When Jonathan Eiten read through Valley magazine in late 2023, he noticed that there were community health educational webinars listed. One particular program on the topic of atrial fibrillation (AFib) stuck out to him because he had previously been diagnosed with AFib. Having been previously recommended for a catheter ablation, a minimally invasive procedure to treat AFib, Jonathan was interested to learn more about his condition and the treatment options available to him.
Atrial fibrillation disrupts your heart’s regular rhythm, causing an irregular, often fast, heart rhythm.
Valley is committed to advancing community health through accessible education, early detection, and wellness programs that support lifelong well-being.
“I attended the program virtually and found it very informative,” said the 68-year-old. “Tina Sichrovsky, MD, electrophysiologist, was the presenter and was very knowledgeable. She answered all of my many questions with pertinent information and impressed me with her confidence.”
“After this hour-long education session, I had an in-depth understanding of the advanced technology the Valley team uses to treat AFib. I also learned that age has a direct correlation to the outcomes of the catheter ablation procedure,” said Jonathan. “With that knowledge, I knew I was ready to move forward with the procedure, and I wanted Dr. Sichrovsky to be the one to do it.”
After attending the webinar, Jonathan made an appointment with Dr. Sichrovsky in March of 2024. Together, Jonathan and Dr. Sichrovsky developed a customized treatment plan and decided to move forward with a catheter ablation.
On June 20, 2024, Jonathan underwent his catheter ablation, also known as heart ablation or cardiac ablation. During an ablation, an electrophysiologist will use energy to create small scars in the heart tissue. This interrupts irregular electrical pathways in the heart that cause arrhythmias. Valley’s electrophysiologists pinpoint the exact location in your heart to treat with ablation using the most advanced cardiac mapping systems.
“After my procedure, there was an immediate dramatic change,” said the River Vale resident. “The next day, I had more energy, I was no longer dizzy, and I had an improvement in mental focus. This was unexpected because I had thought that my AFib was only ‘occasional,’ but apparently it was more progressed than I realized.”
Since the procedure, Jonathan has not had an episode of AFib. “I feel younger and stronger than I have in years,” he said.
“Valley’s team is diligent, caring, and on top of their game,” said Jonathan. “I would recommend attending these free webinars, as they can only help others, like they did for me!”
For more information about atrial fibrillation care at Valley, please visit ValleyHealth.com/AFib. To look at upcoming events and webinars Valley offers, please visit ValleyHealth.com/Events.