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Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is a heart rhythm issue affecting more than 2 million American adults, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Left untreated, AFib can cause your heart to race, and you may experience shortness of breath, dizziness, lightheadedness or fatigue. Additionally, AFib increases your stroke risk.
While this abnormal heart rhythm can go away on its own, it often causes symptoms for years or a lifetime. Fortunately, there are a growing number of ways to manage the condition. What treatment for atrial fibrillation is right for you? That depends.
“Treatment of atrial fibrillation requires a personalized, tailored approach,” says Jim Cheung, M.D., FACC, FHRS, professor of Medicine and cardiac electrophysiologist at Weill Cornell Medicine. “Proper treatment entails three things: reduction of stroke risk, symptom control and lifestyle modifications.”
With atrial fibrillation, your heart rate may exceed 180-200 beats per minute. At the same time, the upper heart chambers fall out of sync with the lower chambers. This fast, out-of-sync heart rhythm creates three problems.
Your risk for stroke increases with age, high blood pressure, diabetes or heart failure. Treating atrial fibrillation can reduce the risk of stroke. Treatment options include:
In addition to managing stroke risk, treating atrial fibrillation can help reduce symptoms and the probability of developing heart failure. Your treatment choices depend on the root source of your AFib symptoms.
When your AFib symptoms are linked to your racing heart, you need to slow your heart down. Otherwise, your heart is at risk.
“If patients are at rapid heart rates for long periods of time,” Dr. Cheung says, “it can actually weaken the heart muscle.”
To control your racing heart, Dr. Cheung recommends medication. Options include:
In a healthy heart, all parts work together to push blood into the body. Atrial fibrillation disrupts the rhythm between the lower and upper chambers, decreasing the heart’s efficiency. When top and bottom parts aren’t in sync, restoring normal rhythm can lead to significant improvements in cardiac function.
A common way to restore heart rhythm is electric cardioversion. This procedure includes:
“Oftentimes, the hard part isn’t getting the patient back in normal rhythm,” Dr. Cheung says. “Rather, it’s getting them to stay in normal rhythm.”
For some patients, AFib can be paroxysmal, where it goes in and out of rhythm again and again. In others, AFib can return even after successful cardioversion. Therefore, treatment to keep patients in normal rhythm include:
No matter what other treatment for atrial fibrillation your provider prescribes, a healthy life helps control your symptoms. Lifestyle tips for AFib management include:
“There’s no one-size-fits-all approach for atrial fibrillation,” Dr. Cheung says. “You need to educate yourself and speak to your doctor to figure out the best treatment for you.”
Could your heart use a helping hand? Weill Cornell Medicine is home to a comprehensive team of heart specialists who are eager to get your heart back in rhythm. Schedule an appointment with an arrhythmia and electrophysiology specialist.