Atrial fibrillation, also known as Afib, is an irregular heart rhythm. It happens when your heart’s upper chambers, atria, do not beat in coordination with the lower chambers, known as ventricles. In most people, it does not cause symptoms, but when present, they include shortness of breath or fast, pounding heartbeats. Atrial fibrillation Frisco increases the chances of developing blood clots, stroke, and heart failure. Episodes of atrial fibrillation can be persistent or come and go. A-fib is not life-threatening but a severe problem that needs appropriate treatment to prevent stroke.
Treatments for Atrial Fibrillation
The primary goals of treating atrial fibrillation are to control your heart rate, regain a normal heart rhythm or reduce your risk of stroke. There are various treatments, including:
Medications
Rate control medications: These drugs prevent the heart ventricles from beating too fast. Digoxin, verapamil, and metoprolol are the commonly known rate control medications.
Rhythm control medications: These medicines help your heart beat in a normal sinus rhythm. Examples include procainamide, propafenone, and sotalol.
Blood thinners: Anticoagulant medications reduce the risk of stroke and blood clots. Warfarin and aspirin are commonly used blood thinners.
Surgery
Your doctor can recommend a surgical procedure alongside medication. These procedures include:
Electrical cardioversion
Electrical cardioversion involves your surgeon delivering a synchronized electric shock to your heart. This treatment helps reset the irregular rhythm to a regular beat. Before performing cardioversion, the surgeon can do a transesophageal echocardiogram. During a transesophageal echocardiogram, your surgeon will insert a scope down your throat to produce an image of your heart. This technique helps your provider confirm there are no clots present in your heart. If you have a clot, your doctor will prescribe anticoagulant medication to dissolve it. After the lumps have dissolved, your provider can do cardioversion.
Catheter ablation
Catheter ablation damages the tissue causing an irregular rhythm. Your surgeon can repeat this procedure if atrial fibrillation returns.
Surgical ablation
Surgical ablation involves your surgeon removing the heart tissue causing irregular rhythms through open-heart surgery. It is called a maze procedure.
Pacemaker placement
A pacemaker is a device that instructs your heart to beat regularly. Your surgeon can place a peacemaker if you have intermittent atrial fibrillation.
Complications for atrial fibrillation
Blood clots
If your heart is not beating regularly, blood can pool in the atria. A piece of a clot, known as an embolus, can break off and move to a different body part through your bloodstream and cause blockages. An embolus can restrict blood flow to your kidney, brain, or lungs leading to problems in these organs.
Stroke
A stroke happens when a blood clot blocks a brain artery, decreasing or stopping blood flow to that part of your brain. Stroke symptoms include body weakness on one side, vision problems, and difficulty with speech and movement. Symptoms can vary depending on the brain part affected by stroke. Stroke is the leading cause of death and disability in the United States.
Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heart rhythm where the upper heart chambers do not beat in coordination with the ventricles. If not treated, it can lead to stroke or heart failure. Medications and surgery can treat A-fib. Schedule an appointment at Prime Heart and Vascular for atrial fibrillation treatment to prevent further complications.
