The Valley Hospital is now open at 4 Valley Health Plaza in Paramus. (You may need to use 650 Winters Avenue for GPS.) All emergency care is now being provided at this location. Emergency care is no longer available at our Ridgewood campus.
An arrhythmia is an irregular heart rhythm. Arrhythmias occur when the electrical impulses that control your heartbeat don’t work properly. This causes your heart rhythm to be too slow, too fast or unpredictable.
If you have an arrhythmia, you may have symptoms like palpitations and fainting (syncope). Some types of irregular heart rhythms like atrial fibrillation (AFib) can also raise your risk for stroke and heart failure.
At Valley, our electrophysiology team specializes in identifying all types of arrhythmias. We can also restore your normal heart rhythm using the latest treatments that you won’t find at most hospitals.
Watch: Diagnosing arrhythmias takes a bit of detective work. Valley’s electrophysiologists specialize in detecting irregular heart rhythms. They can also provide innovative arrhythmia treatments that aren’t available at most hospitals.
Symptoms of arrhythmias include:
You don’t have to suffer with the discomfort and uncertainty of arrhythmia symptoms. Our electrophysiologists can help determine the cause and recommend treatment — helping you feel better and avoid other health risks.
Arrhythmias can start in the upper chambers (atria) or the lower chambers (ventricles) of your heart. Valley’s electrophysiologists specialize in treating all types of irregular heart rhythms, including the most complex. Some of the arrhythmias we identify and treat include:
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is the most common arrhythmia. AFib causes the upper two chambers of your heart (atria) to quiver, which makes your heart beat quickly and erratically.
If your AFib is not under control, it can raise your risk for stroke, heart failure and other health problems. Valley offers the latest treatments for AFib and other arrhythmias through the Snyder Center for Comprehensive Atrial Fibrillation.
Like AFib, atrial flutter begins in your heart’s upper chambers. However, atrial flutter is less erratic than AFib. Still, it can raise your risk for stroke, so it requires treatment.
PSVTs are episodes of a very rapid heartbeat that starts and stops suddenly. This type of arrhythmia usually begins in your heart’s upper chambers.
PACs and PVCs may make you feel like your heart skipped a beat. They are usually harmless and don’t require treatment unless they bother you.
VFib is a dangerous heart rhythm that requires emergency treatment. During VFib, the lower chambers of your heart quiver so your heart cannot pump blood properly. Delivering an electric “shock” to your heart can help restore the rhythm back to normal.
This rapid heartbeat also begins in the lower chambers of your heart. Because your heart is beating so fast, it pumps less blood throughout the body.
VTach also requires emergency treatment with an electric “shock” to your heart to return your heart rhythm back to normal.
AVNRT is a common type of rapid heartbeat that occurs when your heart has more than one electrical pathway. AVNRT is not usually life-threatening, but treatment can improve symptoms like chest pain and dizziness.
A heart block occurs when the electrical signal in your heart gets delayed or blocked. Not all types of heart blocks are serious. But without treatment, some can lead to bradyarrhythmia (irregularly slow heartbeat) and even cardiac arrest (when your heart stops beating).
Getting an accurate arrhythmia diagnosis ensures you receive the best possible treatment for your arrhythmia.
After we take your medical history, we may recommend some tests to determine the cause of your symptoms. These may include:
Your arrhythmia treatment plan may include one or more options based on your overall health and your specific needs. These include:
Because heart disease causes many arrhythmias, we may recommend heart-healthy habits such as:
Your electrophysiologist may recommend certain medicines to help control your irregular heart rhythm and reduce your health risks. These may include:
We may also adjust your other medications, such as blood pressure medicines, that can affect your heart rate.
We may recommend a procedure if we think it will help control your irregular heart rhythm. Procedures for arrhythmia include:
In some cases, your electrophysiologist may recommend an implantable device if other treatments do not control your irregular heart rhythm. Devices for arrhythmia include:
Most people with arrhythmias don’t need heart surgery. But if other treatments have failed to improve your arrhythmia, your electrophysiologist may recommend heart surgery.
If you have severe coronary artery disease and ventricular tachycardia, bypass surgery can improve blood supply to your heart.
