Aa
treatment options
I have had an irregular heartbeat as well as atrial fibrillation for 15-16 years. So far my problems have been treated with medications. A few months back I wore a Holter monitor for 24 hours. My internist said that I was out of sync most of the time. As I understood him, as long as the medication kept my heart rate below 100 we should stay on that tract. What other options do I have and what are the risks?
Thank you
Thank you
Outside of medication, your main other option is an ablation. Ablation is a procedure where they thread a catheter through a vein in your groin area up to your heart. They induce your arrhythmia and determine the cells that are responsible for causing the irregular rhythm. Once identified, the doctor ablates (burns) the cells that are causing the problem and effectively stops them from doing what they do.
The risks here are lower all the time. Originally, ablation was a very risky procedure as it was practiced rarely and few doctors had the epertise to do it. However, over the past 5 years or so, the procedure has been increasingly studied, practiced and perfected and is a viable and fairly safe option for many people who suffer from chronic arrhythmia. The cure rate for A-fib and SVT is fairly high with ablation. However, PVC's and PAC's are not as easy to induce, identify the source (usually PVC's/PAC's have more than one source) and ablate.
You may want to ask your cardiologist for a referral to an Electrophysiologist for an EP study. A general cardiologist deals mainly with the anatomy of the heart and irregularities that can cause damage. However, and electrophysiologist deals with the electrical signals in the heart (and other muscles) that induce muscle contractions and are more familiar with the cause and effect of ectopic beats. Once you've had an EP study to indicate the source of your arrhythmia, they will discuss with you further options that may lead to a brighter (less thumpy-bumpy) future. :-)
Good luck.
The risks here are lower all the time. Originally, ablation was a very risky procedure as it was practiced rarely and few doctors had the epertise to do it. However, over the past 5 years or so, the procedure has been increasingly studied, practiced and perfected and is a viable and fairly safe option for many people who suffer from chronic arrhythmia. The cure rate for A-fib and SVT is fairly high with ablation. However, PVC's and PAC's are not as easy to induce, identify the source (usually PVC's/PAC's have more than one source) and ablate.
You may want to ask your cardiologist for a referral to an Electrophysiologist for an EP study. A general cardiologist deals mainly with the anatomy of the heart and irregularities that can cause damage. However, and electrophysiologist deals with the electrical signals in the heart (and other muscles) that induce muscle contractions and are more familiar with the cause and effect of ectopic beats. Once you've had an EP study to indicate the source of your arrhythmia, they will discuss with you further options that may lead to a brighter (less thumpy-bumpy) future. :-)
Good luck.
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