Conditions & Treatments > Arrhythmias > Brady & Tachy Arrhythmias
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Brady & Tachy Arrhythmias
Conditions
Brady-Arrhythmias (an abnormally slow heart rhythm)
The average person’s heart rate is usually between 60-100 beats per minute. However, there are instances when the heart rate can be slower. At times this may be caused by medications, sometimes the patient’s natural ability to regulate the heart rate may be diseased and slow and may need to be treated.
Common symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath or even palpitations. Sometimes, patients do not have any symptoms at all.
In order to make a diagnosis, your doctor may want to evaluate you further with non-invasive monitoring such as holter or event monitoring
In addition, an electrophysiology study may be needed to assess the conduction system of your heart. This test is performed in a hospital using minimally invasive techniques to insert electrical wires into the heart to study the conduction system. Based on the results of the test, your doctor may be able to the right treatment for you.
A times pacemaker implant may be necessary to treat an abnormally slow heart rate.
Tachy-Arrhythmias
There are instances when patients may develop abnormal fast heart rates originating from either the top (supraventricular) or bottom (ventricular) of their heart. Many times, these can be treated with medications, but often patients may benefit from advanced management strategies including electrophysiology studies with ablation or implantation of cardiac devices such as an implantable defibrillator.
When patients develop these abnormal rhythms, they may experience symptoms such as palpitations, chest pain, difficulty breathing, dizziness or passing out.
Be sure to talk with your doctor about what option is right for you.
Treatments
Pacemakers
Most pacemakers are now MRI compatible, assisting with a significant hurdle that patient’s used to experience in the past.
If your doctor does suggest a pacemaker to you, there are different types:
- Transvenous pacemaker: This is the traditional pacemaker that is mostly commonly implanted to help increase the patient’s heartbeat. There are different types with different number of leads, depending on your indication.
- Leadless pacemaker: This is a newer technology of pacemakers that are offered in certain centers. Unlike the traditional pacemaker, this does not require a surgical incision. Healing is usually quicker as well. This type of pacemaker is not for everyone, so be sure to discuss this with your doctor to see if you are a candidate.
Most pacemakers are now MRI compatible, assisting with a significant hurdle that patient’s used to experience in the past.
Defibrillators
Similar to pacemakers, most implantable defibrillators are now MRI compatible. They are typically implanted to protect a patient from an abnormal fast heart rhythm which can lead to sudden cardiac death.
If your doctor does suggest a defibrillator to you, there are different types:
- Transvenous defibrillator: This is the traditional defibrillator that is mostly commonly implanted to help protect a patient from life threatening fast heart rhythms. Similar to Pacemakers, there are different types, depending on your individual needs.
- Subcutaneous Defibrillation (S-ICD): This is a newer technology of defibrillator. Unlike the traditional defibrillator, this does not require a wire to be inserted into a vein. Rather, the defibrillator system is entirely implanted under the skin. This type of defibrillator is not for everyone, so be sure to discuss this with your doctor to see if you are a candidate.
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