Ablation therapy is a procedure that uses heat and cold energy to make tiny scars in the heart so that irregular electric signals are blocked and a typical heartbeat is restored. This method is used to treat issues with heart rhythm. Cardiac ablation is done using flexible tubes, which are also known as catheters. These thin tubes are inserted through arteries and veins. Mostly, ablation is done during cardiac surgery.

Symptoms of arrhythmias
Heart arrhythmias may or may not show any signs and symptoms. If your doctor notices an irregular heartbeat, you should get a detailed check-up. General symptoms of arrhythmias include:

• Chest Pain
• A fast or slow heartbeat
• Fluttering feeling in the chest
• Shortness of breath
• Fainting
• Sweating
• Anxiety
• Fatigue
• Dizziness

In case you feel that your heart is beating too fast or slow, you should make an appointment with your doctor at the earliest.

Causes of cardiac arrhythmias
The causes of cardiac arrhythmias are:

• Blocked arteries in the heart
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Heart attack
• Overactive thyroid gland
• Sleep apnea
• Excessive intake of caffeine
• Genetic
• Anxiety or stress
• Underactive thyroid gland
• Overactive thyroid gland

Treatment options
The treatment options available for cardiac arrhythmia are cardiac ablation, placing of a pacemaker, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, and coronary bypass surgery.

What is cardiac ablation?
It is a procedure that uses electrodes in the catheter to fix heart rhythm issues. As a general rule of your body, the electrical signals that help the organ to squeeze should follow a specific pathway through your cardiac muscles when your heart beats. If there is any issue in the impulse flow, it can cause an irregular heartbeat, known as arrhythmia. You might be suggested for ablation therapy if-

• Other therapies couldn’t help treat arrhythmias
• Undergone some serious side effects from other treatment methods
• There is a high risk of complications from arrhythmias
• The kind of arrhythmia reacts well to ablation

Different types of ablation procedures
As mentioned before, ablation uses heat or cold energy to scarred heart tissues. Your healthcare practitioner chooses the method that you are most comfortable with and is appropriate for your condition. During the procedure, you receive sedation so that you don’t feel extremes of heat or cold. The two different types of ablations include:

• Radiofrequency ablation
  This type is used to deliver heat energy to heart tissue.
• Cryoablation
  In this type, cold energy is used to freeze and scar cardiac tissues.

How do you prepare yourself for the therapy?
You might be asked to undergo certain tests to get a clear picture of your heart condition before your cardiac ablation therapy. You might even be asked to stop eating and drinking the night before your procedure.

What should you expect before the treatment?
An IV will be inserted into your forearm, and you will be given a sedative so that you can relax. The amount of sedation that will be given to you will depend on your specific arrhythmia.

• During the treatment
  A catheter is inserted through a blood vessel into your heart. The sensors that are present on the tip of the catheter are used to send electrical impulses to record your heart’s electrical activity. The healthcare practitioner then uses this information to determine the area causing your arrhythmias. This also helps decide the location at which ablation will be applied. This whole activity is known as the Electrophysiology study.
• After the therapy
  The procedure takes around three to six hours to complete. Then, you are taken to a recovery area, where you will be monitored. Depending on your condition, you are guided further. Avoid heavy lifting for a week if you feel sore after the procedure.

Advantages of ablation therapy
This is a minimally invasive procedure that doesn’t require you to stay in the hospital for too long. Ablation therapy can help restore normal heart function and even save your life.

Risks associated with catheter ablation
The chances of risks or complications post-ablation are very rare. Some possible risks can be-

• Blood clots
• Need for pacemaker implantation
• Stroke
• Bleeding and infection
• Damage to heart tissue and heart valves
• Damage to the vein from the catheter injury.

After ablation therapy, most people see improvements in their quality of life. But there is a possibility that the irregular heartbeat might return. If that happens, you might have to get the procedure repeated. The procedure usually has low risk involved, except in the case of a severe condition. This procedure has a more than 90% success rate and can save many people’s lives.