If your heart skips, races, slows, or beats irregularly, or if you've fainted or felt close to it, a heart rhythm doctor is the right specialist to see. We diagnose and treat the full range of abnormal heart rhythms, and we manage the pacemakers and defibrillators that some patients need.
A new procedure center at the Texas Medical Center
The Advanced Cardiovascular Institute at the Texas Medical Center, at 6624 Fannin St, Houston, TX 77030, opens in June 2026, our new ambulatory surgery center for cardiac electrophysiology. It will perform catheter ablation, pacemaker, ICD, and loop recorder procedures in the Texas Medical Center for the comfort and convenience of our patients.
Consultations and follow-up continue at our Hargrave Rd clinic in Northwest Houston, with procedures performed at the most appropriate location: Houston Methodist Willowbrook, Houston Methodist Cypress, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, St. Luke’s The Vintage, Memorial Hermann Memorial City, or the new TMC ASC. Learn more → or call (832) 478-5067 to schedule.
What is a heart rhythm doctor?
"Heart rhythm doctor" is the plain-English name for a cardiac electrophysiologist, a subspecialty cardiologist focused specifically on the heart's electrical system. The medical term is mouthful; the work is straightforward.
Every heartbeat starts with an electrical impulse that travels through the heart's wiring in a specific pattern. When the pattern goes wrong, firing too fast, too slow, or too erratically, the result is an arrhythmia. Heart rhythm doctors are the specialists who diagnose those problems and treat them.
The training is long, medical school, internal medicine residency, cardiology fellowship, and one to two additional years specifically in cardiac electrophysiology. It's the same depth of subspecialization as, say, an interventional cardiologist or a heart failure specialist.
When you should see one
You should see a heart rhythm doctor if you experience any of the following:
Irregular heartbeat that you can feel: particularly if it lasts minutes or longer
Heart racing for no clear reason: especially if it starts and stops suddenly
Palpitations: the awareness of your heartbeat that wasn't there before
Skipped or "missed" beats: usually benign extra beats but worth confirming
Fainting or near-fainting: particularly unexplained, exertional, or with abnormal ECG
Dizziness with exertion: warrants cardiac evaluation
Family history of sudden cardiac death in a young relative
Existing pacemaker or defibrillator needing follow-up, settings adjustment, or generator change
An abnormal ECG finding from a routine physical that needs interpretation
Many of these symptoms are not dangerous, but they are worth a clear answer. The point of an EP visit is to know what's happening, even when the answer is "this is harmless and you can stop worrying."
Lead extraction: specialized removal of infected or malfunctioning device leads
Cardioversion: planned electrical reset for AFib and atrial flutter
Tilt-table testing: for syncope and autonomic disorders like POTS
What to expect at your first visit
The first visit is a focused conversation:
Your story: what you've been feeling, when, how often, what triggers it
Review of records: prior ECGs, monitor recordings, echocardiograms, wearable data
Examination
A 12-lead ECG in the office if not recent
A plan: what testing comes next, what treatment options exist, what timeline makes sense
A note to your referring physician the same day: we don't make you carry results between offices
Most patients leave the first visit with a clearer diagnosis (or a clear path to one) and a written plan they can refer to at home.
Frequently asked questions
What does a heart rhythm doctor do?
A heart rhythm doctor, formally called a cardiac electrophysiologist, diagnoses and treats abnormal heart rhythms. This includes conditions like atrial fibrillation, SVT, ventricular tachycardia, fainting episodes, slow heartbeats requiring pacemakers, and inherited arrhythmia syndromes. They also implant and manage pacemakers and defibrillators.
When should I see a heart rhythm doctor?
See a heart rhythm doctor for irregular heartbeat, palpitations, unexplained fainting, episodes of racing or slow heart rate, decisions about a pacemaker or defibrillator, abnormal ECG findings, or family history of sudden cardiac death. Referral usually comes from your primary care doctor or general cardiologist.
What's the difference between a heart rhythm doctor and a cardiologist?
A cardiologist treats the full range of heart conditions. A heart rhythm doctor, a cardiac electrophysiologist, is a subspecialty cardiologist with additional training focused specifically on the heart's electrical system. The added training is one to two years beyond a standard cardiology fellowship.
Do I need a referral to see a heart rhythm doctor?
Most insurance plans don't require a referral to see a specialist, but a referral from your primary care doctor or cardiologist often helps with documentation and ensures your prior workup is shared. We accept self-referrals when symptoms are clear; check with our office about your specific situation.
Are palpitations a reason to see a heart rhythm doctor?
Often yes, particularly if palpitations are frequent, sustained, associated with chest pain or fainting, or accompanied by an abnormal ECG. Most palpitations are not dangerous, but getting a clear diagnosis is the only way to know.
