Arrhythmias

If your heart beats too fast or too slow, you may have an underlying arrhythmia that increases your risk for stroke. At Florida Heart, Vein and Vascular Institute, with offices in Zephyrhills, Lakeland, Plant City, Wesley Chapel and Riverview, Florida, the experienced cardiology team tailors a treatment plan to regulate your heartbeat and relieve symptoms like dizziness and shortness of breath. The providers also offer stroke prevention plans to improve your overall heart health. Call the Florida Heart, Vein and Vascular Institute office nearest you to schedule a diagnostic evaluation or book a consultation online today.

What are arrhythmias?

When you have an arrhythmia, your heart may beat too quickly (tachycardia), too slowly (bradycardia), or at an irregular pace. Frequent arrhythmias can increase your risk of stroke and other cardiovascular complications.

An arrhythmia develops when there’s dysfunction in the electrical signals of the heart that regulate its rhythm. Examples include:

Atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is a common type of arrhythmia, which occurs when chaotic electrical signals cause the heart to beat rapidly.

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)

SVT describes arrhythmias that start above the ventricles (lower heart chambers), which trigger episodes of pounding heart palpitations that start and end suddenly.

Ventricular tachycardia (VT)

VT is a rapid heart rate that prevents blood from filling the ventricles and reduces the amount of blood the heart can pump to the rest of the body.

Florida Heart Institute provides comprehensive care for arrhythmias. The experienced cardiology team also offers personalized stroke prevention services to support your long-term heart health.

Does an irregular heartbeat cause fainting?

You may experience episodes of fainting with an irregular heartbeat. Schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Florida Heart, Vein and Vascular Institute if you experience any changes in your usual heart rhythm. Symptoms of an arrhythmia can include:

• Heart fluttering
• Skipped heartbeat
• Racing heart
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Shortness of breath
• Syncope (fainting)
• Chest pain

The cardiology team diagnoses arrhythmia during a physical exam and a review of your symptoms and medical history. They may order an electrocardiogram (EKG) or echocardiogram to assess the function of your heart.

The team may also use an implantable loop recorder to record the electrical activity of your heart. They implant the device under the skin of your chest to detect irregular heart rhythms as they occur.

How are arrhythmias treated?

In some cases, you may not need to start treatment right away but should continue to get regular checkups to monitor your heart health.

If you need treatment, the Florida Heart, Vein and Vascular Institute cardiology team may prescribe medications to regulate your heartbeat. You may also benefit from cardioversion, a procedure to reset your heart’s rhythm with medications or electrical shocks.

When non-surgical therapies aren’t enough, your provider may recommend surgery to implant a pacemaker or perform a catheter ablation. Ablation uses heat or cold energy to create scar tissue in your heart that blocks irregular electrical signals.

The team also recommends stroke prevention tips, such as eating more fresh foods, quitting smoking, and maintaining healthy blood pressure levels.

Call the Florida Heart, Vein and Vascular Institute office nearest you to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for arrhythmias or book an appointment online today.