Heart Health Videos
Learn from Experts
At Houston Heart Rhythm Institute, Dr. Shah is committed to helping patients understand their heart health. Our library of educational videos is designed to answer common questions, explain conditions in simple terms, and guide you through treatment options. Whether you’re learning about arrhythmias, procedures, or lifestyle tips, these resources are here to give you clarity and confidence in your care. Dr. Shah recommends using the patient education library as a background to further reinforce concepts and questions that he can personally guide you through at your visit.
What Does the Heart Do?
Your heart is the muscular powerhouse that beats day and night to pump blood through your body. Let's take a moment to learn more about this vital organ.
Anatomy of the Heart
The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood throughout your body. It is positioned behind the lungs, slightly to the left side of the chest. Your heart is a bit larger than the size of your fist. Let's examine the structures of the heart and learn how blood travels through this complex organ.
Keeping Your Health Healthy
Your heart is your body's engine. Keeping it healthy allows you to maintain a good quality of life. Let's look at some ways you can do this naturally.
Reducing Your Risk for a Heart Attack
Your risk for heart attack is tied to a lot of factors. Some things (like your age and family history) you can't control. But you do have control over many others. So if you're worried about your risk, focus on these aspects of your health.
Reducing Your Risk for Stroke
Your risk for stroke is tied to a lot of factors. Some things (like your age and family history) you can't control. But you do have control over many others. So if you're worried about your risk, focus on these healthy habits.
Setting Recovery Goals after a Heart Attack
As you recover from your heart attack, it's good to set goals for yourself. Goals keep you motivated. And they help you see improvements as they happen.
Arrhythmia
If your heart beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly, you have an arrhythmia. It's a problem with the rhythm of your heart. For many people, an arrhythmia is harmless. But for some, it can be life-threatening.
Atrial Fibrillation (A-fib; AF)
This is a problem with the rhythm of your heart. We call it "A-fib." With it, your heart beats much faster than normal. And, the upper and lower chambers of your heart don't work together like they should. For some, A-fib goes away on its own. But for others, it's a long-term problem.
Heart Failure
This condition, also called "congestive heart failure," is when your heart becomes so weak it can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs. It doesn't mean that your heart has stopped beating. But it's a serious condition, and it needs medical care.
Heart Palpitations
Your heart beats all day long, but you usually don't notice it. Sometimes, though, your heart may beat in a way that seems different. It may flutter or race, or you may feel or hear your heart beat. These abnormal rhythms are called "heart palpitations." Let's take a moment to learn more.
Electrocardiography (ECG, EKG)
This is a test of your heart. It lets your doctor see how well your heart is working. A doctor can use this test to find out if you have a heart problem, or to monitor a heart problem your doctor already knows you have.
Ambulatory Cardiac Monitoring
This is a way to learn more about your heart. With this type of monitoring, you'll wear a device that records your heart's activity for a period of time as you do different things. Your doctor uses this data to see if there's a problem with your heart.
Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE)
This test uses sound waves to make images of your beating heart. We do this test to look for problems with your heart and circulatory system.
Preoperative Cardiovascular Exam
This is a check-up your doctor does before you have surgery. It's a way to see how well your heart is working. It helps make sure your heart is healthy enough for the procedure. Let's take a moment to learn more.
Anticoagulant Drugs: Taking Anticoagulants Safely
An anticoagulant is a drug that keeps blood cells from sticking together. It keeps new blood clots from forming. It can keep existing clots from getting bigger. But it does put you at risk for uncontrolled bleeding. Let's learn about how to use your drug safely.
Cardioversion (Electrical)
If your heart beats too fast or doesn't beat with a regular pattern, you may need electrical cardioversion. During this hospital procedure, your heart is shocked with electricity. It can help give your heart a normal beat. Cardioversion isn't the same as defibrillation. That's an emergency procedure that uses high-energy shocks. Cardioversion uses low-energy shocks.
Catheter Ablation for Arrhythmia
This procedure corrects an abnormal heart rhythm. It uses energy pulses to change the way your heart's electrical signals flow.
Pacemaker (Overview)
A pacemaker is a small device implanted in the chest to regulate the beat of the heart. Pacemakers may be used to treat a variety of heart problems, including irregularities of the heart’s rhythm (called arrhythmias) and weakness of the heart muscle.
Pacemaker Implantation (Endocardial Approach)
In this procedure, an impulse generator (called a pacemaker) is implanted in the chest to regulate the rhythm of the heart.
Living With a Pacemaker
If you've recently been given a pacemaker, you may have some concerns. You may worry that it will keep you from activities you enjoy. But it won't. Sure, you'll need to cut back on some things while your pacemaker settles into place. But soon, you'll be as active as anyone else your age.
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)
This device, which we call an "ICD," is put inside your chest or abdomen. It's used to treat arrhythmia. That's an irregular heart rhythm. An ICD monitors your heart and keeps it beating properly.
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) Implantation (Endocardial Approach)
With this procedure, a small device is placed in your chest. It monitors your heart's rhythm. If it detects that your heart isn't beating normally, it sends electricity to your heart to convert your heart rhythm to a normal one.
Left Atrial Appendage Closure
This procedure stops blood clots from forming in your heart. We do it for people who have a condition called "atrial fibrillation" which raises your risk for clot formation and stroke.
Left Atrial Appendage Closure (Implant Method)
This procedure places a tiny implant in your heart to stop blood clots from forming. It's helpful if you have a condition called "atrial fibrillation," which raises your risk for clot formation and stroke.
General Cardiovascular Topics
What Does the Heart Do?
Your heart is the muscular powerhouse that beats day and night to pump blood through your body. Let's take a moment to learn more about this vital organ.
Anatomy of the Heart
The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood throughout your body. It is positioned behind the lungs, slightly to the left side of the chest. Your heart is a bit larger than the size of your fist. Let's examine the structures of the heart and learn how blood travels through this complex organ.
Prevention
Keeping Your Health Healthy
Your heart is your body's engine. Keeping it healthy allows you to maintain a good quality of life. Let's look at some ways you can do this naturally.
Reducing Your Risk for a Heart Attack
Your risk for heart attack is tied to a lot of factors. Some things (like your age and family history) you can't control. But you do have control over many others. So if you're worried about your risk, focus on these aspects of your health.
Reducing Your Risk for Stroke
Your risk for stroke is tied to a lot of factors. Some things (like your age and family history) you can't control. But you do have control over many others. So if you're worried about your risk, focus on these healthy habits.
Setting Recovery Goals after a Heart Attack
As you recover from your heart attack, it's good to set goals for yourself. Goals keep you motivated. And they help you see improvements as they happen.
Cardiac Conditions/Symptoms
Arrhythmia
If your heart beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly, you have an arrhythmia. It's a problem with the rhythm of your heart. For many people, an arrhythmia is harmless. But for some, it can be life-threatening.
Atrial Fibrillation (A-fib; AF)
This is a problem with the rhythm of your heart. We call it "A-fib." With it, your heart beats much faster than normal. And, the upper and lower chambers of your heart don't work together like they should. For some, A-fib goes away on its own. But for others, it's a long-term problem.
Heart Failure
This condition, also called "congestive heart failure," is when your heart becomes so weak it can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs. It doesn't mean that your heart has stopped beating. But it's a serious condition, and it needs medical care.
Heart Palpitations
Your heart beats all day long, but you usually don't notice it. Sometimes, though, your heart may beat in a way that seems different. It may flutter or race, or you may feel or hear your heart beat. These abnormal rhythms are called "heart palpitations." Let's take a moment to learn more.
Cardiac Testing/Work-up
Electrocardiography (ECG, EKG)
This is a test of your heart. It lets your doctor see how well your heart is working. A doctor can use this test to find out if you have a heart problem, or to monitor a heart problem your doctor already knows you have.
Ambulatory Cardiac Monitoring
This is a way to learn more about your heart. With this type of monitoring, you'll wear a device that records your heart's activity for a period of time as you do different things. Your doctor uses this data to see if there's a problem with your heart.
Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE)
This test uses sound waves to make images of your beating heart. We do this test to look for problems with your heart and circulatory system.
Preoperative Cardiovascular Exam
This is a check-up your doctor does before you have surgery. It's a way to see how well your heart is working. It helps make sure your heart is healthy enough for the procedure. Let's take a moment to learn more.
Treatment Options
Anticoagulant Drugs: Taking Anticoagulants Safely
An anticoagulant is a drug that keeps blood cells from sticking together. It keeps new blood clots from forming. It can keep existing clots from getting bigger. But it does put you at risk for uncontrolled bleeding. Let's learn about how to use your drug safely.
Cardioversion (Electrical)
If your heart beats too fast or doesn't beat with a regular pattern, you may need electrical cardioversion. During this hospital procedure, your heart is shocked with electricity. It can help give your heart a normal beat. Cardioversion isn't the same as defibrillation. That's an emergency procedure that uses high-energy shocks. Cardioversion uses low-energy shocks.
Catheter Ablation for Arrhythmia
This procedure corrects an abnormal heart rhythm. It uses energy pulses to change the way your heart's electrical signals flow.
Pacemaker (Overview)
A pacemaker is a small device implanted in the chest to regulate the beat of the heart. Pacemakers may be used to treat a variety of heart problems, including irregularities of the heart’s rhythm (called arrhythmias) and weakness of the heart muscle.
Pacemaker Implantation (Endocardial Approach)
In this procedure, an impulse generator (called a pacemaker) is implanted in the chest to regulate the rhythm of the heart.
Living With a Pacemaker
If you've recently been given a pacemaker, you may have some concerns. You may worry that it will keep you from activities you enjoy. But it won't. Sure, you'll need to cut back on some things while your pacemaker settles into place. But soon, you'll be as active as anyone else your age.
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)
This device, which we call an "ICD," is put inside your chest or abdomen. It's used to treat arrhythmia. That's an irregular heart rhythm. An ICD monitors your heart and keeps it beating properly.
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) Implantation (Endocardial Approach)
With this procedure, a small device is placed in your chest. It monitors your heart's rhythm. If it detects that your heart isn't beating normally, it sends electricity to your heart to convert your heart rhythm to a normal one.
Left Atrial Appendage Closure
This procedure stops blood clots from forming in your heart. We do it for people who have a condition called "atrial fibrillation" which raises your risk for clot formation and stroke.
Left Atrial Appendage Closure (Implant Method)
This procedure places a tiny implant in your heart to stop blood clots from forming. It's helpful if you have a condition called "atrial fibrillation," which raises your risk for clot formation and stroke.
Get Started with Your Heart Health