One of the leading causes of death in Sydney is heart disease. Over 5.5% of Australians, including Sydneysiders, experience arrhythmia. The heart is one of the most vital organs in the body that enables us to live by pumping oxygen-rich blood. The process of pumping blood through the arteries and ventricles creates a sequential rhythm controlled by electrical signals. A cardiac electrophysiologist or an arrhythmia specialist is a medical professional who is an expert in diagnosing and treating atypical heart rhythms, irregular heartbeat, or electrical activity in the heart. Electro physiologist in Sydney observe the electrical activity in a person’s heart, diagnoses existing arrhythmias, and provide treatment.
Any condition involving an irregular heartbeat is arrhythmia. However, there are several variations that only a qualified electrophysiologist in Sydney can diagnose. They would also get involved in treating such patients who experience
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
It is a condition where an extra electrical pathway present in the heart causes the heartbeat to fasten its speed, causing irregular sequences.
Long QT Syndrome
Abnormal electrical conduction in the heart leads to a person developing arrhythmias which can be sudden.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest
It is one of the most common conditions among many who suffer from heart disease in Sydney. In this condition, the heart suddenly stops beating and hence does not produce a rhythm for a short or long period.
Bradycardia
It is a condition where the heartbeat is slower than normal, causing physical symptoms among patients.
Supraventricular and ventricular tachycardia
A type of arrhythmia that originates in the ventricles where the heart beats fast, causing distress and lethal danger to the patients.
Tachycardia
It is a condition where the heartbeat is faster than normal, resulting in physical symptoms.
Ventricular Fibrillation
It is a fatal condition that does not let the heart pump oxygen-rich blood into the body. It develops a fast, irregular rhythm originating in the chambers, causing distress and lethal danger to the patient.
Atrial fibrillation
The arrhythmia occurs in the upper heart chambers, where the rhythm is faster than normal.
Arrhythmia Occurring Due to Other Conditions
Some people undergoing a temporary health condition like pregnancy, inflammation, infection, drug intervention or a metabolic condition can experience arrhythmia. An electrophysiologist in Sydney can diagnose and help develop a treatment plan, along with the consulting doctor.
What Are the Tests That an Electrophysiologist Conducts?
Once a medical professional suspects arrhythmia, the electrophysiologists recommend the patient undergo several tests to determine its cause, severity and type. Some tests they undertake include,
Blood Tests
They provide information about the enzymes, chemicals and minerals present in the blood that could lead to an irregular heartbeat.
Echocardiogram
Using sound waves, electrophysiologists study the images of the structure of the heart and its functioning to determine irregularities.
Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)
Medical professionals attach electrodes to the patient’s chest and record the electrical activity produced by the heart to detect irregularities.
Stress Test
Arrhythmias, especially cardiac arrests, are prevalent among people with high-stress levels. Sydneysiders residing in one of the busiest cities in the country report higher stress levels than the national average. A stress test looks at the heart’s performance when the body undergoes exercise to determine its proper functioning.
Holter Monitoring
It is a test that a professional Electro physist in Sydney prescribes to those who require long-term records of abnormal heart rhythms. Patients typically wear them for 7 to 30 days which they assess to determine abnormalities and situations that could trigger them. Similarly, an implantable loop recorder is a device that one puts under the chest to record a patient’s heartbeat for up to 3 years.
