What Is an Arrhythmia?

An arrhythmia is a heart rhythm issue where your heart beats too slowly (bradycardia), too quickly (tachycardia) or with an irregular beat. Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is the most common type of arrhythmia. It occurs when your heart’s electrical charges malfunction, causing its upper chambers to beat out of sync with its lower chambers. When your heart beats improperly, it can disrupt your blood flow and increase your risk of stroke, so it’s important to understand what’s causing an irregular heartbeat. Our electrophysiologists will help get you answers and treatment.

Supporting you, from one heartbeat to the next, at the Heart Rhythm Center at AdventHealth Tampa, formerly Florida Hospital Tampa

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Advanced Arrhythmia Care for Every Heartbeat

A racing heart can mean many things, from feeling excited or emotional to something more serious. When your flutters feel like they could be more, our renowned team at the AdventHealth Heart Rhythm Center is ready to help. Accredited by the American College of Cardiology, our program brings award-winning care close to home. Our experienced electrophysiologists will use advanced technology and leading-edge techniques to identify the cause of your symptoms and manage your arrhythmia, so you can get back into the rhythm of life.

We’re here to help you find the right electrophysiologist or a location that’s convenient for you.

What is Atrial Fibrillation?

Hear Dr. James Irwin, a board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist at AdventHealth Tampa, describe atrial fibrillation, or AFib. He shares causes, symptoms and treatment options.

What is a Heart Arrhythmia?

Dr. Kenneth Yamamura, a board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist at AdventHealth Tampa, explains heart arrhythmias.

WATCHMAN™ Device

People who have atrial fibrillation have a higher risk of stroke. Listen as Dr. Paul Gerczuk explains the Watchman Procedure, which can help prevent blot clots form forming in the heart.

Our electrophysiology, or EP, labs are equipped with the latest technology, so we’ll have a clear picture of your heart health — and you’ll have answers.

Electrocardiograms: To determine if you have AFib, your physician can perform an electrocardiogram, often called an ECG or EKG. During this short two-minute test, electrodes attached to your chest record your heart’s electrical activity, so we can detect any abnormalities.
Monitoring Devices: Depending on the results of your electrocardiogram and other tests, your physician may use a monitoring device — like a Holter monitor, loop recorder or event recorder — to gain a more complete picture of your heart health. We’ll do everything we can to make the monitoring process as convenient as possible, including addressing your concerns and answering any questions you have along the way.
Electrophysiology (EP) Studies: Typically done as an outpatient procedure, an electrophysiology study (also called an EP study) evaluates your heart’s electrical signals to determine if you have an abnormal heart rhythm and uncover important information that can point to the cause.
During an EP study, your doctor will thread a thin tube through your veins into your heart. Then, you will lie quietly on your back for several hours while your heart rhythm is monitored. Most patients stay overnight in the hospital for monitoring and go home the next day.
Recovery from an EP study is usually minimal, with mild achiness and fatigue. You can likely resume your normal activities within a few days of the procedure.

Although AFib itself isn’t life-threatening, it can increase your risk of blood clots and stroke, making ongoing monitoring of your condition and treatment important. It’s common to only need medication to treat AFib. But if you need more extensive care, our AdventHealth Heart Rhythm Center offers a wide range of treatment options.

Medication

Depending on your unique condition, your care plan may include one or a combination of medications, like blood thinners to prevent clots and stroke, beta blockers to slow heart rate or channel blockers to control heart rhythm.

Pacemakers

With a small battery-operated device called a pacemaker, we can help regulate your heartbeat. During a minimally invasive procedure, the device is implanted in your chest, beneath your collarbone. By emitting electrical impulses through the wires to your heart, a pacemaker can be programmed by your care team to respond to your heart’s unique needs.

Pacemakers are especially effective for patients who don’t have success with medications.

Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA)

Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is a newer type of ablation that uses quick electrical pulses to target the heart cells causing AFib. Compared to other types of ablation, PFA offers shorter procedure times, less anesthesia and a lower risk of damage to nearby organs and nerves. PFA may be a good option for you if medicines haven't been able to control your AFib.

Learn More

Traditional Ablation

Traditional ablation uses heat or cold to target heart tissue that's causing irregular rhythms. An electrophysiologist (heart rhythm specialist) performs the procedure using thin catheters, avoiding the need for an open incision. It may be a good option for you if medicines haven't treated your AFib.

Certain ablation procedures work by threading a thin tube through your groin and into your heart, allowing the doctor to use heat to scar surrounding tissue, stopping the abnormal electrical signals.

WATCHMAN™ and WATCHMAN FLX™ Implants

To reduce your stroke risk, the WATCHMAN and WATCHMAN FLX are devices that can be implanted inside your heart’s chamber, where clots are likely to form. These devices are a good fit for people with AFib that’s not associated with a heart valve issue.

AFib and Arrhythmia Experts

Advanced Arrhythmia Care for Every Heartbeat

Hear Our Experts Explain Arrhythmias

Diagnostic Services To Identify Arrhythmias

Comprehensive Arrhythmia Treatment Options

AFib and Arrhythmia Experts

Advanced Arrhythmia Care for Every Heartbeat

What Is an Arrhythmia?

Hear Our Experts Explain Arrhythmias

What is Atrial Fibrillation?

What is a Heart Arrhythmia?

AdventHealth Tampa Medical Minute - WATCHMAN FLX - Dr. Paul Gerczuk

Diagnostic Services To Identify Arrhythmias

Comprehensive Arrhythmia Treatment Options

Arrhythmia Care You Can Count On