Heart Rhythm Disorders Center - Edmonds, WA
Edmonds Cardiologist Doctors for Heart Rhythm DisordersType of Physician: Cardiologist What is a Cardiologist? A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners are expert in diseases of the heart, lungs and blood vessels. They consult with surgeons on heart surgery, perform diagnostic procedures, and manage complex conditions such as heart attacks and arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeat). Specialty: Cardiology Common Name: Heart Doctor Cardiologist Doctors in Edmonds * Stevens Cardiology Group  Stevens Cardiology Group  Stevens Cardiology Group  Stevens Cardiology Group  Stevens Cardiology Group  Stevens Cardiology Group  Internal Medicine & Cardiology  Pacific Medical Centers  Summit Cardiology  Summit Cardiology  Summit Cardiology  Summit Cardiology  Summit Cardiology  Summit Cardiology  Summit Cardiology  Summit Cardiology  Summit Cardiology  Summit Cardiology  UW Medicine Regional Heart Center Alderwood  UW Medicine Regional Heart Center Alderwood  UWMC Women's Health Care Center  UWMC Cardiovascular Clinic  UWMC Cardiovascular Clinic  UWMC Cardiovascular Clinic  UWMC Cardiovascular Clinic  UWMC Cardiovascular Clinic  UWMC Cardiovascular Clinic  UWMC Cardiovascular Clinic  UWMC Cardiovascular Clinic  UWMC Cardiovascular Clinic  UWMC Nuclear Medicine  UWMC Cardiovascular Clinic  UWMC Cardiovascular Clinic  UWMC Cardiovascular Clinic  UWMC Cardiovascular Clinic  UWMC Cardiovascular Clinic  UWMC Cardiovascular Clinic  UW Medical Center Hospital Services  Seattle Childrens Hospital Heart Center  UWMC Cardiovascular Clinic  UWMC Cardiovascular Clinic  UWMC Cardiovascular Clinic  UWMC Cardiovascular Clinic  UWMC Cardiovascular Clinic  UWMC Cardiovascular Clinic  UW Medical Center Hospital Services  Seattle Cancer Care Alliance  Seattle Cardiology  Seattle Cardiology  Seattle Cardiology  Seattle Cardiology  Seattle Cardiology  Group Health Cardiology Clinic & Consultative Internal Medicine  Group Health Cardiology Clinic & Consultative Internal Medicine  Robert G Thompson Jr. MD  Group Health Cardiology Clinic & Consultative Internal Medicine  Virginia Mason Heart Institute  Virginia Mason Heart Institute  The Polyclinic Cardiology  Virginia Mason Heart Institute  Virginia Mason Heart Institute  Virginia Mason Heart Institute  Virginia Mason Heart Institute  The Polyclinic Cardiology  Pacific Medical Centers  Harborview Medical Center Cardiology Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Cardiology Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Cardiology Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Cardiology Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Cardiology Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Cardiology Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Cardiology Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Cardiology Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Cardiology Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Cardiology Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Cardiology Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Cardiology Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Cardiology Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Cardiology Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Cardiology Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Cardiology Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Cardiology Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Cardiology Clinic  Harborview Medical Center Cardiology Clinic  The Polyclinic Cardiology  The Polyclinic Cardiology  The Polyclinic Cardiology  Seattle Cardiology  Seattle Cardiology  Minor & James Medical Group PLLC  Swedish Heart & Vascular Clinic  The Polyclinic Cardiology  The Polyclinic Cardiology  Seattle Cardiology  Swedish Heart & Vascular Clinic  Swedish Heart & Vascular Clinic  Swedish Heart & Vascular Clinic  Swedish Heart & Vascular Clinic  Minor & James Medical Group PLLC  Swedish Heart & Vascular Clinic Edmonds, WashingtonUpcoming Local Events2012-06-02
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Abnormal Heart Rhythms (Heart Rhythm Disorders)Read the Abnormal Heart Rhythms (Heart Rhythm Disorders) article » How does the heart work?The heart is a two stage electric pump whose job it is to circulate blood through the body. There is a group of cells that serve as an automatic pacemaker located in the atrium that generates an electrical current that spreads to the heart muscle cells to generate a coordinated squeeze, so that the pump can function. The heart has four chambers, the right and left atria (singular= atrium) and the right and left ventricles. The right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs while the left side pumps it to the rest of the body. Blood from the body is collected in the right atrium and is pushed into the right ventricle with a small beat of the upper chamber of the heart. The right ventricle then pumps the blood to the lungs to pick up oxygen. They oxygen-rich blood returns to the left atrium where the small atrial beat pushes it to the left ventricle. The left ventricle is much thicker than the right because it needs to be strong enough to send blood to the entire body. There are special cells in the right atrium called the sino-atrial node (SA node) that generate the first electrical impulse, allowing the heart to beat in a coordinated way. The SA node is considered the "natural pacemaker" of the heart. This pacemaker function begins the electrical impulse which follows pathways in the atrial walls, almost like wiring, to a junction box between the atrium and ventricle called the atrio-ventricular node (AV node). This electric signal causes muscle cells in both atria to contract at once. At the AV node, the electric signal waits for a very short time, usually one to two tenths of a second, to allow blood pumped from the atria to fill up the ventricles. The signal then passes through electric bundles in the ventricle walls to allow these chambers to contract, again in a coordinated way, and pump blood to the lungs and body. The SA node generates an e... Read the Abnormal Heart Rhythms (Heart Rhythm Disorders) article » Recommended Reading Related to Abnormal Heart Rhythms (Heart Rhythm Disorders)Introduction to fainting (syncope)Fainting, "blacking out," or syncope is the temporary loss of consciousness followed by the return to full wakefulness. This loss of consciousness may be accompanied by loss of muscle tone that can result in falling or slumping over. To better understand why fainting can occur; it is helpful to explain why somebody is awake. The brain has multiple parts, including two hemispheres, the cerebellum, and the brain stem. The brain requires blood flow to provide oxygen and glucose (sugar) to its cells to sustain life. For the body to be awake, an area known as the reticular activating system located in the brain stem needs to be turned on, and at least one brain hemisphere needs to be functioning. For fainting or syncope to occur, either the reticular activating system needs to lose its blood supply, or both hemispheres of the brain need to be deprived of blood, oxygen, or glucose. If blood sugar levels... Other Related Heart Rhythm Disorders ArticlesEmergency Contact for Edmonds
Nearby Edmonds Hospitals *Stevens Hospital Northwest Hospital & Medical Center Kindred Hospital Seattle Swedish Medical Center Ballard Campus Fairfax Hospital Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center Evergreen Hospital Medical Center University of Washington Medical Center Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Group Health Central Hospital Providence Everett Medical Center Pacific Campus Virginia Mason Medical Center Swedish Medical Center First Hill Campus Harborview Medical Center Swedish Medical Center Cherry Hill Campus Providence Everett Medical Center Colby Campus Overlake Hospital Medical Center Group Health Eastside Hospital VA Puget Sound Health Care System Valley General Hospital West Seattle Psychiatric Hospital Harrison Medical Center Schick Shadel Hospital Highline Medical Center Specialty Campus The Regional Hospital for Respiratory & Complex Care Highline Medical Center Main Campus Valley Medical Center Jefferson Healthcare Cascade Valley Hospital Whidbey General Hopital Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Abnormal Heart Rhythms (Heart Rhythm Disorders) by Our Doctors
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Related Diseases & Conditions
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Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial fibrillation is an abnormality in the heart rhythm which involves irregular and often rapid beating of the heart.
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High Blood Pressure
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Heart Attack
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Palpitations
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Stroke
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Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome
- Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is a condition in which abnormal electrical pathways in the heart cause arrhythmias. Symptoms of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome include tachycardia, dizziness, palpitations, fainting, and shortness of breath. Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is a common cause of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is caused by mutations in the PRKAG2 gene.
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Congestive Heart Failure
- Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart's function as a pump is inadequate to meet the body's needs. A poor blood supply resulting from congestive heart failure may cause the body's organ systems to fail, leading to a weakened heart muscle and fluid accumulation in the lungs and body tissue. There are many diseases that can impair pumping efficiency and symptoms of congestive heart failure including fatigue, diminished exercise capacity, shortness of breath, and swelling. Treatments include lifestyle modifications, medications, heart transplant, and therapy.
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Fainting (Syncope)
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Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs)
- Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are premature heartbeats originating from the ventricles of the heart. PVCs are premature because they occur before the regular heartbeat. There are many causes of premature ventricular contractions to include: heart attack, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, mitral valve prolapse, hypokalemia, hypoxia, medications, excess caffeine, drug abuse, and myocarditis.
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Low Blood Pressure
- Low blood pressure, also referred to as hypotension, is blood pressure that is so low that it causes symptoms or signs due to the low flow of blood through the arteries and veins. Some of the symptoms of low blood pressure include light-headedness, dizziness, or even fainting if not enough blood is getting to the brain. Diseases and medications can also cause low blood pressure. When the flow of blood is too low to deliver enough oxygen and nutrients to vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidneys; the organs do not function normally and may be permanently damaged.
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Biorhythms
- Biologic rhythms, or biorhythms, are how our bodies respond to the regular phases of the sun, moon, and seasons. A medical chronobiologist studies how the "body clock" or biorhythms affect diseases and how the body clock responds to treatment of diseases and conditions at different times of the day.
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Alpha Thalassemia
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Heart Attack Prevention Overview
- Heart attacks are the major causes of unexpected, sudden death among men and women. A heart attack is also a significant cause of heart failure. Learn the risk factors for heart attack such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and other heart conditions. Lowering your risk factor, lifestyle changes, and in some cases medication are the most effective way of preventing a heart attack.
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Stroke Prevention
- Stroke is the third leading killer in the United States. Some of the warning signs of stroke include sudden confusion, trouble seeing with one or both eyes, dizziness, loss of balance, and more. Stroke prevention and reatable risk factors for stroke include lowering high blood pressure, quit smoking, heart disease, diabetes control and prevention.
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Sleepwalking
- Sleepwalking is a condition in which an individual walks or does other activities while asleep. Factors associated with sleepwalking include genetic, environmental, and physiological. Episodes of sleepwalking may include quiet walking to agitated running. Conditions that may have similar symptoms of sleepwalking, but are not include night terrors, confusional arousals, and nocturnal seizures. Treatment of sleepwalking generally include preventative measures. Medication may be prescribed if necessary.
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Sudden Cardiac Arrest
- Sudden cardiac arrest is an unexpected, sudden death caused by sudden cardiac arrest (loss of heart function). Causes and risk factors of sudden cardiac arrest include (not inclusive): abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias), previous heart attack, coronary artery disease, smoking, high cholesterol, Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation after a heart attack, congenital heart defects, history of fainting, and heart failure, obesity, diabetes, and drug abuse. Treatment of sudden cardiac arrest is an emergency, and action must be taken immediately.
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Heart Failure
- Heart failure is caused by many conditions including coronary artery disease, heart attack, cardiomyopathy, and conditions that overwork the heart. Symptoms of heart failure include congested lungs, fluid and water retention, dizziness, fatigue and weakness, and rapid or irregular heartbeats.
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How the Heart Works
- The heart is a very important organ in the body. It is responsible for continuously pumping oxygen and nutrient-rich blood throughout your body to sustain life. It is a fist-sized muscle that beats (expands and contracts) 100,000 times per day, pumping a total of five or six quarts of blood each minute, or about 2,000 gallons per day.
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Loeys-Dietz Syndrome
- Loeys-Dietz syndrome is a syndrome is an inherited genetic syndrome characterized by aortic aneurysms in children. Children with Loeys-Dietz syndrome are at a greater risk of dying from the aortic aneurysms, because the aneurysms are prone to rupture at a smaller size than other aneurysms. Physical characteristics of the syndrome include early fusion of the skull bones, widely spaced eyes, and split uvula or cleft palate. Treatment includes surgical repair fo the aneurysms.
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Shock (Medical)
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Coma
- Coma is the inability to waken or react to the surrounding environment. The Glasgow Coma Scale is frequently used to measure the depth of coma. Causes of coma include trauma, bleeding, edema, lack of oxygen, poisoning, or hypoglycemia. Prognosis for a patient in a coma depends on the cause of the coma.
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Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia (PSVT)
- Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) is an abnormal conduction of electricity in particular areas of the heart. PSVT was referred to at one time as paroxysmal atrial tachycardia or PAT, however, the term PAT is reserved for as specific heart condition. Symptoms of PSVT include weakness, shortness of breath, chest pressure, lightheadedness, and palpitations. PSVT is treated with medications or procedures that return the heart to its normal electrical pattern.
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Mitochondrial Disease
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Low Potassium (Hypokalemia)
- Potassium is an essential electrolyte necessary for cell function. Low potassium (hypokalemia) may be caused by diarrhea, vomiting, ileostomy, colon polyps, laxative use, diuretics, elevated corticosteroid levels, renal artery stenosis, and renal tubular acidosis, or other medications. Symptoms of low potassium include weakness, aches, and cramps of the muscles. Treatment is dependant upon the cause of the low potassium (hypokalemia).
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Pulmonary Embolism (Blood Clot in the Lung)
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Heart Disease
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Hypothermia
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Dizziness
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Hypercalcemia (Elevated Calcium Levels)
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