A cardiac ablation is a medical procedure designed to correct abnormal heart rhythms. It is a common treatment for individuals experiencing a heart that beats too quickly or irregularly. Understanding how your heart rate responds after this procedure is important for recovery, as monitoring helps track the heart’s adjustment and healing.
What an Ablation Is
A cardiac ablation is a minimally invasive procedure aimed at addressing irregular heartbeats, known as arrhythmias. During the procedure, small, flexible tubes called catheters are inserted into blood vessels, typically in the groin, and guided up to the heart. These catheters create tiny scars in specific heart tissue areas. These scars block faulty electrical signals causing abnormal heart rhythms, restoring a regular heartbeat. This technique is often used for conditions where the heart beats too fast, such as atrial fibrillation or supraventricular tachycardia.
Immediate Heart Rate Expectations
Immediately following a cardiac ablation, your heart rate may be variable. The heart is in a healing phase, and sedation and medications can also influence its rhythm. Healthcare providers will closely monitor your heart rate during these initial hours and days. While the ablation aims to restore a regular rhythm, slight fluctuations are expected as the heart recovers.
Some individuals might experience an elevated or slightly lower heart rate than their usual resting rate. For adults, a typical resting heart rate generally falls between 60 and 100 beats per minute. It is common for the resting heart rate to be in the upper end of this normal range, or even slightly above, as heart tissue heals and inflammation subsides. This initial adjustment is a natural part of the body’s response to the procedure.
Heart Rate Changes During Recovery
The recovery period following a cardiac ablation extends beyond the immediate post-procedure phase, typically spanning several weeks to a few months. This timeframe is often called a “blanking period,” during which heart tissue continues to heal and remodel. During this period, heart rate and rhythm commonly fluctuate. Individuals might experience transient palpitations, skipped beats, or even brief episodes of the original arrhythmia. These occurrences do not necessarily indicate a failed procedure, but reflect the ongoing healing process and the heart’s adaptation to new electrical pathways.
Over time, as treated heart areas form stable scar tissue, the heart rate should generally stabilize. The aim is for the heart to maintain a more consistent and healthy rhythm. Various factors, including physical activity levels, stress, and prescribed medications, can also influence heart rate during this extended recovery phase. For instance, some individuals might notice a slightly higher resting heart rate compared to their pre-ablation rate, which can be a normal outcome as the heart adjusts.
When to Contact Your Doctor
Be aware of specific heart rate symptoms or patterns that require contacting your healthcare provider after an ablation. Seek medical advice if your heart rate is persistently high (consistently over 120 beats per minute at rest) or very low (consistently below 40 beats per minute at rest), unless specifically advised otherwise by your doctor. These values are general guidelines; your doctor may provide more specific thresholds based on your individual health profile.
Contact your healthcare provider if you experience new or worsening symptoms accompanied by unusual heart rates. These symptoms can include severe dizziness, fainting, chest pain, significant shortness of breath, or profound fatigue. Such symptoms, especially when combined with an abnormal heart rate, could indicate a potential issue requiring prompt medical attention. Always communicate any concerns or unusual changes in your heart rate or overall well-being to your medical team.