Diagnosing Arrhythmias

Your care at North Jersey Electrophysiology Associates may include careful testing and screening to make an accurate diagnosis.

Electrocardiogram

Often called an “EKG” or “ECG” for short, an electrocardiogram measures your heart’s electrical activity. It can reveal signs of heart disease and help predict a heart attack or confirm that a heart attack has occurred. During an EKG, a health care technician places sensors on your chest, arms, and legs. The sensors are connected to an electrocardiogram machine, which creates a three-dimensional map of your heart’s electrical rhythm. You simply lie still while the map is made; EKGs are painless and noninvasive. 

Electrophysiologic Testing

We use this test to find out what part of your heart is causing an abnormal heart rhythm. During the procedure, we insert a very small tube — a catheter — into a blood vessel through your arm, groin, or neck, and extend it to your heart. We use the catheter to apply very small shocks to the heart in different places to see which area is causing the issue.

Holter Monitoring or Ambulatory EKG

We use this test to record your heart’s electrical activity throughout the day. Unlike a regular EKG, which shows your heart’s activity at one moment in time, an ambulatory EKG shows us how your heart functions over a longer period of time and while you’re going about your daily routine. During the test you wear a Holter or mobile cardiac telemetry (MCT) monitor; these are portable devices with sensors that attach to your skin.

Implantable Loop Recorder

This device monitors the heart continuously for up to three years. We insert the loop recorder beneath your skin, and it records your heart rhythm and transmits the results back to us. It’s useful for capturing information about heart rhythm issues that happen sporadically. 

Tilt Table Test

This test looks for the causes of fainting or lightheadedness. We use it to measure how your blood pressure and heart rate change when you switch from lying down to standing. First, we position you flat on the table, then we raise it so you are in an upright position, all while you are secured so you’re protected in case you faint. You will remain upright for about 45 minutes as we monitor you for