Cardiac electrophysiology is the term used to describe diagnosing and treating the heart’s electrical activity.

A cardiac electrophysiologist is commonly referred to as an “EP” or a heart rhythm specialist.

Heart arrhythmia is a condition characterized by improper coordination of the heart’s electrical impulses. This often causes the heart to beat too fast or too slow, often irregularly.

Everything from stress to heart attack can cause a heart arrhythmia. Other common causes include high blood pressure, smoking, drinking, over or underactive thyroid, some medications, and clogged arteries. If you believe you have a heart arrhythmia, contact your doctor for more information.

Many people with heart arrhythmia don’t know they have it. When people do experience symptoms, they often include dizziness or lightheadedness, a fluttery feeling in your chest, and chest pain.

Physicians have characterized many different types of arrhythmias. Some of those include extra beats, supraventricular arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, PSVT, ventricular arrhythmias, and more. Talk to your doctor to diagnose whether you have an arrhythmia, and if so, what type.

People who have had heart attacks in the past are at a greater risk for developing heart arrhythmia. Other risk factors include artery disease, high blood pressure, over or underactive thyroid, overconsumption of caffeine, alcohol and smoking, sleep disorders, diabetes, and imbalanced electrolyte levels.

If you believe you may have arrhythmia, we recommend contacting your doctor right away for an accurate diagnosis.

If you and your doctor think you might have arrhythmia, your doctor might recommend an ECG or EKG. Other diagnostic tests include echocardiograms, EP studies, stress test/treadmill testing, and transtelephonic monitoring.

Garfield Medical Center is at the forefront of diagnostics and treatment for heart arrhythmias and other cardiac conditions. We utilize the latest in digital imaging tools and radiological technologies for optimal patient outcomes

Catheter ablation is a procedure used to treat arrhythmias. During catheter ablation, catheters are placed into a patient’s blood vessels via the, upper thigh or neck. The catheter travels through the blood vessel until it reaches the heart. Radiofrequency energy is then sent through the catheter to kill heart tissue that may be causing irregular heartbeat.

Everyone has cells in their heart that create electrical signals to control the heartbeat. If these electrical signals are off, an individual might experience irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). Catheter ablation targets only the irregular heart tissue. By destroying the problem tissue, catheter ablation attempts to restore the heart to a regular beat.

Catheter ablation is often used to treat people living with atrial fibrillation.

Less than five percent of all people who undergo catheter ablation have negative side effects. This non-surgical treatment option carries few risks.

Catheter ablation is considered by many as the preferred treatment for people with arrhythmias because of how safe and effective it is.

Catheter ablation procedures typically take from two to four hours.

After the procedure is complete, patients are moved to another room to recover - usually for several hours. For many patients, they can go home the same day.

This is different for every patient, so be sure to discuss this with your doctor before you return to work. Typically, patients must remain sedentary to recover for six to eight hours after the procedure. Doctors also typically recommend not driving for 24 hours after you are discharged from the hospital and avoiding any strenuous activity for at least three days.

You should see your doctor immediately if you notice any symptoms of concern like swelling and bleeding that does not stop, tingling or numbness, dizziness or lightheadedness, nausea, severe pain, or heart abnormalities. If you do not experience any symptoms of concern, talk to your doctor about scheduling any necessary follow-up appointments.

The American Heart Association has some great resources for learning more about atrial fibrillation, but we invite you to schedule an appointment with one of our physicians for more information!