then do the same thing, but after you exhale, wait to inhale until your body tells you to, like holding your breath underwater and you feel the need to breath. What happens is you breathe 12-15x per minute normally and the body only really needs to breathe 3-4x per minute (after you practice breathing very slowly). Ask yourself why you can breathe 3 times slower and have no affect. Our body is terrible at letting you know that you're overbreathing. Ask yourself if overbreathing might be bad for you. I'm 100% certain it caused my right side bundle branch block problem.

Stress and age and sometimes bad habits make people breathe faster and the human body isn't smart enough to give you good feedback to slow down your breathing. Most fast breathers raise their chests when they inhale. You have to actually make your stomach push out on the inhale while your chest lowers. See what you do.

This is something that takes a real leap of faith on your part to research and practice and do consistently. After all, it sounds ridiculous that breathing too fast is really bad for you since you don't feel anything.

I hope you research it. It'll save you alot of pain.
Good luck.

Kevin.

Breathe more slowly to fix an benign electrical problem in your heart? Kevin, that is the dumbest thing I have ever heard, my friend.

To those that asked, I too have an IRBBB. I am an ultra-distance runner and a CrossFitter and have suffered absolutely no ill side effects. When I first found out about it I tricked myself into thinking there was a problem. I began to have "side effects" that I had never noticed before. After speaking with the doctors again and getting much reassurance, it all went away (conversion disorder at it's best). Many cardiologists feel that an IRBBB is NOT an abnormal finding and do not even mention it to patients. This information is all readily available on the internet for those willing to search for it.

To summarize, don't sweat it. If you feel something change then go back to the doc. I'm in my 20s and the only thing that has changed for me is my doc added an EKG into my yearly physical to make sure nothing changes. Some show up normal, some show the IRBBB--go figure.

No big issue, my friend. Keep plugging away physically and it will pay off in the long run. I've seen a cardiologist in my hometown and at Vanderbilt University hospital and all of them say I am in no danger. Hope this helps...

Cheers

The symptoms from the first posting match mine exactly. Been like that for over a year. I've been a marathon/ultra marathon runner for 25 years. I only feel the chest when I'm sedantry. Doctor says keep on running, it's just one of those things some people have.