We provide comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis and treatment for patients with abnormal heart rhythms
Physicians on the medical staff of the electrophysiology program at Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital – Dallas, who are specially trained in cardiac electrophysiology, work closely with an experienced team of nurses and nurse practitioners to provide evaluation and treatment using advanced healthcare technology and evidence-based techniques—including medication therapy, catheter-based procedures and surgery.
We continue to be recognized as a leader in electrophysiology in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and the nation because of our focus on successful outcomes, patient satisfaction and our commitment to research. We achieve this through experience that only a high-volume electrophysiology program can provide.
An arrhythmia causes the heart to beat abnormally fast, slow and/or irregularly
An arrhythmia is a problem with the electrical system that tells the heart muscle when to contract. Many heart arrhythmias do not require urgent treatment, but that same beat can also signal a life-threatening condition. If you or a loved one is experiencing heart arrhythmia symptoms, it’s important to visit a doctor for an evaluation.
It is important to note that not all heart arrhythmias are accompanied by symptoms. However, some noticeable signs of arrhythmia are:
- Ongoing fatigue and tiredness
- Shortness of breath
- Lightheadedness, dizziness or fainting
- Fluttering in the chest
- Racing heartbeat
- Slow heartbeat
- Chest pain
Common types of arrhythmias
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Bradyarrhythmia
Bradyarrhythmia
Slow heart rhythms that may be caused by disease in the heart’s conduction system, such as the sinoatrial (SA) node, atrioventricular (AV) node or HIS-Purkinje network are called bradyarrhythmia.
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Bradycardias
Bradycardias
A slow heart rhythm with a rate below 60 beats per minute is referred to as a bradycardia.
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Supraventricular arrhythmias
Supraventricular arrhythmias
- Atrial fibrillation: A rapid and irregular heartbeat that begins in the atria.
- Atrial flutter: A coordinated, rapid beating of the atria.
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Tachycardia
Tachycardia
A fast heart rhythm with a rate of more than 100 beats per minute is called tachycardia.
- Ventricular tachycardia: A fast heartbeat that begins in the ventricles (lower chamber of the heart).
- Supraventricular tachycardia: A rapid heartbeat between 100 and 240 beats per minute.
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Ventricular arrhythmias
Ventricular arrhythmias
Arrhythmias that begin in the ventricles.
Bradyarrhythmia
Slow heart rhythms that may be caused by disease in the heart’s conduction system, such as the sinoatrial (SA) node, atrioventricular (AV) node or HIS-Purkinje network are called bradyarrhythmia.
Bradycardias
A slow heart rhythm with a rate below 60 beats per minute is referred to as a bradycardia.
Supraventricular arrhythmias
- Atrial fibrillation: A rapid and irregular heartbeat that begins in the atria.
- Atrial flutter: A coordinated, rapid beating of the atria.
Tachycardia
A fast heart rhythm with a rate of more than 100 beats per minute is called tachycardia.
- Ventricular tachycardia: A fast heartbeat that begins in the ventricles (lower chamber of the heart).
- Supraventricular tachycardia: A rapid heartbeat between 100 and 240 beats per minute.
Ventricular arrhythmias
Arrhythmias that begin in the ventricles.
Wired for Life®
The Wired for Life class provides guidance, encouragement and support you need to live a healthy life with your implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). If you suffer from cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure or have experienced sudden cardiac arrest, the ICD can be your life vest and has been described by many as having a paramedic by your side at all times. Join us for this free workshop designed for you and your loved ones to learn in a group setting how exactly the ICD works.
Class topics include:
- Cardiac disease
- Lifestyle changes
- Shock plan
- Understanding your device
- Returning to daily activities
- Emotional concerns
- Eating for health
Ongoing research
Physicians on the medical staff at Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital – Dallas have participated in many of the developments in electrophysiology and continue to be involved in numerous ongoing research projects, including:
- Atrial fibrillation
- Congestive heart failure
- Defibrillation
- Pacing, including therapies for the management of heart failure, such as:
- Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT)
- Biventricular pacing
- Combined CRT and pacing
- Combined CRT and defibrillation
Syncope is a sudden and brief loss of consciousness
Manish Assar, MD, an electrophysiologist on the medical staff at Baylor Scott & White Heart & Vascular Hospital – Dallas, explains syncope and how it relates to heart disease.