An estimated 2.7 million people in the United States experience frequent heart palpitations and other symptoms of atrial fibrillation. At Perloff Cardiovascular Care, David Perloff, MD, PA, offers diagnostic testing services at the office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to better understand the root cause of atrial fibrillation. Dr. Perloff customizes treatment plans to relieve your symptoms and reduce your risk for serious heart-related complications, so you can live a long and healthy life. To schedule a diagnostic evaluation for atrial fibrillation, call Perloff Cardiovascular Care or book an appointment online today.
Atrial fibrillation describes an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) that can increase your risk for potentially life-threatening issues like stroke, blood clots, and heart failure.
A healthy heart contracts and relaxes at regular intervals. When you have atrial fibrillation, the atria (upper chambers) beat irregularly. This makes it difficult for your heart to pump blood into the ventricles (lower chambers).
If a blood clot forms and breaks off, it can travel into your bloodstream and lead to a stroke. Atrial fibrillation can also weaken your heart muscle and ultimately lead to heart failure.
Risk factors for developing atrial fibrillation include:
Your risk for atrial fibrillation also increases as you get older.
You can have atrial fibrillation without experiencing any symptoms. However, if your condition remains untreated, you may have:
Your symptoms might be occasional, or they can persist. To reduce your risk for complications from atrial fibrillation, you should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Perloff Cardiovascular Care without delay.
To confirm that your symptoms relate to atrial fibrillation, Dr. Perloff may recommend in-office heart tests like an electrocardiogram that evaluate the electrical signals in your heart. He also uses echocardiogram technology to assess your heart’s structures.
In some cases, you might need to wear a Holter monitor, a device that records your heart’s activity while you go about your usual routine. The monitor will record important details about your heart over several days.
Once he understands your condition, Dr. Perloff creates a personalized treatment plan to improve your heart’s rhythm and relieve the persistent symptoms of atrial fibrillation.
To reset the rhythm of your heart, you might need an electrical cardioversion procedure, which delivers an electrical shock into your heart. The shock briefly interferes with your heart’s activity to restore a healthy heartbeat.
You might also need to take blood-thinning medications to reduce your risk for blood clots and stroke. Additional medications may be necessary to prevent additional episodes of atrial fibrillation.
When conservative therapies aren’t enough to treat your condition, you might need surgery. Dr. Perloff offers catheter ablation procedures to destroy heart tissue that is contributing to an irregular heartbeat.
Schedule a diagnostic evaluation for atrial fibrillation symptoms by calling Perloff Cardiovascular Care or by booking a consultation online today.
