HEALTH ON TIME Cardiac - Spring 2016

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cardiac HEALTH ON TIME

SPRING

Severe Arrhythmias Can Be Life-Threatening

SOLUTIONS EXIST TO DETECT AND MANAGE IRREGULAR HEART RHYTHMS

THE HUMAN HEART IS A PUMP designed to circulate blood in and out of the lungs and through the body. But what a pump! This small muscle beats 100,000 times a day, or the equivalent of about 2.5 billion heartbeats in an average lifetime. It adjusts its rate with exquisite precision, depending on how active we are, moment by moment. Unfortunately, heart rhythms can become abnormal, causing arrhythmias that might increase the risk of heart disease and sudden cardiac death. Severe arrhythmias can be life-threatening. Fortunately, new tests and treatments can effectively diagnose and control arrhythmias, preventing further complications. Here’s what you need to know about the risk and what can be done.

Normal heart Sinus node Normal electrical pathways Atrioventricular node

WHEN THE BEAT GOES WRONG

NORMAL HEART RHYTHM

CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA

The Heart’s Timekeeper. Arrhythmias take many Atrial Fibrillation different forms, from abnormally slow heartbeats, called bradycardia, to dangerously fast beats, Atrial fibrillation called tachycardia. Importantly, arrhythmias may impulses occur as premature atrial or ventricular beats, which are usually not serious. Chaotic signals When the two upper chambers beat erratically, blood doesn’t fully empty from the Rapid ventricular chambers. Some blood pools inside the le impulse atrium, increasing the risk of clots that can lead to strokes or obstruction of arteries. To help prevent this increased risk, patients with permanent or intermi ent atrial fibrillation are usually placed on anticoagulant drugs. Arrhythmias can also occur in the heart’s Atrial fibrillation is the most common form of arrhythmia, affecting about lower chambers, or ventricles. One rare but 3.4 million Americans. This dangerous arrhythmia increases the risk of dangerous ventricular arrhythmia is called blood clots and is responsible for 15 to 20 percent of ischemic strokes. long QT syndrome, which can result in rapid ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation of a special type called torsade des pointes. ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY SERVICES People with this We regularly provide a full spectrum of invasive, noninvasive syndrome are at increased risk of and consultative electrophysiology services. For an appointment, sudden cardiac death.

KNOW YOUR RISKS

SINUS BRADYCARDIA

VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA

call 706-721-2426 or visit augustahealth.org/cardio.

The Heart Knows For Augusta business owner, wife, mother and grandmother Gwen Fulcher Young, that May morning was just like any other – busy. She was off and running by 5 a.m., preparing for a morning meeting then a drive to an out-of-town conference. “I was very busy,� admitted Young. “I was very, very stressed, and being a type A plus personality, everything was intense.�

Although Young had suffered from a rapid heartbeat, or arrhythmia, since her 20s, she had always simply taken medication, and as soon as the symptoms abated, she would say, “‘I’m fine,’ and just try to go on with life.� But that morning, after giving Young warnings off and on over the years, her heart finally said, “stop.� “My heart was beating so hard that I could hardly breathe,� said Young. She made it through the meeting but went to her cardiologist’s office on her way out of town, where they told her, “You’re not going anywhere.� It turned out that Young’s heart was racing above 200 beats a minute, but even after a week of hospitalization, it simply wouldn’t calm down. So she was transferred GWEN’S STORY CONTINUES INSIDE

One of Gwen Fulcher Young’s many interests and talents is gardening.

To watch Gwen’s story and others’, visit augustahealth.org/stories. GRU-

Augusta University 1120 15th St. Augusta, GA 30912

NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY


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