Atrial Fibrillation & Arrhythmia

Conditions – Heart Rhythm Disorders

Your heart’s electrical system makes sure it contracts (squeezes) in an orderly way. When something interferes with your heart’s natural pacemaker, arrhythmias can occur. If you or your physician are concerned about your heart rhythm, the cardiac electrophysiologists at Baptist are here to help with the latest diagnostic tools and treatment options.

Conditions we treat include:

• Atrial fibrillation or flutter (AF or AFib)
• Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT or PSVT)
• Ventricular tachycardia (V-tach or VT) or ventricular fibrillation
• Multifocal atrial tachycardia
• Sick sinus syndrome
• Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

Symptoms may include heart palpitations, shortness of breath, fullness in the throat, lightheadedness, dizziness, paleness, sweating, and in some instances, chest pain. You may or may not notice symptoms when the arrhythmia is present – or you may only experience them during physical activity.

Symptoms can be very mild or they may be severe. Irregular heart rhythms can be harmless or a sign of other heart problems. While mild rhythm disorders may not even require medical attention, a very serious condition called ventricular tachycardia, an extremely fast and chaotic rhythm can cause sudden cardiac death and requires emergency care.

When you have an arrhythmia, your heartbeat may be:

• Too slow (bradycardia)
• Too quick (tachycardia)
• Irregular, uneven, or skipping beats

If you have heart palpitations, what can you do for self-care? Avoid or limit caffeine, alcohol and nicotine, take any medications prescribed by your cardiologist, report any suspected drug interactions or side effects affecting your heart rate or function to your doctor or pharmacist, and take steps to manage your stress and stay calm—anxiety is not good for your body. Contact a medical professional if you have been diagnosed with an arrhythmia and your symptoms worsen or do not improve with treatment.

There are not specific “types” of Afib, but rather, a series of advancing stages that can occur if symptoms are left untreated – therefore, taking a “wait and see” approach is not always best for the patient. For patients with heart failure or a weak heart and Afib, it is very important to see an electrophysiologist because treatment of Afib can significantly decrease the chances of mortality.

These stages are:

• Paroxysmal: Signs or symptoms occur spontaneously and heart restores to normal rhythm within 7 days of onset
• Persistent: Irregular rhythm lasts consistently for longer than a duration of 7 days
• Longstanding Persistent: Irregular rhythm lasts consistently for longer than a duration of 12 months
• Permanent: Irregular rhythm lasts indefinitely

Many options are available to treat Afib, including lifestyle changes, medications, catheter-based procedures and surgery. The type of treatment that is recommended for you is based on your particular heart rhythm and symptoms. The goals of treatment for Atrial fibrillation include regaining a normal heart rhythm (sinus rhythm), controlling your heart rate, preventing blood clots and reducing the risk of stroke. Baptist Heart is proud to offer the full spectrum of advanced treatment options and cutting-edge technologies not often provided elsewhere.

Some common causes of palpitations include abnormal levels of potassium; heart attack, or a damaged heart muscle from a past heart attack; or a congenital heart condition (present since birth, but not necessarily known). Arrhythmias also may be caused by caffeine, or stimulant drugs; heart or blood pressure medicines; tobacco use (nicotine); and other medicines such as those used for depression.

The most common risks that can lead to Afib include:

• Increasing age (60 and greater)
• Diabetes
• Coronary artery disease
• Congestive heart failure
• Heart valve disease
• Thyroid problems
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Excessive alcohol intake

Even people who do not have or show any of the above factors can be candidates for Afib. It is important to consult your physician for routine checkups to monitor your heart health.