What you can do to protect your heart ?

What is Electrophysiology, and How Can it Help You?

Electrophysiology (EP) is a subspecialty of cardiology that focuses on the evaluation, diagnosis, management and potential cure of abnormal heart rhythms. While EP focuses on the electrical issues of the heart, the specialty also has close interaction with other fields in Cardiology and Medicine in general. As I tell my patients, I am essentially an “electrician of the heart,” with the heart being a mechanical pump that requires the electrical function to work appropriately.

Over the past 40 years, EP has evolved to include therapies that involve the implantation and management of cardiac devices, such as pacemakers, defibrillators and long-term monitors called loop recorders, as well as catheter-based procedures known as ablations, to diagnose and treat certain arrhythmias. Each patient has a unique situation, with a unique history and comorbid conditions, so the treatment approach for two patients with the same diagnosis may differ, underscoring the wide range of options we often have in treating a single type of arrhythmia.

Cardiac arrhythmia issues are fairly common, and chances are that you may know many people with rhythm disorders. The most common type in the adult population is atrial fibrillation (AF), which tends to be more prevalent with age. Indeed, as our population in general ages, the prevalence of AF is rising rapidly, with up to 20 percent of people over 80 affected by the condition.

Other common rhythm disorders include atrial flutter and supraventricular tachycardia, each of which has its own risks and treatment options. Certain rhythm disorders (arrhythmias ) need to be treated with implanted devices such as pacemakers , AICD, CRT and CRT-D, due to the risk of cardiac arrest, the risk of having significant symptomatic bradycardia ( less than 40 bpm during waking hours ), and severe symptomatic heart failure despite optimal medical therapy. 

Typically, more invasive EP procedures (pacemakers, defibrillators, ablations) are done only after extensive discussion between the Electrophysiologist and the patient, having considered both the risks and benefits of such a procedure. Ultimately, as with all important medical decisions, the final treatment decision lies with the patient, once he or she has been fully educated on the available options.

What to Know About EP Procedures 

Thankfully, EP procedures generally carry relatively low levels of risk. Depending on the type and expected duration of a procedure, general anesthesia may be used; in other cases, light or moderate (conscious, or twilight) sedation may be employed. Most procedures require just a single night in the hospital, and patients usually can return to regular activity in about a week for ablations, or two weeks for pacemakers and defibrillators. 

If cardiac arrhythmias are left untreated, consequences can vary greatly. In most benign cases, the patient will simply experience symptoms such as palpitations or fatigue.

Heart Rhythm Disorder? 

If you are experiencing symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath with exertion or excessive fatigue that is new, or a feeling that you may pass out, you may consult with your primary care physician first. If the symptoms are so severe that you feel your safety is at risk, seek emergency care. Arrhythmias often come and go, and if not present on an initial electrocardiogram (ECG ) evaluation, it may be difficult to confirm the arrhythmia until it is recorded on a longer-term cardiac monitoring such as holder monitoring or use of loop recorders.

If you have any Cardiology or Electrophysiology concerns, you may contact or visit us at:

Click here ⇰ Dr Mary Joseph Mercader

Medical Plaza Makati 

Suite 1706
Amorsolo St., Legazpi Village
Makati City
Mobile 📱+639158597685

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