At Sentara, you receive the highest level of care from doctors with extensive expertise in heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias). We specialize in implanting heart devices and performing the latest minimally invasive and open-chest procedures.
Arrhythmias cause your heart to beat out of rhythm. It also affects your heart’s ability to pump blood. The condition occurs when something disrupts your heart's electrical activity. The most common arrhythmia type is atrial fibrillation (A-fib), a rapid, irregular heartbeat in your heart's upper chambers.
It's common for people with arrhythmias not to experience symptoms and receive the diagnosis during a routine physical exam.
When symptoms are present, they can vary greatly. They may include:
- Chest pain or pressure
- Dizziness
- Fainting or almost fainting
- Fatigue
- Fluttering in the chest
- Racing heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating
Sometimes, people with a healthy heart can get arrhythmias. In other cases, people with an underlying heart condition can develop abnormal heart rhythm. Conditions include:
- Cardiomyopathy
- Coronary artery disease
- High blood pressure
- Scarring of the heart, typically the result of a heart attack
Other health conditions may lead to arrhythmias, such as:
- Diabetes
- Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
- Sleep apnea
- Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
Various lifestyle habits, medications and mental health conditions can also increase risk for arrhythmias.
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, overall health and family history. You may also be asked to use a Holter or Event monitor, which evaluates heart rhythm disturbances, or a loop recorder, an under-the-skin device that records your heart's activity. Additional cardiac imaging and heart tests can help us with a diagnosis, too.
Your doctor may prescribe medications. If your condition advances, you and your doctor will consider our open-heart and minimally invasive treatments.
Our cardiac rehab specialists and Ornish Lifestyle Medicine, our intensive cardiac rehab program, can help you safely improve your heart health
Call 1-800-SENTARA (1-800-736-8272) to learn more.