The electrophysiology team at Norton Heart & Vascular Institute has implanted the city’s first dual chamber leadless pacemaker. What makes this device unique is its size, absence of leads that connect the device to a controller and ability to implant it with a minimally invasive procedure. The Aveir DR consists of two leadless pacemakers that…
Syncope and seizure both can cause a loss of consciousness, but there are important differences. Syncope — commonly referred to as passing out or fainting — often results from a drop in blood pressure. Seizures, on the other hand, are caused by abnormal brain activity. The reason behind the abnormal activity may be epilepsy, stroke,…
When your heart is beating too fast, the heart doesn’t have time to fill up with the normal amount of blood between beats. As a result, you might feel lightheaded or dizzy. The medical term for an abnormally fast heart rate is tachycardia. Two types of tachycardia are supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and ventricular tachycardia (V-tach)….
Heart palpitation, or a rapid heartbeat, can bring on dizziness and even fainting and can be a symptom of a potentially serious heart condition. When the fast heart rate begins in the upper heart chambers, it is called supraventricular tachycardia (soop-rah-ven-TRICK’-yoo-lar TAK-ih-KAR-dee-ah), also known as SVT. When it starts in the lower chambers, it’s called…
A normal heart rhythm is 60 to 100 beats per minute. If your heart is beating too fast, too slow or irregularly, you may have an arrhythmia. An abnormal heart rhythm doesn’t always require treatment. However, if the arrhythmia is causing significant symptoms or putting your health at risk, an electrophysiologist can help. One common…
Fingernails are good for scratching itches, but they are also a window into your health. If the skin under your fingernails has a blue or purple tinge, you might need to see a health care provider or a heart specialist. Why are my nails blue? The medical term for blue nail beds is cyanosis. Cyanosis…
Commotio cordis causes the heart to stop beating after taking a blow to a specific spot on the chest from a hard object striking at a precise time during the heartbeat, according to a heart rhythm specialist at Norton Heart & Vascular Institute. “It’s very rare because of all of these things that have to…
You may be practicing social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, but what if you have a heart condition that needs to be monitored? The answer is in telehealth. One area that has gotten quickly up to speed on remote visits is the Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Heart Rhythm Center led by Kent E. Morris,…
You could say that for Sofya Kuznetsov, M.D., cardiology is in her blood. Her mother was a cardiologist in her native Russia. “I saw how grateful her patients were. Some of them became her lifelong friends,” said Dr. Kuznetsov, a cardiac electrophysiologist with Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Heart Rhythm Center. As an electrophysiologist, Dr….