Ocean views and a better work-life balance aren’t the only reasons cardiac electrophysiologist Santosh Oommen, MD, moved to Monterey, though being a family man with three young kids certainly doesn’t hurt the argument for it.
The new Montage Health doctor left behind a bustling Bay Area career for something more intentional: to be part of a healthcare system where he could make more of an impact, both in the lives of his patients and his entire community.
Oommen brings a passion for empowering patients with knowledge about the heart and its electrical signals that keep it pumping properly, because understanding your heart is an important part of taking care of it, he says.
What’s cardiac electrophysiology?
Sometimes the heart beats too fast. Sometimes too slow. Sometimes it just can’t make up its mind. We step in to restore order.
— Santosh Oommen, MD, cardiac electrophysiology, Montage Health
While most cardiologists focus on the heart’s plumbing — its arteries and valves — Oommen focuses on the wiring. The heart runs on electricity, and when that electrical system misfires, the results can range from annoying to life-threatening.
This is the world of cardiac electrophysiology. It deals with abnormal heart rhythms, called arrhythmias, that can cause everything from palpitations to fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, or even sudden cardiac arrest.
“Sometimes the heart beats too fast. Sometimes too slow. Sometimes it just can’t make up its mind,” Oommen says. “We step in to restore order.”
What does cardiac electrophysiology treat?
Heart rhythm problems come in many forms, and knowing which one you’re dealing with is the first step in getting the right treatment. Some of the most common issues include:
- Atrial fibrillation (AFib): A rapid, disorganized heartbeat that significantly increases stroke risk
- Atrial flutter: Like AFib, but the heart beats with a more regular cadence
- Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT): A sudden, fast beat from the heart’s upper chambers
- Ventricular tachycardia (VT): A potentially deadly rhythm from the heart’s lower chambers
- Bradycardia: A heartbeat so slow it makes you dizzy or faint
While some abnormal rhythms are harmless, others can be debilitating or even deadly if untreated.
Treatments to keep the heart in sync
“Many treatments are minimally invasive and designed to get you feeling like yourself again,” Oommen says. “The goal is to improve quality of life, reduce hospital visits, and in some cases, prevent fatal complications.”
Catheter ablation: For those with AFib, atrial flutter, SVT, and some types of VT, this minimally invasive procedure eliminates the small areas of heart tissue causing abnormal rhythms.
Implantable cardioverter defibrillators: These small devices continuously monitor the heart and deliver a shock to restore normal rhythm if a dangerous rhythm is detected.
Cardiac resynchronization therapy: Used in certain heart failure patients, a special type of pacemaker helps the heart’s left and right sides beat more in sync, improving efficiency and reducing symptoms like fatigue and shortness of breath.
Permanent pacemakers: For slow or irregular heartbeats, a pacemaker can help maintain a steady rhythm, reducing symptoms like dizziness and allowing patients to return to normal activities without fainting or fatigue.
Your daily habits matter
While cardiac electrophysiology can help patients return to daily routines with confidence, the best medicine is still prevention. Many rhythm disorders are linked to everyday health choices. For heart-smart living, Oommen suggests:
- Exercising regularly: Aim for 30 minutes of aerobic activity three to four times per week
- Eating a heart-healthy diet: Focus on whole foods with fewer carbohydrates and less saturated fat
- Managing weight and sleep: Maintain a healthy weight and get screened for sleep apnea if you snore or feel tired during the day
- Having regular checkups: Doctor visits can catch risk factors early
The heart of the matter
Oommen’s approach is all about helping patients understand what’s happening in their hearts and what they can do about it. His goal isn’t just to restore rhythm — it’s to empower patients with knowledge and bring them peace of mind.
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Signs of arrhythmia
Your heart should beat with a steady rhythm, not race, stall, or stutter. Clues that something might be off include:
Santosh Oommen, MD, focuses on keeping hearts in rhythm.
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Shortness of breath
- Unexplained tiredness
- Fainting or near-fainting episodes
If these sound familiar, talk to your doctor. Some arrhythmias are harmless, but others — like atrial fibrillation — can increase your stroke or heart failure risk if untreated.
How does the heart’s electricity work?
Your heart runs on electrical impulses that tell its chambers when to contract and relax. These signals travel through a network inside your heart, keeping everything in sync.
If that electrical flow is disrupted — by disease, aging, genetics, or lifestyle factors — the rhythm can become too fast, slow, or erratic. That’s when an electrophysiologist steps in to fix the faulty wiring.
