A woman’s heart is wired differently than a man’s, posing different challenges with conditions such as arrhythmia or rhythm disturbances (a change in the regular beat of the heart). Many people with arrhythmias have nothing to fear, but it’s important to know that it can be the sign of an underlying heart condition.
Signs of something more serious can include heart palpitations, dizzy or light-headedness, or feeling like your heart is racing. If you have questions about your heartbeat and are worried about a potential risk for a heart rhythm disorder, talk to your health care provider.
When to see an electrophysiologist
Electrophysiology is the medical study of how the heart’s electrical system works. In addition to pumping blood throughout the body, the heart’s electrical system helps to regulate your heart’s beat. The heart generates its own electricity and uses this electricity to run the upper and lower chambers of the heart, leading them to contract and relax in the proper and timed sequence.
An electrophysiologist is a cardiologist who specializes in the heart’s electrical system, evaluating heartbeats that can be slow, fast, and abnormal. Their advanced training allows them to diagnosis and treat abnormal heart rhythms that—left untreated—could potentially be life-threatening.
Now patients can receive integrated cardiovascular services at Fairview. Their cardiologists, a part of University of Minnesota Physicians, are nationally recognized for their patient treatment outcomes in areas that include heart disease, heart attack and heart failure and offer comprehensive care for every stage of cardiovascular disease from prevention to heart transplantation.
For more information, visit fairview.org/heartcareformn.