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Arrhythmia

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A healthy heart beats with a steady rhythm to pump 2,000 gallons of blood through your body every day. We can identify the cause of an arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) and treat it before it turns into something more serious.

What Is Arrhythmia?

Arrhythmia means there's a problem with the rate or rhythm of your heartbeat. Your heart might beat too fast or slow, or it might skip beats.

Your body's electrical system regulates your heartbeat. But sometimes things like aging, high blood pressure or clogged arteries cause a short circuit in your electrical system. Some arrhythmias are harmless, but others may be life-threatening if your brain and organs don't get enough blood.

Arrhythmias happen for many reasons. We can get to the root of the problem and fix it so an arrhythmia doesn't harm your heart or health.

The Region's Leading Heart Care Center

Luminis Health offers award-winning cardiac care. Our heart specialists use advanced technology to diagnose and manage problems like heart valve disease to keep your heart healthy. Our patients have access to:

  • A dedicated heart center. Our Zazulia Heart and Vascular Center is an inpatient unit for people with heart conditions. It features cardiac catheterization labs, a critical care unit and a cardiac rehabilitation center.

  • Nationally recognized care. The American College of Cardiology recognizes Luminis Health for our commitment to hospital care for heart patients. We appear on the 2022 U.S. News & World Report list of “Best Hospitals."

  • Heart treatments recognized by the American Heart Association. The American Heart Association recognizes us as one of only 25% of hospitals in the U.S. qualified to perform emergency cardiac catheterization.

  • The latest technology for minimally invasive procedures. With advanced testing, we can detect and treat heart valve disease — often with minimally invasive procedures. That means small incisions, less pain and a quicker recovery for you.

Arrhythmia Diagnosis and Treatments

Early diagnosis means more effective treatment and a healthier heart for you. We use the most advanced technology to diagnose and treat arrhythmias.

Arrhythmia screening and tests

Our heart specialists use various tests to diagnose arrhythmias. You might have:

  • An EKG (electrocardiogram). A quick and painless test to measure your heart's electrical activity.

  • A stress test. This measures your heart's rate and rhythm during exercise.

  • A Holter monitor. This is a small portable device you wear for a full day or longer. It measures your heart's electrical activity over time.

  • An electrophysiology study. Your heart specialist does this minimally invasive test in our catheterization lab.

An electrophysiology study lasts between one and four hours. We insert a small straw-sized tube into your artery or vein in your arm or groin. Then, we guide several electrode catheters into your blood vessel and to your heart.

You'll have medicine so you shouldn't feel any pain.

Your doctor sends small electric pulses through the catheters to make your heartbeat at different speeds. The special catheters record electrical signals from your heart. This helps us find the location of the arrhythmias.

Arrhythmia treatments

You might not need any treatment. But if you do, we can manage your arrhythmia in different ways. Your treatment depends on the type of arrhythmia you have, what's causing it and how severe it is.

Medication treatments for arrhythmia

Your doctor might recommend medicines that:

  • Thin your blood and reduce the risk of blood clots.

  • Lower your blood pressure.

  • Widen and relax your blood vessels.

  • Slow down or regulate your heartbeat.

Surgical treatments for arrhythmia

You might need surgery to place an electronic device or help regulate your heartbeat. We're experts in these surgeries, so you can rest assured you're in skilled and compassionate hands.

Your surgeon may:

This regulates your heart's electrical signals and speeds up your heartbeat when it's too slow.

Your doctor implants this device under the skin in your chest. It can detect an abnormal heart rate and send an electrical signal to reset your heart's rhythm. You might also be able to use a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD). This isn't placed inside of you—instead, you wear it all the time.

It uses heat or cold applied through a catheter to make small scars in your heart tissue. It seals off the area where the arrhythmia happens and prevents abnormal electrical signals from moving through your heart. We do this procedure as part of an electrophysiology study or on its own in our catheterization lab.

Arrhythmia Prevention

Often, you can prevent arrhythmia by staying healthy and managing any related conditions. We recommend:

  • Having an annual checkup with your doctor to check your heart and monitor your heartbeat, blood pressure, and cholesterol.

  • Aiming for a healthy weight.

  • Managing health conditions that can damage your heart, like high blood pressure or diabetes.

  • Eating a healthy diet and get plenty of exercise.

  • Not smoking or using illegal drugs.

Next Steps & Contact

Luminis Health Cardiology Annapolis

Primary Location

2000 Medical Pkwy, Belcher Pavilion, Ste 510, Annapolis, MD 21401

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