Read about the advanced therapies performed for heart rhythm disorders at Oklahoma Heart Hospital and stay connected with the Heart Rhythm Institute.
Heart Rhythm Institute Blog
Posted on February 10th, 2020
Your heart is the most important muscle in your body, and like every other muscle, it runs on electrical impulses. Those impulses tell it when and how to beat and control the pace of your heartbeat. And when those impulses get out of sync, problems start to occur.
How your heart’s electrical system works
Your heart has a well-defined circuit that makes it work, and it starts at the right atrium (... Read More
Posted on January 1st, 2020
Your circulatory system is only really designed to support one person. But when you’re pregnant, it’s doing the work for two.
Though your heart and circulatory system can handle the extra volume, it is an extra strain on the body. A pregnant woman’s blood volume increases by 30 to 50 percent to support the baby, and the heart pumps around 25 percent faster. Blood vessels dilate, and the heart... Read More
Posted on December 1st, 2019
A heart rhythm disorder, also known as an arrhythmia, occurs when the heart doesn’t beat normally. It could be faster or slower than usual or it could be beating inconsistently. There are many different types of arrhythmias, with some occurring regularly and some occurring only periodically.
Heart rhythm disorders come from an issue with the cardiac electrical impulses that control the... Read More
Posted on November 2nd, 2019
Sometimes people use the expression that their heart skipped a beat when they’re scared or excited or when they’re describing the moment they met their true love. While the heart probably isn’t actually skipping a beat in those situations, the heart can skip beats due to premature contractions.
This arrhythmia is common, and most of the time it doesn’t involve treatment, but it can be... Read More
Posted on October 1st, 2019
Arrhythmias can be scary. Your heart is one of the most essential organs of your body, and when it starts to malfunction, it causes concern.
Though not all arrhythmias can be completely treated, many can. Modern heart medicine has come a long way from what it used to be, and there are several options available that can help you live a longer, happier, healthier life.
What is... Read More
Posted on September 1st, 2019
If you’ve been dealing with fainting spells, dizziness, or other symptoms that may come from a heart arrhythmia, you might need an implantable loop recorder. If other tests like an in-office ECG and a Holter monitor haven’t identified a cause for your heart rhythm issues and your symptoms persist, a loop recorder may be the next step.
What is an implantable loop recorder?
An implantable... Read More
Posted on August 1st, 2019
If you’re having symptoms of a potential heart rhythm issue or other heart problem, you will likely be asked to wear a Holter monitor at some point. The device is about the size of a small camera, and it’s one of the most important tools a doctor has available to find out what’s really happening with your heart. The portable device attaches to your skin with electrodes and measures the electrical... Read More
Posted on July 1st, 2019
Timing is everything—especially for your heart.
Your heart is a finely tuned instrument responsible for keeping you alive. It beats according to a very specific timing, and that timing keeps your body running smoothly. But what happens when the timing gets off?
When the timing in the bottom chambers of the heart is off, it’s called a ventricular arrhythmia, and there are several different types.... Read More
Posted on June 1st, 2019
The term heart disease is pretty broad, and it’s not just one thing. It’s a catchall term for anything that affects the health of the heart, and there are many complex systems that go into maintaining a healthy and regular heart.
There are three different types of irregularities that can be summed up by the term heart disease: electrical, circulatory and structural.
Electrical
The heart muscle is... Read More
Posted on May 1st, 2019
If you have symptoms of an abnormal heart rhythm where your heart feels like it’s beating too fast, too slow, or skipping beats, you will likely end up seeing an electrophysiologist and may undergo a test called an electrophysiology study.
What is electrophysiology?
Simply put, electrophysiology is the study of the flow of electricity in the body. That applies to a lot of different areas,... Read More