Heart arrhythmia treatment in Denver

Heart arrhythmias happen when the electrical impulses that coordinate your heartbeats do not work properly. This causes your heart to beat too fast, too slow or irregularly. Heart arrhythmia treatment is usually able to control or eliminate these irregularities. Our specialists in electrophysiology (EP) and cardiology work together to diagnose arrhythmias and provide a range of treatments. Our goal is to restore your heart to its normal rhythm and get you back to your life.

For more information about HealthONE's heart arrhythmia services, call us at (303) 575-0055.

Types of arrhythmias

Types of heart arrhythmias include:

  • Adult congenital heart disease arrhythmias
  • Arrhythmic myocarditis
  • Atrial fibrillation (AFib)
    • Paroxysmal (not constant)
    • Persistent (constant)
    • Permanent
  • Atrial flutter
  • Bradycardia (heart is beating too slow)
  • Inherited cardiac arrhythmias
  • Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)
  • Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)
  • Syncope
  • Tachycardia (heart is beating too fast)
  • Ventricular tachycardia (VT)

AFib

If a patient has AFib, their heart’s two upper chambers do not beat in coordination with the two lower chambers. If AFib is left untreated, blood clots could form in the heart and block blood flow. This makes AFib a notable stroke risk factor.

Individuals with AFib may not feel any symptoms, but others may experience:

  • Confusion
  • Difficulty exercising
  • Dizziness or fainting
  • Fatigue
  • Pain in the chest
  • Palpitations
  • Shortness of breath
  • Weakness

Heart palpitations

A palpitation is a sensation you experience in your chest, usually caused by your heart beating faster than normal or when extra heart beats occur. You may feel a flutter, “flip flop”, pounding or racing of your heart. Palpitations are extremely common and are usually benign, though some can be life-threatening.

Arrhythmia symptoms

Heart arrhythmias can sometimes have no signs or symptoms, but doctors may still detect them during a routine exam. Common symptoms include:

  • A bradycardia or tachycardia
  • A “fluttering” sensation in your chest
  • Chest pain
  • Fainting, or near fainting
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Lightheadedness
  • Passing out
  • Racing of the heart
  • Shortness of breath

Causes of arrhythmia

Our team can identify the conditions that put you at a higher risk of developing a heart rhythm disorder. This includes lifestyle factors and other health conditions, such as:

  • Abnormal electrical pathways
  • Anemia
  • Caffeine or nicotine use
  • Cardiomyopathy
  • Congenital heart defects
  • Coronary artery disease, other heart problems and previous heart surgery
  • Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2)
  • Drinking too much alcohol
  • Drugs and supplements
  • Electrolyte imbalance
  • Heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • History of heart attack
  • Infection
  • Leaking or stenotic heart valves
  • Lung disease
  • Medications
  • Obesity
  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Pericarditis and myocarditis
  • Smoking
  • Structural deformities of the heart
  • Thyroid abnormalities or problems

Diagnosing arrhythmias

Our team of electrophysiologists uses the latest technologies to evaluate your heart from every angle. This helps us make the most accurate diagnosis and develop a treatment plan. Our diagnostic testing for arrhythmias may include:

  • 24-hour Holter and event monitoring
  • 3D mapping
  • Echocardiography
  • EP studies
  • Implantable loop electrocardiogram (EKG) and recording to improve accuracy of monitoring
  • Signal-averaged EKG testing
  • Stress testing
  • Tilt table testing to detect neurocardiac syncope
  • Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)

EP studies

We conduct EP studies to determine the source of cardiac rhythm problems. It allows the doctor to accurately diagnose and appropriately treat a patient’s irregular heart rhythm.

Our state-of-the-art catheterization laboratories (cath labs) are equipped with the latest technology and staffed with fellows of the Heart Rhythm Society, the most prestigious destination for electrophysiologists worldwide.

Treating arrhythmias

Depending on the type of heart rhythm disorder you have, your treatment may include:

We are also proud to offer our patients multiple, advanced heart arrhythmia treatment options, including:

  • Cardioversion—This procedure involves a prescribed electrical energy shock used to convert the abnormal heart rhythm.
  • Catheter ablation—This procedure delivers radiofrequency energy directly to the area causing the rhythm problem. It can be used to treat AFib, AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT), VT and Wolf Parkinson White syndrome.
  • Convergent procedure­—This procedure creates small scars on the back of your heart ("electrical-anatomic mapping") to stop the electrical activity causing AFib.
  • Cryoballoon ablation—This minimally invasive procedure treats AFib using a catheter approach to treat the electrical triggers that are causing irregularity in the heartbeat.
  • Dual-chamber systems—Provides patients with access to the benefits of both dual-chamber and single-chamber implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) in a single-lead device.
  • Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and pacemakers—These battery-operated devices are implanted under the skin to help regulate heart rhythm.
  • Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) implant—This treatment reduces AFib stroke risk and may eliminate the need for blood thinners in people with non-valvular AFib.
  • Left atrial appendage ligation—This noninvasive procedure is for AFib patients and can help reduce the risk of stroke when patients are unable to take blood thinners.
  • Radiofrequency ablation—Considered the "gold standard" for treating AFib, this procedure uses radiofrequency to ensure cells are unable to electrically conduct irregular signals through the heart.
If you have palpitations associated with chest pain, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, fainting or breaking out in a cold sweat, call 911.