Zio Patches

Advanced Cardiology Testing in Fremont

Heart arrhythmias are heart rhythm problems caused by issues with the electrical impulses in the heart that are responsible for coordinating the heart beat. This can cause the heart to beat irregularly—or too fast or slow. Studies show that as many as 1 in 3 Americans have an irregular heartbeat; for example atrial fibrillation. Even more alarming: They don’t know about their conditions.

While common, heart arrhythmias can be tough to diagnose. For many years, Holter monitors were used to diagnose arrhythmias and other cardiac conditions. Holter monitors are wearable devices that record information about the patient’s heart function over an extended period of time—typically 24 hours, 48 hours, or more. The patient’s doctor could then use this information to detect heart conditions and to come up with a course of treatment. However, the Holter device was imperfect, with issues such as bulkiness and a lack of water resistance affecting usability.

Now, the ZIO® Patch by iRhythm Technologies in San Francisco, CA offers an alternative. This new technology is even smaller and more wearable than the Holter monitor, and is paving the way for better cardiac care. The patch utilizes sports hydrogel electrodes for clarity in readings, as well a button that the user can press to pinpoint symptomatic incidents. The At Washington Health Medical Group, our cardiologists are pleased to utilize this advanced technology in order to diagnose cardiac irregularities.

What Is the Zio Patch?

The United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA)-approved ZIO Patch is a one lead electrocardiogram (EKG) sensor that facilitates increased convenience for the wearer, pioneering better functionality in the area of 24-hour heart monitoring. The results of the ZIO Patch are effective in providing vital information to health care professionals. The ZIO Patch is designed for two-week wear, and is small, adhesive, and water-resistant.

Examples of arrhythmia events the ZIO technology can capture include:

• Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia / ventricular fibrillation
• Supraventricular tachycardia
• Ventricular tachycardia
• Atrial fibrillation / flutter
• Pause
• Atrioventricular block

Learn more when you visit our highly advanced cardiology department at Washington Health Medical Group in Fremont, CA.