The involuntary motions of the heart keep blood pumping and circulating to the different parts of the body. For the most part, you don’t have to worry about your heart doing its job. Unfortunately, certain factors both in and out of your control can affect your heart’s rhythm and even cause potentially life-threatening issues. That condition, known as arrhythmia, must be detected and treated as soon as possible.
Arrhythmia is typically not a condition identified through a regular check-up. Instead, it is diagnosed through an electrophysiology study. Learn more about cardiac electrophysiology and why it is a critical element of heart health maintenance by continuing below.
Why Do You Need a Cardiac Electrophysiology Study?
Arrhythmia, otherwise known as an abnormal heartbeat, can be tricky to diagnose because of its varied symptoms. While a noticeably unusual heartbeat characterizes many cases of arrhythmia, its other symptoms are not quite as easy to discern. Symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, and fainting episodes are not exclusive to arrhythmia. Those symptoms are also characteristic of lung problems, severe allergic reactions, and other health issues.
An individual with an irregular heartbeat may also fail to notice anything off with their heart. According to WebMD, some manifestations of arrhythmia are silent, meaning they don’t present any symptoms.
It’s difficult to know exactly what is happening with your heart without undergoing proper testing. That’s why cardiac electrophysiology studies are so important. Electrophysiology studies are specifically designed to test the electrical activities of your cardiac system. If anything is off with your heart’s rhythm, the test will detect it.
Other tests, including electrocardiograms and echocardiograms, can be used to diagnose arrhythmia, but they are not guaranteed to yield results. A doctor may need to conduct more precise testing to get the information they need, which is why an electrophysiology study may be deemed necessary. An electrophysiology study becomes a remarkably helpful diagnostic tool when conducted by an expert such as Dr. Ian Weisberg.
Can a Cardiac Electrophysiology Study Be Used to Treat Arrhythmia?
Cardiac electrophysiology studies are critical for accurately diagnosing irregular heartbeats. However, the usefulness of that procedure is not limited to the diagnostic process. It can also be used for treatment purposes.
The electrophysiology studies allow doctors to learn more about your specific case of arrhythmia. With that information in hand, they can prescribe specific medication that should work on your condition. Moving forward with medical treatment would not be an option without that information.
Your doctor may also use the study to check if you can benefit from a pacemaker or a similar device designed to help your heart function normally. Once again, making that determination would be difficult without the results of the electrophysiology study.
According to the American Heart Association, an electrophysiology study can also work as the treatment for your case of arrhythmia. Treating arrhythmia with an electrophysiology study would be an option if a small piece of tissue is responsible for your condition. The small piece of tissue can be destroyed via the electrophysiology study through a procedure known as catheter ablation.
Heart issues should never be taken lightly. Make sure you are on top of your heart health by regularly consulting a doctor and undergoing an electrophysiology study if necessary.
