WHAT WE TREAT
SERVING OKALOOSA COUNTY &

THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES

CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIAS

Your heart has an electrical system that causes it to beat. A change to this normal electrical activation is an “arrhythmia.” This can be a slow heart rate, rapid heart rate, or an irregular rhythm. Cardiac arrhythmias are quite common - more than 3 million people in the United States are affected by an arrhythmia each year. Examples include bradycardia (slow heart rate), tachycardia (fast heart rate), atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and others. Arrhythmias may cause the heart to pump less effectively, cause symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, lightheadedness and dizziness. Importantly, arrhythmias can lead to life threatening conditions such as congestive heart failure, stroke and death.

ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

Atrial Fibrillation (also called AFib or AF) is the most common arrhythmia in adults, characterized by an irregular and often rapid heartbeat. In a normally beating heart, the top two chambers of the heart squeeze blood to the bottom two chambers in a regular and coordinated fashion. In AFib, the upper chambers (atria) of the heart beat experience an “electrical storm” that causes them to quiver in an uncoordinated fashion, referred to as "fibrillation."

Atrial fibrillation often causes patients to feel poorly, but in some patients may cause no symptoms at all! Common symptoms include fatigue, palpitations (an awareness of heartbeat), dizziness or lightheadedness, shortness of breath during exercising, and anxiety. About 15-30% of patients, however, are unaware of their AFib.

We treat AFib to reduce the risk of stroke, decrease negative symptoms, and improve the quality of life of our patients. We use a comprehensive approach factoring in lifestyle changes, medication, and medical procedures and devices such as catheter ablation, cardioversion, pacemaker implantation, and Watchman FLX implantation, among others. Notably, AFib is a chronic, progressive disease which, if left untreated, generally progresses to permanent AFib. Atrial fibrillation can lead to life threatening conditions such as congestive heart failure, stroke and death.

ATRIAL FLUTTER

Atrial flutter is another common abnormal heart rhythm involving the top chambers of the heart. 50% of patients with atrial flutter will progress to atrial fibrillation (AFib), so timely diagnosis and correction of atrial flutter is generally indicated. Like AFib, atrial flutter lead to life threatening conditions such as congestive heart failure, stroke and death. Our care team provides a range of options to treat atrial flutter, including curative catheter ablation.

SUPRAVENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is generally a benign condition but in some cases can be associated with sudden cardiac death. It is seen in children and adults, and usually associated with rapid heart fluttering and lightheadedness, shortness of breath and weakness. Diagnosis and treatment is carried out promptly.

BRADYCARDIA

Slow heart rates can be due to Sinus Node Dysfunction (Sick Sinus Syndrome), or block of electrical conduction in the atrioventricular node (AV block). Both conditions can cause fatigue, lightheadedness, passing out (syncope) and death. Implantation of a pacemaker is a routine procedure that can improve quality of life and reduce the likelihood of adverse events.

VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA

Ventricular Tachycardia and Ventricular Fibrillation are life threatening arrhythmias that originate from the lower pumping chambers of the heart (ventricles). These arrhythmias generally require emergent attention and longitudinal care. Treatments for these conditions include medical therapy, internal cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation and catheter ablation.