What Is an Electrophysiologist?

Electrophysiology is a subspecialty of cardiovascular medicine that concentrates on testing for, diagnosing, and treating conditions involving arrhythmias, or irregular heart rhythms. An electrophysiologist, also known as a cardiac electrophysiologist, or cardiac EP, examines the heart's electrical system that is responsible for sending an electrical signal through your cells to regulate your heart rate and rhythm. If you're in the Houston, TX area, Mobitz Heart and Rhythm Center's electrophysiologist Dr. Alireza Nazeri can help. 

What Conditions Does an Electrophysiologist Treat?

An electrophysiologist, like Dr. Nazeri in Houston, TX, may test for, diagnose, and treat conditions such as:

• Bradycardia: a slow heartbeat
• Ventricular Tachycardia: a fast heartbeat
• Atrial fibrillation: a palpitating, fluttery heartbeat
• Cardiac arrest: an abruptly stopped heartbeat
• Supraventricular tachycardia: a sudden, fast heartbeat
• Ventricular fibrillation: fluttering of the heart muscle
• Heart failure: difficulty for the heart to pump an adequate amount of blood to the body
• Cardiac channel diseases: inherited cardiac diseases as the result of mutations in genes
• Other arrhythmias and heart conditions

Read on to learn how electrophysiology tests are performed, and when you should see an electrophysiologist for your cardiac health.

Electrophysiology Tests

An electrophysiologist will test for the conditions above by performing an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), an echocardiogram, or via other electrophysiology studies (EPS). 

How are these tests performed?

ECG/EKG

An electrophysiologist performs invasive, painless ECGs or EKGs by attaching 12 sticky patches with sensors called electrodes to your chest and limbs. These electrodes connect to a monitor which records electrical signals that examine your heartbeat. After analyzing the information, a computer displays your heart waves. 

Echocardiogram

An electrophysiologist like Dr.Nazeri in Houston, TX, performs an echocardiogram when they place a transducer on your chest and aim it at your heart. The transducer will then transmit and receive sound waves from the heart, which a computer will then turn into a picture of the heart. 

EPS

An electrophysiologist will insert three to five electrode catheters into your blood vessel through your groin, arm, or neck, leading to your heart. The electrophysiologist will use these specialized wires to send electrical signals to your heart to record your heart's electrical activity. 

Conclusion

Electrophysiology experts, like Dr. Nazeri of Mobitz Heart and Rhythm Center in Houston, TX, can test, diagnose, and treat various heart conditions. Do you think you have a heart issue? Contact Dr. Nazeri now, and he'll help you get your heart back to a healthy beat. Call (713) 909-3166 today.