Cardiac Ablation; What You Ought to Know
The heart is the powerhouse of your body and high or low heartbeats can be a sign that things are not right. The average heartbeat of a healthy person is between 60-100 beats per minute. It is normal for your heart to have fast heartbeats when you engage in strenuous activities including exercise. However, your heart can have a high rate of heartbeat due to arrhythmia. This condition occurs due to the improper working of the heart’s electrical signals. If you suffer from heart arrhythmia, you will experience a racing heart. Cardiac ablation is one of the ways that Dr. Rishin Shah and his team at Prime Heart and Vascular can help you deal with this condition.
Cardiac ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that is used to correct rhythm problems affecting the heart. Your doctor will identify and destroy abnormal electrical impulses, which are attributed to irregular heartbeats. Your doctor will make small incisions in the groin region where guided catheters will be inserted to access your heart.
Can I Benefit From Cardiac Ablation?
Cardiac ablation is usually the first option in the treatment of heart arrhythmias.
You can benefit from this procedure if you have:
- Not received success with the use of medication in treating arrhythmia
- A heart that has a short circuit which is causing supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and abnormally fast heartbeats
- Irregular fast heartbeats which originate from the lower chambers
- Irregular fast heartbeats which originate from the upper chambers
- Taken arrhythmia medications that are starting to have adverse effects on you.
What Happens During a Cardiac Ablation procedure?
Your doctor will first take you through several tests to establish your general health and heart condition. Your doctor will further explain to you the procedure’s expected goals, benefits, and possible risks. It is essential to inform your doctor about your medical history and if you are on other medications.
You will be sedated during the procedure. The procedure may last from 1-4 hours and you can be allowed to go home the same day subject to your body’s reaction to the procedure.
What to Expect After the Procedure
It is normal for you to feel sore after a cardiac ablation procedure, but this will end after a week. You can expect to return to your daily duties once the sore feeling is gone. Cardiac ablation has a high success rate and keeping your heart healthy when you go home can help prevent a repeat procedure. You may need to:
- Observe blood sugar levels
- Take medication as recommended by your doctor
- Observe your blood pressure levels
- Exercise
- Stop smoking and consuming alcohol
- Focus on a heart-friendly diet
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Manage stress and negative emotions
There is hope if you or a loved one is having a hard time due to fast heartbeats. At Prime Heart and Vascular, our combined years of experience and use of modern equipment enables us to continue receiving success in the treatment of various heart conditions. Visit us today to learn more about cardiac ablation and other procedures to help you be on the path to recovery.
