Cardiac Arrhythmia Management

A cardiac arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. Your heart may beat slower or faster than normal and you may feel like your is fluttering or racing. Some arrhythmias are harmless and do not require treatment; others can be bothersome and even life-threatening. If you are experiencing arrhythmia symptoms, schedule a consultation with Dr. Nadar and his cardiology team at the Camp Hill or Newport office.

Arrhythmia Symptoms

Some arrhythmias go unnoticed and do not have any symptoms. Dr. Nadar can find an irregular heartbeat during a physical exam by taking your pulse, listening to your heart, and performing diagnostic tests. Arrhythmia symptoms include:

Heart palpitations or a feeling of skipped heartbeats or racing heartbeats
Pounding in your chest or chest discomfort
Dizziness
Shortness of breath
Weakness, fatigue, or feeling very tired

Arrhythmias can be caused by different factors or medical conditions including:

Heart attack
Blocked arteries (coronary artery disease)
Diabetes
High blood pressure
Overactive or underactive thyroid
Sleep apnea
Certain medications
Drinking too much alcohol or caffeine
Genetics

Cardiac Arrhythmia Management

To diagnose a cardiac arrhythmia, Dr. Nadar will review your symptoms and medical history, since some pre-existing health conditions like heart disease or thyroid problems can trigger arrhythmias. He also may use other monitoring tests to aid in diagnosis including:

Holster monitor: This is a small, portable device that a patient wears for a day or a few days to record their heart rate during normal, day-to-day activities.
Electrocardiogram (ECG): During an ECG, electrodes are attached to a patient's torso to monitor the heart. The test records the electrical activity of the heart.
Event monitors: Event monitors are another portable ECG device. Even monitors are only used during an arrhythmic episode.
Echocardiogram: An echocardiogram is a type of specialized ultrasound that produces images of a patient's heart size, motion, and overall structure.

Some tests may also be combined with other methods that trigger arrhythmias such as stress testing and medication to raise the patient's heart rate or heart rhythms. Cardiac arrhythmia tests are conducted at our office without the need to visit a hospital.

How are Cardiac Arrhythmias Treated?

With cardiac arrhythmia, treatment isn't always necessary. Some arrhythmias pose no significant risks or complications to patients. In some cases, however, treatment is necessary to mitigate risk of cardiac arrest or stroke.

Slow heartbeats - also called bradycardia - may be treated with a pacemaker to help regular the patient's heartbeat. Fast heartbeats, or ventricular tachycardia, have more treatment options. Treatment options for tachycardia include anti-arrhythmic medication, supportive care (defibrillation, cardiac monitoring, IV fluids), an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), and medical procedures such as catheter ablation and cardioversion.

If you or a loved one has cardiovascular disease, it's important to see a cardiologist promptly. Dr. Nadar and his team at Capital Area Cardiovascular Associates can see new patients within two weeks, and critical care patients sooner. Request an appointment today.