Electrophysiology is the medical specialty that treats heart rhythm disorders. Thousands of electrophysiology procedures, including the implantation of pacemakers and defibrillators as well as certain types of ablations, have been performed at Piedmont Henry Hospital over the last 20 years. Atrial Fibrillation (A fib) is now the most common heart rhythm disorder.  Piedmont Henry Hospital is upgrading the electrophysiology lab this fall, allowing electrophysiologists to perform left heart procedures, also known as catheter ablations, to restore normal heartbeats and treat atrial fibrillation.

“By targeting the source of the irregular heart rhythm in the left atrium of the heart, we can get a normal rhythm to return,” said Akshay Gupta, an Electrophysiologist with Atlanta Heart. “We target the precise locations causing the problem and create obstacles to interrupt the electrical signals causing the disordered rhythm.”

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), AFib is an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), a condition in which the heart beats in an irregular, often fast, rhythm. When a heart is in AFib, it may not be pumping enough oxygen-rich blood out to the body, which can lead to other heart-related complications. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is estimated that 12.1 million people in the U.S. will have AFib within the next five years. While it is the most common type of arrhythmia, many people do not know they have AFib until they are at a routine doctor’s appointment or they are hospitalized for complications caused by AFib. Compared to people without, those with AFib, even without symptoms, have a five-times-greater risk of stroke, three-times-greater risk of heart failure, and two-times-greater risk of dementia.

“Some symptoms of AFib include shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, rapid heartbeat or pulse, skipped heartbeats, and confusion,” said Dr. Gupta. “Chest pain is another symptom. You must seek medical attention at an emergency room if you are experiencing chest pain. Timing can be critical.”

It is also important for people to control factors that may increase their risk of having AFib; such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and sleep apnea, among others.

Piedmont Henry’s upgraded electrophysiology lab is scheduled to open in November. The hospital’s $212 million tower expansion project is slated to open in June of 2026. Both projects showcase Piedmont Henry’s commitment to transforming healthcare for area residents and making a positive difference in every life they touch.