An EP study or electrophysiology study is a procedure that helps to determine the heart’s electrical activity.

People with irregular heart beat also known as arrhythmias will require an electrophysiology study.

You should remain on fast for 12 hours before the procedure. However, you can take a few sips of water before 2 hours of an EP study.

It takes anywhere between two to six hours to complete an electrophysiology procedure.

EPS study is an outpatient procedure. You can return home on the same day of the procedure. However, the doctor might ask you to stay back based on your condition after an EPS study.

The soreness of the EPS procedure will remain for a few days. It is not suggested to drive a vehicle for at least one week after the procedure.

If your work isn’t strenuous, you can get back to work after 3-4 days of the procedure. However, ensure that you avoid excessive strain for the initial few days after the procedure.

The risks associated with the procedure are unlikely. However, in rarest of the rare cases, there could be bleeding or bruising at the site of catheter insertion and blood clots in lungs or legs.

You might feel slight pain at the catheter insertion site after the procedure is done. Do not involve yourself in lifting heavy weights or do strenuous work until your incision site is completely healed.

RFA or radiofrequency ablation is a common type of catheter ablation that is performed to determine several conditions that result in irregular heartbeat.

It is normal to experience some amount of pain after an RFA procedure. It might take up to two to three weeks of time until you find a noticeable decrease in the amount of pain.

The procedure takes about 30 minutes to complete and you will be awake the entire time

You may require to stay overnight in the hospital for your heart to monitor and adjust your medications.

A slight burning or flushing sensation can be felt during the procedure

You would require a routine blood test and an electrocardiogram before the procedure.

When one of the arteries in the heart gets blocked, it is treated by a procedure called angioplasty. In this procedure, a stent is placed in the artery to clear the blockage. This gets the blood flowing into the artery again.

Arteries carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body. Over time, they accumulate plaque which is made of fat deposits, calcium, cholesterol and other wastes.

Having high blood pressure, eating foods high in cholesterol, diabetes and smoking increase the chances of accumulation of plaque in the arteries.

As plaque slowly builds up in an artery, there are no signs of it. But, when the artery gets blocked, people experience:

• Shortness of breath

• Chest pain

• Tightness in the chest

• Heart attack

The procedure takes about half an hour to complete

You can go on the same day or may be required to stay overnight in the hospital following the procedure

A slight burning or flushing sensation can be felt after the dye is inserted

The angiography will show the doctor how many of your coronary arteries are blocked or narrowed by fatty plaques, this will help the doctor to determine what treatment is best for you and how critical you heart condition is

There may be an allergic reaction to the dye, not any major side effects of the dye

Angiography is an imaging test to take a look at a patients’ blood vessels. It is used to find out if there are any blocked arteries.

Arteries carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body. Over time, they accumulate plaque which is made of fat deposits, calcium, cholesterol and other wastes.

Having high blood pressure, eating foods high in cholesterol, diabetes and smoking increase the chances of accumulation of plaque in the arteries.

As plaque slowly builds up in an artery, there are no signs of it. But, when the artery gets blocked, people experience:

• Shortness of breath

• Chest pain

• Tightness in the chest

• Heart attack

The doctor can diagnose clogged arteries using angiography or other tests like:

• Echocardiogram

• Chest X-ray

• CT scan

• MRI

• Cholesterol screening

The following are the dietary restrictions to be followed after an angiogram.

• 2-3 litres of water and fluids

• Simple, nutritious, bland food

• Healthy fats like nuts, seeds, avocado

• Whole grains, meat, fish

• Avoid sugary foods and limit your salt intake

• The patient is made to lie on the back

• A sedative is given to the patient to make him/her relax

• A BP monitor is attached to keep track of the heart rate throughout the procedure

• A catheter is inserted in the groin or arm area

• Dye is injected through the catheter and as it moves through the body, the doctor can see the veins and arteries clearly and detects any blocked arteries

The patient can resume normal activities from the next day of the angiography procedure.