Cardiac Electrophysiology with TidalHealth

SALISBURY, Md. – In this week’s Health Beat, brought to you by TidalHealth, WMDT spoke with Dr. Akhil Parashar, a cardio electrophysiologist with TidalHealth.

Electrophysiology is subspecialty of cardiology that focuses on the treatment of heart rhythm disorders.

“Just like our home has electrical wiring that controls each and every appliance,” says Dr. Parashar. “Believe it or not, our heart also has its own electrical system, which controls every heartbeat. When that system misfires too fast, too slow, or irregularly, then we have a problem.”

Dr. Parashar tells us that his department uses specialized equipment to diagnose and map the electrical pathways of the heart. With this equipment, physicians can identify where the abnormal signals are coming from and how to treat them. Treatment can include medications and/or minimally invasive heart procedures.

Common symptoms of heart rhythm disorders include racing heartbeat or palpitations, lightheadedness, fainting, sudden onset shortness of breath and sometimes even chest pain. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you should contact your primary care doctor or a general cardiologist. In cases of emergency, always call 911.

“We are a part of a comprehensive heart team here at Title Health. Heart disease is rarely one dimensional,” Dr. Parashar says. “We usually treat the heart rhythm, but ultimately the goal is to treat the patient as a whole. And ultimately that leads to faster and more efficient procedures, faster recovery, and better long term outcomes.”