Electrophysiology is the study of the heart’s health through its electrical activity. A healthy heart will have coordinated electrical impulses to help blood flow the right way. However, your heart may develop abnormal electrical impulses, which can lead to blood clots and strokes. To help find irregular heart rhythms and diagnose arrhythmias, our professionals may use an electrophysiology (EP) study. At Heart of Dixie Cardiology, our doctors are specialists in electrophysiology and can perform an EP study to determine if you have an arrhythmia.
Visiting a cardiologist trained in electrophysiology is advised in several situations. The following are a few, but not all, of the situations where an electrophysiologist can help.
An electrophysiologist can perform an EP study to help you discover the cause of the fainting spell.
If you repeatedly feel your heart beating too fast or too slow, you may have an arrhythmia.
An electrophysiologist can perform an EP study to determine where the arrhythmia is and the best way to treat it.
If you have been diagnosed with any type of heart disease, you may need to visit an electrophysiologist.
An EP study, or invasive cardiac electrophysiology, is a procedure performed by a highly trained electrophysiologist at the hospital. Depending on the situation, you may be put to sleep or kept awake for the test. During the test, several catheters will be inserted, typically into your neck or groin. The tips of these catheters will emit electrical signals to your heart to test your heart’s activity. The catheter will then record the heart’s signals.
An EP study may take two to six hours, depending on your health and the number of tests performed. Your care team at Heart of Dixie will ensure your comfort throughout the process.
Once the study is complete, you’ll be able to rest and recover for another four to six hours to ensure your catheter sites seal correctly. Many patients are discharged from the hospital on the same day as the EP study, although you will want to limit your activity for the first 24 hours after the test.
Heart of Dixie Cardiology is your center for electrophysiology! Our team of advanced care professionals has an intimate knowledge of the heart. We will ensure you have a comfortable, personalized electrophysiology experience. Regardless of you having a diagnosis or a gut feeling that something is wrong, our professionals will listen and treat you with the utmost care. For electrophysiology and other dependable care, contact the experts at Heart of Dixie Cardiology.
