Cardiac Rhythm Treatment

When the heart beats, its four valves open and close. This action, which controls blood flow, is dependent on electrical impulses that originate in the sinus (SA) node – the heart's natural pacemaker located in the right atrium. From the sinus node, the impulse travels to the atrioventricular (AV) node causing the atria to constrict. The AV node takes the signal from the atria and passes it across to the ventricles. This causes the ventricles to contract and completes one cardiac cycle.

Patients with an irregular heartbeat have what is called an arrhythmia.  An arrhythmia is a heartbeat that can be too fast, too slow, skip beats or have extra beats.  Causes of arrhythmia can range from a problem with your heart’s pacemaker to obstruction of an electrical pathway in the heart. Risk factors associated with arrhythmias include:

  • Heart disease
  • Stress
  • Drug abuse
  • Diabetes
  • Infection
  • Injury

While some arrhythmias occur with no symptoms, some are easier to detect by looking for warning signs such as:

  • Dizziness
  • Sensations of hear fluttering
  • Weakness
  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain

There are several treatments available to those suffering from arrhythmia, some of which include surgery. To help prevent arrhythmias adhere to the following guidelines and check with your doctor at the first sign of an irregular beat.

  • Avoid caffeinated beverages, alcohol and tobacco
  • Maintain proper weight
  • Consult your physician about an appropriate exercise program
  • Stop smoking
  • Eat a heart healthy diet
  • Treat high blood pressure and/or diabetes
  • Keep cholesterol levels low

Norton Heart Care offers some of the most innovative procedures available to treat irregular heartbeats including:

Norton Heart Care is a leading provider of heart care for people throughout Louisville and Southern Indiana.  Focused on outcomes and quality, our highly skilled cardiologists and surgeons work side by side with experienced nurses to care for both adults and children.  Heart disease comes in many forms, and Norton Heart Care offers a wide range of innovative treatment techniques in multiple locations - providing advanced, high-quality care close to home.  For more information about Norton Heart Care, call (502) 629-1234.