When your heartbeat races or you feel a pounding or fluttering sensation in your chest, you may be experiencing the first signs of a heart rhythm disorder. The expert physicians at Cardiac Care Consultants have extensive experience with heart rhythm disorders and provide treatment to stabilize the heart and prevent serious complications such as a heart attack or stroke. If you have symptoms, don’t wait to schedule an appointment. Call the office in Peoria, Sun City West, or Wickenburg, Arizona, or use the online booking feature today.
A heart rhythm disorder refers to one of several conditions that cause a fast heart rate (tachycardia), slow heart rate (bradycardia), or an irregular heartbeat. These disorders, also called arrhythmias, occur when something is wrong with the heart’s electrical system.
Every heartbeat occurs when an electrical signal begins in one area of your heart and travels through the heart muscles. The signal must follow a specific pathway to ensure that the muscles in different parts of the heart are in sync and contract in a way that keeps blood flowing through your heart. As a result, arrhythmias disrupt the supply of blood to your body.
There are many different types of arrhythmias, including:
Atrial fibrillation is the most common. This arrhythmia occurs when contractions in the heart’s upper chambers (left and right atria) become chaotic, causing a fast, irregular heartbeat that’s out of sync with the lower chambers.
Heart rhythm disorders have many possible causes, including:
Lifestyle habits such as smoking cigarettes and drinking too much alcohol may contribute to arrhythmias or the diseases that cause heart rhythm disorders.
The noticeable symptoms of an arrhythmia include:
Some people experience fatigue or a feeling of anxiety due to their arrhythmia.
Cardiac Care Consultants conducts one or more tests to evaluate your heart’s electrical activity and blood flow. The team begins with tests such as an electrocardiogram (EKG), echocardiogram, stress test, and electrophysiologic studies.
Depending on your results, they may have you wear a Holter monitor or event monitor, or they may do additional imaging studies.
Your provider chooses the best treatment based on your specific type of arrhythmia and the severity of your symptoms. These are a few examples of the treatments available for heart rhythm disorders:
Cardiac Care Consultants provides exceptional care for heart rhythm disorders. At the first sign of symptoms, call or book an appointment online.
