Abnormal Heart Rhythms – Symptoms & Treatment

1.What are abnormal heart rhythms?

When the heart is beating too fast, too slow or in an irregular fashion the condition is termed as an abnormal rhythm.

2. What are the symptoms?

A person can experience palpitations, dizziness or blackouts, feeling of thump in the heart, feeling of a missed beats and sometimes loss of consciousness. This is a life threatening condition and one must visit the doctor for further investigation.

3. What are the consequences?

Most abnormal fast heart beats arising from the upper chambers of the heart are not life threatening although a condition known as atrial fibrillation can lead to brain stroke. On the contrary abnormal fast rhythms from lower chambers of the heart need detailed evaluation and can sometimes lead to sudden cardiac death.

4. How is it diagnosed and what’s the treatment?

ECG is the basic test done, a trained cardiologist will do a detailed evaluation of the electrical system of the heart and its rhythm through a test called electrophysiology study (EP study)

Abnormal rhythms can be treated with radiofrequency ablation(EPRFA)

5.How do you prepare for the procedure?

Do not eat or drink anything after midnight on the day of an EP study. Your cardiologist will advise you on medications and if you need to follow any other special instructions.

7.How is an EP Study done?

An EP study is performed in a hospital by cardiologists with special training in heart rhythm disorders (electrophysiologists)

It is a simple procedure which is done in awake state in the cath lab by inserting small catheters through the blood vessels in the upper thigh region and typically takes 1-2 hrs.

8.What care is required after the procedure?

Following the EP study, the patient is moved to a recovery area to rest quietly for four to six hours. Doctors will monitor the heartbeat and blood pressure to check for complications. Most patients experience no difficulties after an EP study and are able to resume regular activities the next day