eart HHEALTH
When Your Heart
I
skips a beat
By cyndi strayer
t has been said that two million Americans experience what they describe as irregular and/or a forceful beating of the heart. This sensation of the heart beating faster than normal or the feeling of it skipping or stopping a beat are symptoms commonly referred to as heart palpitations. Daniel Hemsworth, M.D., a board certified Electrophysiologist with Wheaton Franciscan’s The Wisconsin Heart Hospital in Wauwatosa, St. Joseph Hospital in Milwaukee and Elmbrook Memorial Hospital in Brookfield, said, “Anybody can have heart palpitations.” An Electrophysiologist is a cardiologist that specializes in the management and treatment of the heart’s electrical activities. This requires an additional two or more years of study and training beyond cardiology. Cardiac electrophysiologists are trained to perform interventional cardiac electrophysiology studies as well as surgical device implantations, such as pacemakers and defibrillators. Although anyone can have palpitations for a variety of reasons, such as exercise, anxiety, stress, etc., palpitations become more concerning when they become more frequent. “When a person’s electrical signals within the heart become abnormal,” says Dr. Hemsworth, “this is known as arrhythmia. Sometimes, a person’s heart beats too slowly. For some, it is too fast or disorganized.” Some common causes of arrhythmia include underlying heart disease, high blood pressure, heart valve problems, a weakened heart and obstructive sleep apnea. Some other causes may include heavy alcohol use, caffeine use, abnormal thyroid function and certain medications. “Palpitations can be purely electrical in a normal healthy person,” explains Dr. Hemsworth. “Then again, for those with other known causes they are at higher risk for other problems, especially since arrhythmia can be a result of underlined heart disease or the arrhythmia can cause problems with the heart’s functions.” skips a beat cont. on page 10
8 | WISCONSIN WOMAN February 2013