Vim & Vigor - Fall 2021 - 23

23
Having Fainting
Spells? See a
Cardiologist
Many people get heart palpitations.
Add in dizziness, and it becomes
concerning-but not urgent. Fainting,
however, is a major red flag, says UVA
Health cardiologist Jamie Bourque,
MD. This is what he told a friend,
Sharon Flynn, who mentioned after
church one day that she was having
occasional fainting spells and a racing
heart when she was at rest and
even while lying down to sleep. Flynn
took the doctor's advice and made
an appointment at UVA Heart and
Vascular Center.
After Flynn's first visit with Dr.
When to Be Concerned
If irregular heartbeats happen frequently
and without explanation, or
if they come along with other symptoms,
such as dizziness, shortness
of breath, chest pain or blackouts,
then it's time to call for help. Th ese
symptoms, especially in someone
with a personal or family history of
heart disease, should be evaluated
by a doctor, Osborne says.
Palpitations connected with
arrhythmia can cause other, more
serious problems, including atrial
fi brillation, tachycardia (an abnormally
fast heart rate), heart disease
and heart failure.
Health conditions such as overactive
thyroid, anemia and hypotension
(low blood pressure) also
can cause irregular heartbeats.
" If you have a heart rhythm
problem associated with dizziness,
lightheadedness or passing out,
that needs to be checked out immediately,
in an emergency room, "
Osborne says. " If you have a heart
rhythm problem and don't have one
of those symptoms, it still needs to
be checked out, but it's probably not
as urgent. " *
Fixing Her
Heart Problem
for Good
When Sharon Flynn learned
her fainting spells were
caused by a heart rhythm
disorder, she could have
opted to take a daily
medication. Instead, she
chose to address the root
cause with an outpatient
procedure. Learn more
at uvahealth.com/
heart-disorder.
Bourque, she was given a Holter
monitor device that tracked her heart
rhythm continuously for 30 days. The
monitor uncovered an abnormally
fast heart rhythm. Flynn then had an
ultrasound of the heart that showed
she had a low cardiac output. She
underwent additional testing that provided
details about what exactly was
causing the abnormal cardiac output,
low blood pressure and irregular heart
rhythm: One part of her heart was
causing an irregular electrical signal
in the upper left chamber, Dr. Bourque
explains. He diagnosed supraventricular
tachycardia, a common and easily
treatable heart rhythm disorder, and
referred Flynn to a UVA Health rhythm
specialist, Andrew Darby, MD, who was
able to offer a fix for her condition and
resolve all of her symptoms.
About 35 out of 100,000 people will
develop this condition. It can happen
at any age, but it's particularly common
after age 50, and it isn't hereditary.
Symptoms vary with each person, but
you may experience a racing heart,
dizziness or lightheadedness, shortness
of breath, fainting and chest pain.
Supraventricular tachycardia isn't
life-threatening, but it can cause fainting
spells that lead to injuries and
trips to the emergency department.
Fortunately, the condition can be
treated and even prevented by eating
a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and
by getting regular exercise.
VIM & VIGOR FALL 2021
THIS AND PREVIOUS SPREAD: PHOTOS BY GETTY IMAGES
http://uvahealth.com/heart-disorder http://uvahealth.com/heart-disorder

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2021

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