Any irregularity in your heart's natural rhythm is called an arrhythmia. Almost everyone's heart skips or flutters at one time or another, and these mild, one-time palpitations are harmless. But there are about 4 million Americans who have recurrent arrhythmias, and these people should be under the care of a doctor. Arrhythmias can be divided into two categories: ventricular and supraventricular. Ventricular arrhythmias happen in the heart's two lower chambers, called the ventricles. Supraventricular arrhythmias happen in the structures above the ventricles, mainly the atria, which are the heart's two upper chambers. Arrhythmias are further defined by the speed of the heartbeats. A very slow heart rate, called bradycardia, means the heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute. Tachycardia is a very fast heart rate, meaning the heart beats faster than 100 beats per minute. Fibrillation, the most serious form of arrhythmia, is fast, uncoordinated beats, which are contractions of individual heart-muscle fibers.
Diagnosis
Through their partnership with Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, doctors at the Center for Arrhythmias and Electrophysiology have developed and are using state-of-the-art techniques to address the needs of today's cardiac arrhythmia patients. Because it is a site for clinical trials, the Arrhythmia Center can offer patients and referring physicians a wide range of treatment options.
To learn more about diagnostic procedures, visit the Center for Arrhythmias and Electrophysiology Diagnosis page.
Treatment
To see a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias (electrophysiologist), patients may either be referred by their primary physicians, or they may call 832-355-DOCS (3627).
To learn more about treatment options, visit the Center for Arrhythmias and Electrophysiology Treatments page.
Contact
For more information about the Center for Arrhythmias and Electrophysiology, call 832-355-6567 or 800-238-4212.
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