Heart Rhythm Disorders Center - Gainesville, FL
Gainesville 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 Gainesville * James B DeStephens MD PA  University of Florida Shands Hospital Cardiology  University of Florida Shands Hospital Cardiology  University of Florida Shands Hospital Cardiology  University of Florida Shands Hospital Cardiology  University of Florida Shands Hospital Cardiology  University of Florida Shands Hospital Cardiology  University of Florida Shands Hospital Cardiology  University of Florida Shands Hospital Cardiology  University of Florida Shands Hospital Cardiology  University of Florida Shands Hospital Cardiology  University of Florida Shands Hospital Cardiology  University of Florida Shands Hospital Cardiology  University of Florida Shands Hospital Cardiology  University of Florida Shands Hospital Cardiology  University of Florida Shands Hospital Cardiology  University of Florida Shands Hospital Cardiology  University of Florida Shands Hospital Cardiology  University of Florida Shands Hospital Cardiology  University of Florida Shands Hospital Cardiology  University of Florida Shands Hospital Cardiology  Cardiology Associates of Gainesville  Cardiology Associates of Gainesville  Cardiology Associates of Gainesville  Cardiology Associates of Gainesville  Cardiology Associates of Gainesville  Cardiology Associates of Gainesville  Cardiology Associates of Gainesville  Cardiology Associates of Gainesville  Interventional Cardiologists of Gainsville  Interventional Cardiologists of Gainsville  Interventional Cardiologists of Gainsville  Interventional Cardiologists of Gainsville  Interventional Cardiologists of Gainsville  The Center For Cardiac & Thoracic Surgery  Cardiovascular Health Consultants  Cardiovascular Health Consultants  Marion Medical Associates PA  Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida  Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida  Ocala Family Medical Center  Cardiovascular Institute of Central Florida  Lorven Heart & Vascular Institute PA  Florida Cardiology PA  Florida Cardiology PA  Florida Cardiology PA  Florida Cardiology PA  Central Florida Heart Center & Ocala Heart Clinic  William F Dresen MD  Marion Heart Associates  Central Florida Heart Center & Ocala Heart Clinic  Paul L Urban MD  Central Florida Heart Group  Ali Nasser MD  Charles Varghese MD  Abdul L Bhatti MD  Mohammad Kaleem MD  Putnam Heart Center  Putnam Heart Center  Ankem Ravindra MD  Institute of Cardiovascular Medicine  First Coast Cardiovascular Institute PA  Southern Heart Group PA  Southern Heart Group PA  Southern Heart Group PA  Southern Heart Group PA  L Gayle Martin MD  Orange Park Internal Medicine  Hossein Ramezani MD  Heart Associates  Heart Associates  Heart Associates  Maxfelonilo A Domingo MD  Diagnostic Cardiology Associates PA  Maxfelonilo A Domingo MD  Lake Heart & Cancer Medical Center  Citrus Cardiology  Citrus Cardiology Consultants  Citrus Cardiology  Citrus Cardiology Consultants  Citrus Cardiology Consultants  Stanley & Williams MDs  Stanimir Stantchev MD  Southern Heart Group PA  Southern Heart Group PA  First Coast Cardiovascular Institute PA  Diagnostic Cardiology Associates PA  Diagnostic Cardiology Associates PA  Diagnostic Cardiology Associates PA  Diagnostic Cardiology Associates PA  Diagnostic Cardiology Associates PA  Diagnostic Cardiology Associates PA  Diagnostic Cardiology Associates PA  Diagnostic Cardiology Associates PA  Diagnostic Cardiology Associates PA  Diagnostic Cardiology Associates PA  Diagnostic Cardiology Associates PA  Diagnostic Cardiology Associates PA  Jacksonville Heart Center  Southern Heart Group PA Gainesville, FloridaUpcoming 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 Gainesville
Nearby Gainesville Hospitals *Shands at AGH Malcolm Randall VA Medical Center Shands at the University of Florida North Florida Regional Medical Center Shands Rehabilitation Hospital Shands at Vista Nature Coast Regional Hospital Shands at Starke Lake Butler Hospital Hand Surgery Center Kindred Hospital Ocala Munroe Regional Medical Center Ocala Regional Medical Center 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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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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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)
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Low Blood Pressure
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Biorhythms
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Alpha Thalassemia
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Heart Attack Prevention Overview
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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
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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
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Shock (Medical)
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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)
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Pulmonary Embolism (Blood Clot in the Lung)
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Hypothermia
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Dizziness
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Hypercalcemia (Elevated Calcium Levels)
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