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As heart rhythm disorders continue to affect a record number of Americans, Intermountain Health is expanding specialized electrophysiology services and additional cardiovascular specialists across the state to identify and treat arrhythmias more effectively than ever before.
Heart rhythm disorders, or arrhythmias, occur when the electrical impulses that coordinate heartbeats don't function properly, causing the heart to beat too fast, too slow, or irregularly.
According to the American Heart Association's 2025 statistics, cardiovascular disease affects nearly 128 million adults in the United States, with atrial fibrillation, also known as AFib, affecting more than 37.5 million people worldwide.
AFib is the most common arrhythmia. Experts predict AFib cases will increase by more than 60% by 2050.
Because of the prevalence of heart rhythm disorders in Utah and throughout the Intermountain West, Intermountain Health is adding heart services across the state to combat this "silent epidemic," adding heart specialists in Central Utah, Utah County, Salt Lake County, Davis County, Weber County, Washington County, and Cache County – to improve access to care for patients.
"Many people live with heart rhythm disorders without knowing the risk they face for stroke or heart failure," said David Wang, MD, a cardiac electrophysiologist who specializes in diagnosing and treating heart rhythm disorders at Intermountain Health Utah Valley Hospital in Provo. "At Intermountain Health, we use cutting edge technology with minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat a variety of arrhythmia mechanisms including atrial fibrillation."
What the public should know
Understanding the signs of an arrhythmia can be lifesaving. While some heart rhythm issues are harmless, others are critical indicators of underlying disease, according to Leenhapong Navaravong, MD, a cardiologist who also specializes in diagnosing and treating heart rhythm disorders at Intermountain Health Utah Valley Hospital.
Signs and symptoms to watch for:
- Palpitations: A feeling of "fluttering," racing, or skipped beats in the chest.
- Fatigue: Unusual or extreme tiredness, especially during physical activity.
- Dizziness: Feeling lightheaded or experiencing near-fainting spells.
- Shortness of breath: Difficulty breathing even during light exertion.
- Chest discomfort: Pain or pressure that may accompany a rapid heart rate.
- Syncope: Loss of consciousness.
Treatment options at Intermountain Health
Intermountain Health heart and vascular specialists offer a comprehensive spectrum of care, from lifestyle management to the latest surgical innovations, including:
- Medical management: Use of anti-arrhythmic medications and blood thinners to reduce stroke risk.
- Ablation therapy: Minimally invasive procedures using electrical impulses (pulse field ablation - PFA) or thermal energy (radiofrequency or cryoablation) to neutralize the heart tissue causing the irregular rhythm.
- Innovative device implants: Intermountain was among the first in the Intermountain Region to implant leadless pacemakers and subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs).
Accessing care for patients
Intermountain Health makes accessing specialized heart care simple through its network of heart rhythm specialists located across the Mountain West. Patients can often be seen quickly in a location near them to address heart rhythm issues.
For more information on heart rhythm services at a nearby Intermountain Health hospital, or to find a specialist near you, visit https://intermountainhealthcare.org/services/heart-vascular-care/heart-rhythm.
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