 The heart is an amazing organ. Every part of your body depends on it. It speeds up when you exercise, are excited or scared. It slows down when you are relaxed or resting. On average, it beats about 70 times a minute, every minute of your life – more than 2.5 billion times over an average lifetime. But sometimes the heart doesn’t beat the way it should. It may beat too fast, as if you were running for your life instead of just sitting on the sofa. It may beat too slowly. It may skip beats. It may beat at the right speed, but pound like a sledgehammer. It may do any or all of these things, then settle down as if nothing were wrong. Irregular heartbeat is called cardiac arrhythmia. An arrhythmia can be a serious, life-threatening event, or it can be an inconvenience that interrupts the activities of daily living. St. Mary’s Electrophysiology Lab can diagnose and treat arrhythmias right here in Athens. Electrophysiology, or EP, is performed in St. Mary’s cardiac catheterization laboratory. Under anesthesia, a special tube called a catheter is inserted into a vein in your leg. Guided by x-ray images and sophisticated computer software, your physician gently maneuvers the catheter into your heart. Once the catheter is inside your heart, the physician can diagnose and often treat the cause of your arrhythmia through a process called ablation. Ablation involves cauterizing the tissue responsible for your condition. Most patients are able to go home the next day. Return to normal activity will depend on your specific diagnosis and treatment. St. Mary’s comprehensive line of EP services and procedures includes:
Signs & symptoms
Severe symptoms may be a medical emergency: Call 911 or come to St. Mary’s Emergency Center immediately! Care is provided through physician referral. For referral, talk to your physician. For information about EP or St. Mary’s Cardiac Services, call 706-389-7800. Moe H. Bishara, M.D., F.A.C.C.
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