Heart Rhythm Disorders

If your heart sometimes beats too fast or slow, seek care from board-certified electrophysiologists in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia – doctors who treat arrhythmia, or unusual heart rhythm.

Trust Ballad Health’s skill in helping your heart beat steadily, so it can properly pump blood throughout your body.

Conditions We Treat

Turn to us when you need care for heart rhythm problems that affect the heart’s atria (upper chambers), ventricles (lower chambers) or sinus node (keeps the heart beating steadily).

Get information from our online health library about the following conditions:

• Atrial fibrillation
• Atrial flutter
• Premature ventricular contractions
• Sick sinus syndrome
• Sinus bradycardia
• Sinus tachycardia
• Supraventricular tachycardia
• Ventricular tachycardia
• Ventricular fibrillation

Heart Rhythm Tests

Your doctor may order one of these tests to see what condition you might have:

• Electrocardiogram (EKG) – Attaches painless electrodes to your skin to briefly measure your heart’s electrical signals
• Signal-averaged EKG – Records your heart’s electrical activity over about 20 minutes to give more detail than a tradditional EKG
• Holter monitoring – Connects a small device to electrodes on your chest to continuously record the heart’s rhythm for one or two days
• Cardiac event monitoring – Connects a small device to electrodes on your chest for up to 30 days to track the heart’s rhythm
• Loop recorder implantation – Places a small device under your skin to record details about your heartbeat over time
• Electrophysiology study – Threads tiny electrodes through blood vessels and up to the heart to test its electrical signals
• Tilt table test – Measures your heart rate and blood pressure as you lie on a table that tilts backward or forward

Arrhythmia Treatments & Services

Help restore a normal heartbeat by getting treatment your doctor recommends at Ballad Health:

• Radiofrequency ablation – Threads a miniature electrode through your blood vessels up to your heart to eliminate a tiny area of damaged tissue that causes arrhythmia
• Implantation of a cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) or pacemaker – Places a small device under your skin to steady your heartbeat long-term
• Cardioversion – Delivers a quick electric shock to your heart to reset its rhythm