Our cardiologists specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart rhythm disorders.
Testing
If your heart rhythm condition has not yet been diagnosed, you may be given a special heart monitor called an event monitor that records your heart rhythm prior to your visit with the heart rhythm specialist.
Prior to your appointment, you may also be scheduled for an echocardiogram or stress test to determine your heart structure, function and ejection fraction (EF). All test results will be reviewed with you at your scheduled appointment.
CARE Patients
CARE stands for Cardiac Arrhythmia Risk Evaluation. It is a special program to facilitate urgent evaluation of patients who may be at risk for a serious heart rhythm disorder.
Arrhythmia
An arrhythmia is a series of abnormal, and often irregular heartbeats. An arrhythmia occurs when something goes wrong in the heart’s electrical system. If an arrhythmia continues,
it may prevent the heart from pumping enough blood throughout the body. Several types of arrhythmias include tachycardias (fast heart rhythms) and bradycardias (slow heart rhythms).
Event Monitor
An event monitor is a portable monitor worn by a patient, similar in size to a cell phone, and worn on the waist for an extended period of time (about 3 weeks). It records the patient’s electrocardiogram (ECG), detects abnormal changes in the heart’s rhythm, and assists doctors in diagnosing events. This ECG will be transmitted to the hospital frequently. If a potentially dangerous rhythm is detected, we will contact you immediately. Otherwise, your event monitor results will be reviewed with you at your scheduled appointment.
Echocardiogram (echo)
An echocardiogram is a simple, painless test that uses ultrasound waves to produce moving images of the heart. The test is performed by a specially trained technologist and is interpreted by a cardiologist. Your physician will use it to look for abnormalities in the size, structure, and function of the heart chambers and valves. There is no special preparation required for an echo.
Ejection Fraction
An ejection fraction is a measurement of how much blood the heart is pumping with each contraction. People with healthy hearts usually have an ejection fraction of 50% or greater. People with cardiac disease may have a lower ejection fraction, which may increase their risk for sudden cardiac arrest. An ejection fraction can be measured by an echocardiogram or with other diagnostic tests.