About Dr. Bhajal

doctor bhajalSukh Bhajal, MD, Electrophysiology cardiologist came to Visalia June, 2007 bringing new specialized services in cardiac care. An electrophysiology (EP) cardiology laboratory has been set up at Kaweah Delta District Hospital to support Dr. Bhajal in diagnosing and treating cardiac problems related to the electrical and physiologic function of the heart. This comprehensive service is new to the area, providing a technological resource that was previously unavailable.

Following extensive training in Wisconsin and Kentucky, He has returned to Visalia to establish a private practice. He is happy to be back to the San Joaquin Valley area as the previous unavailability of local, comprehensive EP services used to force many patients to seek out of town treatments in Fresno or the Bay area. Coming from a family of farmers and raised in Turlock, Dr. Bhajal is eager to utilize his skills and give back to the community he calls home.
Dr. Bhajal was born in Punjab, India, where his family farmed 20 acres of sugar cane, wheat, cotton and corn. His family came to the Central Valley when he was seven years old. He understands the local culture and has returned to give back, to add to the growing medical community here and act as a resource for referring physicians.

What is cardiac electrophysiology?
team 2Cardiac electrophysiology is a subspecialty of cardiology, focusing on the electrical functions of the heart. An intricate web of blood vessels and electrical circuits travel throughout the heart 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, working together to insure the heart pumps an adequate amount of oxygen and nutrient rich blood throughout the body. Trouble in any part of the heart's components can disrupt the entire system. Arrhythmias are problems that affect the electrical system of the heart muscle, producing abnormal heart rhythms and causing the heart to pump less effectively. A normal heart beats 60 tp 80 times a minute when a person is at rest. An abnormally slow heart rate (bradycardia) can result in insufficient blood flow to the brain, causing fatigue, dizziness and fainting. Rapid heart beating (tachycardia) can produce palpitations and chest pains in addition to fatigue and near fainting.

Dr. Bhajal specializes in the treatment of such heart rhythm irregularities. The first step in treating any kind of arrhythmia is to determine the underlying cause. Options vary with circumstances, and include lifestyle changes, medication, pacemakers, biventricular defibrillators and cardiac ablation. Cardiac ablation is a new technology that is appropriate for about 50 percent of the patients he sees. This is a curative treatment. In this procedure, thin, flexible tubes (catheters) are guided via xray into the blood vessels and directed to the heart. A burst of radiofrequency energy destroys abnormal electrical pathways in the heart tissue.

Our Staff

 

Pahola GomezMedical Transcriber
Medical Assistant

 

Maribel GarciaMedical Assistant
Back Office

 

Josie Iglesias Medical Office Manager
Back Office

 

Kelly DilbeckMedical & Health Service Manager
Biller

 

Todd BraggCardiac Sonographer