Arrhythmias affect the electrical signals that tell your heart to beat. When these signals work correctly, your heart beats in a steady rhythm. This ensures a steady blood supply to your vital organs.
The University of Miami Health System provides expert, personalized care to diagnose and treat arrhythmias. As an academic medical center, we offer cutting-edge treatments to our patients. Our team helps you understand your condition and get the right care for you.
What is an arrhythmia?
An arrhythmia (or dysrhythmia) is an abnormal heartbeat caused by a problem with the heart’s electrical system. Some arrhythmias can be serious and require special medical treatment. Others may be harmless or manageable with lifestyle changes.
If you have an arrhythmia, your heart beats abnormally. It may beat too fast, too slow, or in an irregular pattern. As a result, your body may not get the steady supply of blood, oxygen, and nutrients it needs.
How dangerous is an arrhythmia?
Many people live full, normal lives with arrhythmias. Still, getting a medical diagnosis is important. This can tell you what kind of arrhythmia you have and what treatments, if any, you may need.
If left untreated, some arrhythmias can result in serious problems like stroke or heart failure. It can also lead to cardiac arrest, a life-threatening condition where the heart stops beating.
What are the kinds of arrhythmias?
Care providers can often identify different kinds of arrhythmias based on where they start in the heart. In other words, do they start in the upper chambers (the atria) or the lower chambers (the ventricles)?
Also, do they cause your heart to beat faster (tachycardia), slower (bradycardia), or irregularly (fibrillation)?
Some of the most common kinds of arrhythmias include:
Atrial fibrillation (also called AFib or AF)
Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia, where the heart beats irregularly and often fast. Although it is very rare for AFib to be fatal, AFib can cause strokes, heart failure, or other significant symptoms.
Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)
This is a fast and irregular heartbeat originating from the top chambers of the heart. The name “supraventricular” means above the ventricles.
Atrial flutter
This is a type of supraventricular tachycardia with a fast heartbeat starting in the heart’s upper chambers. Atrial flutter is similar to AFib, but the heartbeat pattern is regular.
Premature ventricular complexes (PVCs)
PVCs are extra heartbeats originating from the heart’s bottom chambers. Although this is not life- threatening, the symptoms can be severe. Sometimes, the heart muscle can weaken if patients have very frequent PVCs.
Ventricular tachycardia
This is a very rapid heartbeat originating from the heart’s bottom chambers. It can be life- threatening.
Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome
This is a congenital (present at birth) heart condition where there is an extra electrical pathway in the heart. It can cause episodes of a fast heartbeat. Usually, WPW is not dangerous and can be managed. Rarely, WPW can cause sudden cardiac death.
Sinus tachycardia
This is a fast heartbeat that can result from stressors such as exercise, nervousness, or dehydration. This can be a normal bodily reaction. However, if stressors are not present, it may be a condition called “inappropriate sinus tachycardia.” This is usually not serious. Still, you should talk with your doctor about possible causes and treatments.
What are the symptoms of an arrhythmia?
You may not always experience symptoms with an arrhythmia. But symptoms can include:
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Fainting/loss of consciousness
- Heart palpitations
- Lack of energy
- Lightheadedness
- Shortness of breath
What causes an arrhythmia?
AFib, the most common arrhythmia, typically occurs due to structural problems with the heart.
Other possible arrhythmia causes may include:
- Atherosclerosis/coronary artery disease
- Cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle)
- Congenital (present at birth) heart defects
- Heart valve problems
- Previous heart attack
- Previous heart surgery
Am I at risk for an arrhythmia?
Factors that may increase your arrhythmia risk may include:
- Age (getting older).
- Family history of arrhythmias.
- Obesity.
- Chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea.
- Certain lifestyle choices, such as cigarette smoking and heavy alcohol use.
- Certain medications (talk with your doctor).
How do doctors diagnose arrhythmias?
To help diagnose an arrhythmia, your care provider may refer you to an electrophysiologist. This is a heart doctor who specializes in heart rhythm disorders.
Our expert electrophysiology team will discuss your symptoms and family history. Depending on your needs, we may offer specialized testing such as:
- Holter monitor (ambulatory heart monitor). A Holter monitor for heart rhythm tracking is a portable device that records your heart’s activity.
- Implantable heart monitor. We may recommend an implantable heart monitor for patients with severe symptoms, such as fainting.
- Cardiac imaging. Cardiac imaging may include tests such as an echocardiogram, cardiac computed tomography (CT) test, or cardiac MRI to show us detailed pictures of your heart.
- Electrophysiology (EP) study. An electrophysiology study helps us locate and treat arrhythmias by threading a thin tube called a catheter through a blood vessel to your heart.
Treatment for arrhythmias
Arrhythmia treatment depends on your specific diagnosis. Some arrhythmias do not need treatment.
If needed, we offer a wide range of treatment options, including:
Lifestyle modifications
Lifestyle modifications for heart arrhythmia include managing risk factors such as obesity, sleep apnea, blood sugar, and tobacco use. Managing sleep apnea can be especially important for people with AFib.
Also, people with PVCs may benefit from lifestyle changes, such as avoiding caffeine and alcohol.
Ablation
This procedure treats the specific area of the heart that is causing the arrhythmia. Through an EP study, we access the heart using a thin tube (catheter) threaded through a blood vessel. We then use heat or cold to interrupt the pathways that cause the irregularity. Cardiac ablation for arrhythmia can offer an effective therapy for patients with AFib, atrial flutter, and supraventricular tachycardia. It may also sometimes be a PVC and ventricular tachycardia treatment.
Pacemakers and defibrillators
For some patients, implantable pacemakers can help maintain a normal heart rhythm. Another type of implantable device, a defibrillator, monitors the heart and delivers a shock to restore a normal heartbeat if it detects a problem. Implantable defibrillators can be an effective ventricular tachycardia treatment – particularly people with co-existing heart disease.
Medication
Medication may help control an irregular heartbeat or prevent blood clots that may be associated with arrhythmias like AFib. Medications may also treat people with PVCs or ventricular tachycardia. Sometimes, people take medication along with other arrhythmia treatments.
Electrical cardioversion
This procedure uses an electric device to treat a fast or irregular heartbeat, such as with AFib. Pads adhere to the skin to deliver a shock that puts the heartbeat back into a normal rhythm.
Heart surgery
For some conditions – such as certain heart valve problems – we may perform heart surgery to treat an arrhythmia.
Why Choose UHealth?
Comprehensive, personalized arrhythmia diagnosis and care. Our expert team provides the latest care and testing to accurately diagnose arrhythmias and ensure you get treatment tailored for you. We provide a comprehensive approach that includes both risk factor management and specialized treatments. Sometimes, we can help patients manage their arrhythmias with lifestyle changes alone.
Electrophysiology testing for genetic arrhythmias. Some – but not all – arrhythmias may have a genetic basis. We have an arrhythmia genetics clinic to test for any possible hereditary factors. This allows us to give you a more precise and accurate diagnosis.
Advanced technology and expertise for ablations and other arrhythmia treatments. Our sophisticated equipment allows us to do more precise and accurate mapping of the electrical circuits in the heart. This enables us to pinpoint problems more quickly and effectively. As a result, we’re able to achieve better safety and efficacy.
A clinic and care for patients with pacemakers and defibrillators. We offer a clinic that can follow devices remotely for patients who have implanted pacemakers and defibrillators. This enhances safety and minimizes the times patients need to come in for a visit. We were also the first in the area to do MRI scans in patients with pacemakers who need this type of advanced testing.
Ground-breaking and life-saving research for atrial fibrillation. UHealth is the only institution that was funded by the NIH to conduct the LEAF study, investigating therapy to improve the outcomes of catheter ablation. Other NIH-funded studies focus on novel mapping and diagnostic approaches for atrial fibrillation.
Unmatched outcomes for our interventional, electrophysiology, and surgical efforts. Our innovative procedures and expertise make UHealth one of the busiest centers in the state. We’re very thoughtful in recommending procedures for patients to maintain a high-quality, high-efficacy program with high success rates, while keeping the complication rate at very low levels.
Innovative technology, therapies, and diagnostics. As an academic center, we offer newer treatments that push the boundaries of care. For example, we offer opportunities to participate in medical studies, providing you with the best treatment options available. Often, companies team up with us to introduce the latest products because they know the high quality of care we provide.
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