Your heart is arguably the most important organ in your body, in close competition with your brain. The heart is what pumps blood throughout your body, and blood contains the oxygen and nutrients that all your cells need to survive. Your heart has a difficult job, because it cannot take a break, even for a minute. It continuously pumps twenty-four hours a day, every day of the year.
If you start to have issues with your heart, it can put your health in jeopardy. When you have concerns about the rhythm of your heart, it’s important to seek the help of an EP doctor who understands how the electrical components of the organ functions, and what it will take to get your heart back in working order.
Heart Troubles
There are many heart problems that can arise over the course of your lifetime. Indeed, heart disease is one of the most common causes of death, however there are other heart problems beyond heart disease that oftentimes are ignored.
For example, tachycardia is a condition where your heart beats too fast for some unknown reason. Not only does it feel alarming when your heart is beating at an accelerated rate, it is also very dangerous and compromises your overall health. Similarly, bradycardia is when your heart beats too slowly, which can cause fainting and when left untreated can cause cardiac arrest.
Your heart has a natural rhythm when it is not exercising – a pattern of contractions that pumps blood through the body at a very regulated rate. If this rhythm is disrupted, this can cause discomfort and can lead to other dangerous health complications. Atrial fibrillation is a more technical name for these variations in heart rhythm, and they are very treatable with proper diagnosis and treatment from an EP doctor.
The Doctor’s Orders
EP doctors are experts in the study of electrophysiology (hence the “EP” title), which is the study of heartbeats and heart rhythm disorders. They are called this because your heart uses electricity in order to regulate its contractions, thanks to your body’s natural pacemaker that ensures all cells contract at the right time. If your pacemaker is not working properly, this can lead to atrial fibrillation or other heart rhythm problems that necessitate the help of a heart rhythm specialist.
Cardiac Electrophysiologists have the expertise to diagnose and treat heart rhythm conditions. When you visit with a heart specialist, you can expect to receive a careful examination and proper diagnosis. From there, a treatment plan can be established based on your unique situation. The condition of your heart will determine the proper course of action (medication, ablation, lead extraction, etc.) needed to keep your heart beating in sync at all times.
If you, or a loved one, are one of the millions of Americans living with a heart rhythm disorder, contact Dr. Dilip Mathew of Heart Rhythm Consultants. Dr. Mathew is Board Certified in Cardiology & Cardiac Electrophysiology and is located in Sarasota, FL. He has successfully treated heart rhythm conditions of thousands of patients over the past decade, and can help diagnose and treat any heart rhythm concerns you are experiencing.
