EP?

[RonSym]

Many of the posts refer to an'EP' rather than a 'GP'. What's the difference? Ron

[Hidden]

Hi an EP is a consultant who specialises in the electrics of the heart

[RonSym in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. When do you get to see one of them? I just see my GP.

[Hidden in reply to RonSym]

My GP referred me to cardiology and my wonderful doctor was an EP. Not sure i would be happy with GP dealing with it unless you'd seen a consultant and explored options. Are you on any medications?

[RonSym in reply to Hidden]

Just Bisoprolol, which was increased from 1.25 to 3.75 recently. I'm seeing a cardiologist next week. (I'm 59).

[Thomps95]

EP = Electrophysiologist (a specialization within cardiology).

[beardy_chris]

The common explanation is that a cardiologist is a plumber whereas an EP is an electrician. I suspect this is rather unfair to both!

Essentially an EP is a cardiologist with increased specialisation in the electrical system of the heart.

[CDreamer]

My experience was that cardiologists were very cautious about treating AF and relied mainly upon beta-blockers and rhythm drugs a neither of which I was happy taking.

Cardiologists see people with all heart disease of which the majority will be structural or vascular and saw a low percentage of people with arrythmias and because Arrythmia is not 'life threatening' tend to prioritize the structural/vascular because they tend to be more life threatening.

EPs are cardiologists with further training specifically in Arrythmia, cardiologists tend not to be state of the art experienced - an EP at our local AF support group described it thus - whereas a cardiologist may perform 2-3 ablations a year the EPs coming out of training will be performing 2-3000 a year. They see nothing but Arrythmia and by far the largest percentage will be AF because it is the most common Arrythmia.

See a specialist.

[Finvola in reply to CDreamer]

Spot on, CD.