COVID 19 Vaccine Update to our Community

We are offering the Moderna Covid 19 Vaccine to those age 18 and older at our Jupiter Medical Center Urgent Care locations in Jupiter, 5430 Military Trail, Suite 64 and 1335 W. Indiantown Road. Walk-ins welcome, no appointment necessary.

(561) 263-2234

Electrophysiology & Heart Rhythm Treatments at Jupiter Medical Center

An arrhythmia, or uneven heartbeat, is when the heart beats too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregularly. While many heart arrhythmias are harmless, some irregular heart rhythms can be a sign of something more serious.

Jupiter Medical Center offers electrophysiology services, including testing and treatments for arrhythmia, in our advanced electrophysiology lab. Our expert team is highly experienced with evaluating, diagnosing and treating abnormal heart rhythms, such as atrial fibrillation and heart rhythm disorders requiring pacemaker or defibrillator implantation.

What is Electrophysiology?

Electrophysiology is a specialty of cardiology that focuses on diagnosing and treating problems related to the electrical system of the heart, which controls the heart rhythm. Patients undergoing testing or treatment in Jupiter Medical Center’s electrophysiology lab are seen by cardiologists who are board certified in electrophysiology, indicating they have undergone additional training in managing and correcting abnormal heart rhythms.

When Should You See an Electrophysiologist?

If you’re experiencing an abnormal heart rhythm, your physician may refer you to an electrophysiologist. An electrophysiologist may start with various tests to determine the source of your heart arrhythmia, and whether the arrhythmia is cause for concern. Once the diagnosis is made, the electrophysiologist can determine if treatment is needed, and recommended next steps.

Diagnosing Arrhythmia

Our cardiologists and electrophysiologists use a variety of tests to evaluate heart arrhythmias. Initial tests may include:

  • A Holter monitor, which is a continuous recording of your heart rhythm and rate, usually for a full day or longer.
  • A stress test, during which you will walk or run on a treadmill or ride a stationary cycle to determine how exercise affects your heart.
  • Heart imaging tests, such as an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart) or trans esophageal echocardiogram (TEE). These tests produce pictures of your heart.
  • Implantable loop recorders, which are heart-monitoring devices that record the heart’s electrical activity. Your physician may set your implantable loop recorder to record if your heart rate drops below a certain rate, or when it beats faster than a certain rate. Implantable loop recorders can also be activated by the patient when experiencing symptoms such as dizziness or palpitations.

Electrophysiology Studies in Our Advanced Lab

Another test performed in an electrophysiology lab is an electrophysiology study, which tests the electrical activity in the heart and is used to find out where the arrhythmia is coming from. During an electrophysiology study, a thin catheter is inserted into a blood vessel that leads to the heart. The procedure is done while you are sedated and relaxed, but awake.

Electrophysiology studies may be used to determine which medications will work best for you, or whether treatments such as cardiac ablation, or an implantable pacemaker or defibrillator, will give you the best results.

Electrophysiology Treatments and Services

Jupiter Medical Center offers a full range of advanced electrophysiology treatments and services, including electrical cardioversion and minimally invasive surgeries.

Electrical cardioversion. Electrical cardioversion is used to restore normal heart rhythm in people with certain forms of cardiac arrhythmia, including a rapid or irregular heartbeat found in atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) or ventricular tachycardia. Cardioversion involves placing electrode pads on the chest and back, which connect to a cardioversion machine. During the procedure, a high-energy shock is sent to the heart, resetting the rhythm. Typically done with IV sedation, the patient does not feel the shock and the procedure takes only a few minutes. Electrical cardioversion may be used in conjunction with antiarrhythmic medications, which may help to maintain a normal rhythm for a longer period.

Surgeries to Treat Heart Rhythm Disorders

While many heart arrhythmias can be treated with lifestyle changes, medications or cardioversion, some people may eventually need further treatments to restore a normal heart rhythm. Jupiter Medical Center’s cardiology and electrophysiology team also specializes in surgical procedures that provide highly effective, long-term solutions to heart rhythm disorders for many patients.

Catheter Ablation: Catheter ablation, also called radiofrequency ablation, is a procedure that uses radiofrequency energy to zap targeted areas of heart tissue that are causing irregular heartbeats. Destroying the tissue can help restore the heart’s normal rhythm. Ablation may be recommended for heart problems such as supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. Ablation is typically recommended only if medications are not working as well as needed. Ablation destroys only the heart tissue leading to the abnormal electrical signals, leaving the rest of the heart untouched.

Pacemaker Implantation: A pacemaker emits low-energy electrical pulses to stimulate the heart. A small device implanted inside the chest, pacemakers are used when the heart rate is too slow. The electrical pulses help the heart return to a normal speed.

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD): Like a pacemaker, an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is also implanted inside the chest to treat life-threatening heart rhythm disorders. Defibrillators monitor and detect abnormal heart rhythms, and emit high-energy pulses to treat potentially life-threatening arrhythmias, such as ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation, which have the potential to lead to sudden cardiac arrest. Ventricular tachycardia is a chaotic, uncoordinated heartbeat, due to abnormal electrical signals in the lower chambers of the heart. Ventricular tachycardia may prevent your heart from being able to pump sufficient blood to the rest of the body.

Conditions We Treat

There are many types of arrhythmias, which can be identified based on what part of the heart they occur in (the atria or the ventricles), and what happens to the heart rhythm when the arrhythmia occurs. Here are some of the more common heart arrhythmias that should assessed, diagnosed and treated.

Atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart arrhythmia. Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, occurs when the heart’s upper chambers – the atria – contract irregularly. Instead of a coordinated, strong, singular contraction, the upper chambers of the heart quiver rapidly. During an episode of atrial fibrillation, the heartbeat can speed up to 400 beats a minute.

The CDC estimates between 2.7 and 6 million people in the U.S. have atrial fibrillation. The odds of experiencing atrial fibrillation increase with age. Atrial fibrillation is most common in adults over age 65. Getting AFib under control is essential. AFib increases the risk of blood clots and stroke.

Atrial flutter

Atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation have a lot in common. Both start in the heart’s atria. Both conditions cause the heart to beat rapidly, and both are caused by problems with the heart’s electrical system. However with atrial flutter, the heart rhythm tends to be rapid but less chaotic than during an episode of atrial fibrillation. Many people experience both atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter, and atrial flutter may progress to atrial fibrillation.

Supraventricular tachycardia

Tachycardia is an abnormally rapid heartbeat. Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) occurs when the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) beat too rapidly. There are several types of SVTs. One of the most common in adults is atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia.

Ventricular tachycardia

This condition refers to abnormal electrical impulses that start in the ventricles and cause an abnormally fast heartbeat. Ventricular tachycardia may be the result of a previous heart attack, This often happens if the heart has a scar from a previous heart attack.

Long QT syndrome

Long QT syndrome is a heart rhythm disorder that causes rapid, uncoordinated heartbeats. While many people with Long QT syndrome don’t have symptoms, the most common sign in people with the disorder is fainting. The disorder tends to run in families and can be associated with certain medications.