Although this may sound strange, your heart is actually powered by electricity. Small cells at the bottom of the heart, called pacemaker cells, fire regular electrical impulses in a specific pattern. These pulses spread through the rest of your heart, causing it to contract and expand at regular intervals. Thanks to this controlled pattern of contractions, your heart can beat in a regular rhythm that lets it efficiently pass blood throughout the body. If you have a problem with your heart rhythm, then this may be problematic, but luckily an electrophysiologist can help diagnose and treat your heart and get it back to its normal rhythm.
Electrophysiology Diagnostics
If you have a suspected heart rhythm disorder, then the first thing a general practice doctor should do is refer you to an electrophysiologist doctor. These are medical experts that are trained in all aspects of diagnosing and treating issues relating to the electrical impulses of the heart. They have years and even decades of experience dealing with disorders just like the one that may be affecting you, so they know how to provide excellent and compassionate care as well as how to give you the best treatments and most meaningful diagnostics.
When you visit the office of one of these doctors, the test that they are most likely to perform is an electrophysiology study (or an EP study, for short). This EP study will involve the careful insertion of a small piece of wire into your heart through a blood vessel. Once there, this wire can record the electrical impulses of the heart, creating a map of the electric firing and misfiring therein. This is called an electrogram, and it allows the doctor to identify areas of the heart that are potentially problematic so that they can begin to treat you for the condition that they identify.
Doctors You Can Confidently Trust
These electrophysiologists know how to perform these EP studies carefully and with expertise. They will talk to you about what to expect before, during, and after the procedure, and the treatment options for your condition. They can even recommend and conduct treatments, such as the implantation of an artificial pacemaker that can correct any issues with your heart’s electrical pattern of contraction. Thanks to their careful diagnostics and precise techniques, these treatments will quickly and safely return your heart to working order. If you have a known or suspected heart rhythm issue, then it is in your best interest to contact a specialist to go over your options.
