About this topic
Your heart has an electrical system that controls each heartbeat. The signal starts at the top of the heart and moves to the bottom. This signal tells your heart to squeeze and pump blood. The signal repeats with each heartbeat. A problem or hold-up in the signal can cause an abnormal heartbeat. With an abnormal heartbeat, the heart may beat too fast or too slow. It may also beat in an irregular pattern. These are called arrhythmias. If they are not treated right away, the abnormal heart rhythms may lead to serious problems. Some of them are heart attack, stroke, and cardiac arrest. To prevent these problems, your doctor may suggest a cardioversion. ‚
Cardioversion is done to change an abnormal heart rhythm into a normal heart rhythm. Cardioversion is used to treat very fast or irregular heartbeats. It is done using an energy shock or with drugs. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Get lots of rest. Sleep when you feel tired. Avoid doing tiring activities.
- Ask your doctor when you may go back to your normal activities like driving or working.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- Your doctor may want you to have more blood tests to watch your condition.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Prevent blood clots
- Keep a heartbeat normal
Will physical activity be limited?
You may have to limit your activities. Talk to your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. You may have to avoid tiring activities that may make your heart beat fast. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Pain and bruising on the area where the electrodes were attached
- Arrhythmias get worse
- Blood clot
When do I need to call the doctor?
Activate the emergency medical system right away if you have signs of a heart attack or stroke. Call 911 in the United States or Canada. The sooner treatment begins, the better your chances for recovery. Call for emergency help right away if you have: ‚
- Signs of heart attack:
- Chest pain
- Trouble breathing
- Fast heartbeat
- Feeling dizzy
- Signs of stroke:
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
Call your doctor if you have: ‚
- Shortness of breath
- Fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills
- Very bad muscle pain or weakness
- Very bad dizziness
- Very upset stomach or throwing up
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you when I can go back to my normal activities.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have signs of a heart attack or stroke.
Where can I learn more?
American Heart Association ‚
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Arrhythmia/PreventionTreatmentofArrhythmia/Cardioversion_UCM_447318_Article.jsp ‚
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute ‚
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/crv/ ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚