Meridian Heart Rhythm Disorder Treatment
We Are Leaders in Cardiac Services
If your heart rate feels too fast, too slow or frequently skips a beat,
your entire tempo seems off. You can trust your heart to the experienced
cardiovascular team and state-of-the-art technology at Anderson Regional
Heart Center.
Diagnosing Heart Rhythm Disease
Anderson’s Heart Rhythm Disease team includes board-certified cardiologists
and specially trained nurses and technicians. They use leading-edge technology
to pinpoint any cardiac arrhythmia that might be causing weakness, fatigue,
palpitations, low blood pressure, dizziness or fainting.
Advanced tests include:
- Treadmill stress test — a noninvasive test with external monitors
that identify how your heart works during exertion, while walking or running
on a treadmill.
- Nuclear stress test — a mildly radioactive substance shows how blood
flows through your heart during exertion.
- Echocardiography stress test — using the same non-invasive monitoring
as a treadmill stress test, these tests also include ultrasound images
to visualize the heart and aid in the diagnosis.
- Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) — an EKG measures the heart’s
electrical function and rhythm during normal activity. The staff is proficient
at using a 12-lead EKG.
- Implantable or at-home ECG (Holter, event monitor) — an ECG device
takes readings from a minimum of 24 hours up to 30 days or longer for
implantable devices, because not all arrhythmias occur at the doctor’s office.
- Angiogram (or arteriogram) — an X-ray of the heart and arteries uses
contrast dye to identify blockages or muscle damage.
- Tilt Table Testing — this noninvasive test aids in the diagnosis
of heart rhythm problems associated with fainting, in which the heart
may beat too slowly.
Heart Rhythm Disease Treatment
There are many different types of cardiac rhythm disorders and a wide range
of treatments — from changing your lifestyle to surgical intervention.
At Anderson Regional Heart Center, you’ll feel comfortable knowing
that a competent and caring staff successfully treats heart rhythm disorders
on a daily basis.
Treatments may include:
- Lifestyle modification — stress, caffeine and alcohol can promote
arrhythmia. Your doctor may recommend a change in diet or stress-reduction measures.
- Medication — depending on the type of arrhythmia, your general health
and the medications you are currently taking, your doctor may prescribe
medication to alleviate your heart rhythm symptoms and avoid any unintended
consequences.
- Cardioversion — very fast arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation
(AFib) or supraventricular tachycardia can be alleviated through an electrical
shock delivered by a defibrillator.
- Ablation — using very high frequency waves, the tissue causing the
arrhythmia can be destroyed by heat or freezing, via a catheter in a minimally-invasive
procedure.
- Pacemaker — implanted under the skin, a pacemaker sends electrical
signals to start or regulate a too-slow heartbeat.
- Implantable cardioverter defibrillator — similar to a pacemaker,
the ICD is implanted under the skin, where it can deliver a small electrical
shock to reset the heart in case of a life-threatening heart rhythm.