Heart rhythm problems can cause very troublesome symptoms and dominate an individual’s (and their family’s) life. My aim is to find the best solutions to these problems. For any one person the best treatment is a personal decision. There are many choices from medication to ablation and in some patients a pacemaker. Together we can explore these options and find the best answer for you.
Atrial Fibrillation (AF)
Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm problem affecting 2% of the population. AF gets more common with age. Only 1 in 200 people are affected under the age of 60 years but up to 1 in 5 of those in their 80's have AF.
AF does not always cause symptoms so it is important for people to know their own pulse. About 1 in 3 AF sufferers will have significant symptoms but these can be particularly troublesome for some people.
The aims of AF treatment are to reduce the risk of stroke with anticoagulants and to alleviate symptoms. I specialise in the assessment and treatment of AF symptoms, and have greatly improved the quality of life of many patients. Ablation has a key role in the AF treatment I offer.
Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) affects about 1 in 100 people. The symptoms are intermittent and often hard to capture on an ECG. Many patients have symptoms for years before the diagnosis is made. I have many ways in which to make this diagnosis and SVT can be very effectively treated by ablation.
Syncope
Palpitations
Syncope, otherwise known as passing out or fainting, affects up to 1 in 5 people through their lifetime. Many causes are not serious but on occasion syncope can be the initial presentation of a serious underlying heart condition. It is important to be assessed by a cardiologist who specialises in this area.
For intermittent symptoms assessment with an implantable ECG monitor such as the LINQ (as above) is recommended by NICE.
Palpitations are very common. This is an awareness of the heartbeat and often associated with either irregularity, missed beats or heart racing. Many causes are not serious (although they can be concerning to patients) but sometimes there can be a significant underlying heart condition. As a heart rhythm expert I am ideally placed to offer an expert assesment.