Arrhythmia Symptoms & Treatment
A healthy heart beats at a smooth, steady pace, like a metronome. But if you develop an arrhythmia, your heart may beat too fast, too slow or in an irregular pattern. Common symptoms include:
- A fluttering sensation in your chest, known as a palpitation
- Chest pain or tightness
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
Because an erratic heartbeat interferes with normal blood flow, arrhythmias can lead to serious health problems without proper treatment, including strokes.
There are several types of arrhythmias, though the most common is atrial fibrillation (A-fib), which occurs when the upper two chambers of your heartbeat irregularly, or “quiver.” Other forms of arrhythmia include bradycardia (slow heart rate), tachycardia (fast heart rate), and ventricular fibrillation (poorly synchronized contractions of the lower heart chambers, likely leading to death).
If an irregular heartbeat is affecting your life and peace of mind, Riverside Heart & Vascular can help. In fact, our electrophysiologists (heart rhythm specialists) were among the first in the region to use several new devices and techniques such as Watchman, helping prevent stroke in patients who are unable to take medication.
To request an appointment close to home, call (844) 404-4787 or fill out our quick form.
About A-Fib
A-fib occurs in about one percent of the population, and your risk grows as you age. The irregular contractions that happen in A-fib don’t transfer blood efficiently to the lower chambers of the heart, which may cause blood clotting. If a blood clot escapes from the heart, it can travel to the brain and cause a stroke.
Fortunately, the condition can be controlled with proper care.
Atrial Fibrillation Explained with Dr. Beri
Dr. Abhimanyu Beri discusses what causes atrial fibrillation, how it affects the body, how it's diagnosed and treatment options available.
Listen to The PodcastDiagnosing A-Fib
During your initial visit, one of our cardiac specialists will take your medical history and perform a physical exam. Next, your doctor will perform one or more of the following tests to help determine what’s contributing to your A-fib:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): Measures your heart’s electrical activity through small pads (electrodes) that are attached to the skin, which send signals by wires to a recording device.
- Echocardiogram: A technician places a handheld device against your chest that uses ultrasound to create images of your heart and how it functions.
- Holter monitor: Small, portable device with electrodes that attach to your chest that record your heart activity as you go about your daily life.
- Blood tests: Used to rule out other potential causes of erratic heart rhythm, such as thyroid problems.
- Exercise (stress) test: You walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary cycle while your heart activity is closely monitored.
Treatment to Restore Rhythm
Should we detect A-fib or another issue, our experts will work with you and your primary care physician to find the right treatment.
Depending on the type of arrhythmia and how serious it is, your personal plan may include:
- Medications: Medication is often a good first treatment to help manage A-fib, especially if you have mild symptoms.
- Defibrillator or pacemaker: An implantable defibrillator or pacemaker - small, stopwatch-sized devices placed under the skin in the upper chest - deliver electrical shocks or painless pacing therapy that can restore the heart’s rate and deliver life-saving therapy. Riverside patients with an abnormally slow heart rhythm (bradycardia) now have access to the world’s smallest pacemaker. The Micra® Transcatheter Pacing System (TPS leadless) heart device provides the most advanced pacing technology at one-tenth the size of a traditional pacemaker and is approved for Medicare reimbursement. The device is small enough to be delivered through a thin, flexible wire (catheter) and implanted directly into the heart, providing a safe alternative to conventional methods.
- Ablation procedure: Catheter ablation is a minimally invasive, highly effective procedure that targets the source of the problem. A catheter is threaded into a vein in your groin and up into your heart. Electrodes on the end of the catheter create a 3D map of the heart, allowing your doctor to pinpoint the tissue causing the abnormal patterns. The catheter then sends thermal energy to treat those small areas, restoring your regular rhythm.
- Radiofrequency (RF) ablation: This minimally invasive catheter approach delivers radiofrequency energy to destroy the abnormal electrical paths in the heart. RF ablation is the most common curative treatment worldwide for A-fib.
- ASD and PFO minimally invasive procedures: Riverside Medical Center was one of the first hospitals in the area to perform these advanced techniques to repair two types of adult congenital heart problems, atrial septal defects (ASD) and patent foramen ovale (PFO). These conditions can cause heart rhythm problems and allow blood clots to travel to the heart, increasing the risk of stroke. Until recently, these heart defects would often require open-heart surgery. Now, our experts can repair the heart using a small catheter and tiny incision.
- Watchman Device for Treating Atrial Fibrillation (Afib): The Watchman is for patients who have atrial fibrillation not caused by heart valve problems, have been recommended to take blood-thinners by their doctor but need an alternative to blood thinners because they have a history of bleeding or a lifestyle that puts them at risk for bleeding. The lightweight, umbrella- or parachute-shaped Watchman device is inserted by catheter through a recipient’s blood vessel accessed through the groin. It is designed to seal off the heart’s left atrial appendage (LAA), a sack-like pouch within one of the organ’s two upper chambers. For patients with AFib, over 90 percent of stroke-causing clots that develop in the heart are formed in the LAA. A person’s heart tissue will grow over the permanent implant in time. The device is available in several sizes to best fit a recipient’s body.
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