Electrophysiology

What is arrhythmia?

Arrhythmia is a heart condition in which the electrical impulses that manage your heartbeat are out of sync. The changes in electrical activity can lead to an irregular heartbeat or a heart that beats too fast or too slow.

Heart arrhythmias aren’t always a serious medical concern. However, any irregularity in the beating of your heart should be evaluated. The board-certified cardiologists at COR Healthcare Medical Associates offer comprehensive examinations to evaluate arrhythmias.

What is electrophysiology?

Electrophysiology is a medical specialty focused on the rhythm of your heart, including identifying the underlying cause of your arrhythmia. COR Healthcare Medical Associates has board-certified electrophysiologists who specialize in this specific area of cardiac care.

To assess the health and function of your heart, the electrophysiologists conduct comprehensive evaluations to better understand the underlying cause of your arrhythmia. Your evaluation can include a physical exam along with various diagnostic tests like an electrocardiogram, stress test, and/or Holter monitor study.

If needed, the electrophysiologists at COR Healthcare Medical Associates will suggest an electrophysiology study.

What happens during an electrophysiology study?

The electrophysiology study is a procedure that evaluates your heart’s electrical activity, as well as the pace of your heartbeat. During the test, special catheters are placed in large veins in your legs or groin and guided towards your heart. These catheters monitor your heart’s activity.

To better understand cardiac function, the electrophysiologists could give you medications that create an arrhythmia. The procedure is done using a local anesthetic and a mild sedative to ease pain and anxiety.

What happens after an electrophysiology study?

After your electrophysiology study, the team at COR Healthcare Medical Associates gives you specific instructions on changes you need to make to your activity level following your procedure. 

They will also review the preliminary results of your study and schedule a follow-up appointment to discuss the study in greater detail and develop your treatment plan.

Treatments can include electrical cardioversion (using an electrical current to reset your heartbeat), implantation of a pacemaker, arrhythmia ablation (the use of radiofrequency energy to destroy a small part of the heart that is causing the irregular heartbeat), or implantable defibrillators.

Any recommended treatment to manage your cardiac condition can be completed by the electrophysiologists at COR Healthcare Medical Associates.

For expert cardiac care from a team offering state-of-the-art testing and treatment, contact COR Healthcare Medical Associates by calling the office or booking an appointment online today.