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Patient education: Atrial fibrillation (The Basics)

Patient education: Atrial fibrillation (The Basics)

What is atrial fibrillation? — Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm problem (figure 1). The condition puts you at risk of stroke and other problems as well as death. Atrial fibrillation is sometimes called "A-fib."

The top 2 chambers of your heart are called the "atria." They pump blood into the larger bottom chambers, which pump blood to your lungs and the rest of your body. In A-fib, your heart beats abnormally and the top chambers stop pumping blood as strongly as normal.

In some people, A-fib never goes away. In others, A-fib can come and go, even with treatment. If you had A-fib in the past, but have a normal heart rhythm now, ask your doctor what you can do to keep A-fib from coming back. Some people can reduce their chances of having A-fib again by:

Controlling their blood pressure

Avoiding or limiting alcohol

Cutting down on caffeine

Getting treatment for an overactive thyroid gland

Getting regular exercise

Losing weight (if they are overweight)

Reducing stress

What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation? — Some people with A-fib have no symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they can include:

Feeling as though your heart is racing, skipping beats, or beating out of sync

Mild chest "tightness" or pain

Feeling lightheaded, dizzy, or like you might pass out

Having trouble breathing, especially with exercise

Is there a test for atrial fibrillation? — Yes. If your doctor or nurse suspects you have A-fib, they will probably do a test called an electrocardiogram. This test, also known as an "ECG," measures the electrical activity in your heart.

How is atrial fibrillation treated? — In some cases, A-fib goes away on its own, even without treatment. But many people do need treatment.

Treatment can include 1 or more of these:

Medicines to control the speed or rhythm of the heartbeat

Medicines to keep clots from forming

A treatment called "cardioversion," which involves applying an electrical current to the heart to fix its rhythm

Treatments called "ablation," which use heat ("radiofrequency ablation") or cold ("cryoablation") to destroy the small part of the heart that is sending abnormal electrical signals

A device called a pacemaker that is implanted in your body and sends electrical signals to the heart to control the heartbeat

What will my life be like? — Most people with A-fib are able to live normal lives. Still, it is important that you take the medicines your doctor prescribes every day. Taking your medicines as directed can help reduce the chances that your A-fib will cause a stroke. It's also a good idea to learn what the signs and symptoms of a stroke are (figure 2).

More on this topic

Patient education: Medicines for atrial fibrillation (The Basics)
Patient education: Heart failure and atrial fibrillation (The Basics)
Patient education: Atrial flutter (The Basics)
Patient education: ECG and stress test (The Basics)
Patient education: Choosing a medicine for blood clots (The Basics)
Patient education: Taking medicines for blood clots (The Basics)
Patient education: Catheter ablation for the heart (The Basics)
Patient education: Stroke (The Basics)

Patient education: Atrial fibrillation (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Catheter ablation for abnormal heartbeats (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Cardioversion (Beyond the Basics)

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Jan 02, 2023.
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