Atrial fibrillation

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Atrial fibrillation is a problem with your heart's electrical activity. You and your doctor have treatment options if your symptoms become too severe. With AFib, your heart quivers, beats irregularly, or skips beats. It can't pump blood through its chambers and out to your body as well as it should. Sometimes blood can pool in the heart and form clots, which could lead to a stroke. Treatments such as medications, nonsurgical procedures, and surgery can slow your heartbeat and bring it back into a normal rhythm. AFib treatments can also prevent clots and help keep your heart healthy. AFib Medications These can prevent clots and strokes, slow your heart rate, and control your heart rhythm. Blood thinners. These medications prevent blood clots to lower your chance of having a stroke. But they can raise your risk of bleeding, so you might have to cut back on some activities that can lead to injuries. The most common blood thinners are: • Apixaban (Eliquis) • Aspirin • Dabigatran (Pradaxa) • Enoxaparin (Lovenox) • Heparin • Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) • Warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) Blood thinners can make you more likely to bruise or bleed too much. Depending on which blood thinner you are taking, you might need to have an occasional blood test to make sure the medication is working and you're on the right dose. Heart rate medicines. The most common way to treat atrial fibrillation is with drugs that control your heartbeat. These slow your rapid heart rate so your heart can pump bet...

Atrial fibrillation is a quivering or irregular heartbeat, or Here’s how patients have described their experience: “My heart flip-flops, skips beats, and feels like it’s banging against my chest wall,especially if I’m carrying stuff up my stairs or bending down.” “I was nauseated, light-headed and weak. I had a really fast heartbeat and felt like I was gasping for air.” “I had no symptoms at all. I discovered my AFib at a regular check-up. I’m glad we found it early.” What happens during AFib? Normally, your heart contracts and relaxes to a regular beat. In AFib, the upper chambers of the heart, or the atria, beat irregularly. Because not enough blood is being pumped out of the atria, blood pools in the area. The pooled blood can clot – which can be extremely dangerous. If a blood clot forms, it can be pumped out of the heart to the brain. This blocks the blood supply to the brain and causes a stroke. About 15% to 20% of people who have strokes have this heart arrhythmia. The clot risk is why patients with this condition are prescribed blood thinners*. Untreated AFib doubles the risk of heart-related deaths and is associated with a fivefold increased risk for stroke. Yet many people are unaware that AFib is a serious condition. AFib treatment saves lives and lowers risks If you or someone you love has AFib, learn more about what it is; why treatment can save lives; and what you can do to reach your goals, lower your risks and live a healthy life. If you think you may have ...

Understand medications and why they are helpful. For most patients, medications are the most helpful form of treatment. But many studies show that patients often stop taking medications because of side effects or a belief that they no longer need it. Discontinuing medications can be very dangerous. If you have been prescribed heart medications, taking and tracking your medications is one of the best things you can do for your health. Tell your health care team about all of your other drugs and supplements, including over-the-counter medications and vitamins. Download our printable medication log in Medications for atrial fibrillation Doctors often prescribe medications to prevent and treat blood clots that can lead to a stroke. They may also prescribe additional drugs to control your heart rate and rhythm, and recommend medications in conjunction with other treatments. The heart rhythm can be more difficult to control. The longer you have untreated Medication options may include *blood thinners, heart rate controllers and heart rhythm controllers. The lists here are not intended to be comprehensive, and we encourage you to revisit this page often to keep up with the newest in AFib medication options. Your doctor will use an assessment scale called the CHA 2DS 2–VASc risk to determine whether you will need medication. The components of the scale are: • Congestive heart failure • Hypertension (the medical term for high blood pressure) • Age (75 or older) • Diabetes • Stroke ...

For example, some research suggests that: • Feeling depressed or anxious can make AFib • Feeling angry or stressed about work may make AFib • Having anxiety increases the risk of AFib But a large study of people with regular heart rhythms says that anxiety and severe depression do not increase the risk of AFib . More research is needed to understand any possible links. High levels of stress and anxiety can increase the risk of many health problems. So managing stress is important for good overall health. If you have AFib, your health care provider will likely suggest healthy lifestyle choices to keep your heart healthy. It's possible that they may help you better manage AFib symptoms. Ways to manage stress and anxiety are: • Get regular exercise. • Do yoga. • Practice mindfulness. • Try breathing exercises to calm your heart rate. • Connect with others in a support group. • Spend time with supportive family and friends. • Eat a healthy diet. • Have a positive attitude. Talk with your health care provider if you have symptoms of depression or anxiety. The symptoms include feelings of constant sadness or worry, difficulty concentrating, and loss of interest in most activities. You may be referred to a provider trained in mental health conditions, called a psychologist or psychiatrist. • Atrial fibrillation. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/atrial-fibrillation. Accessed Dec. 2, 2022. • Bamgbade BA, et al. Psychosocial and cogn...

A quivery heartbeat and a flutter in your chest are two telltale signs you could be in atrial fibrillation , or AFib. That means your heart is beating out of sync. As weird or scary as an episode may feel, AFib isn't usually deadly by itself. There are types of AFib , some can come and go on their own while others require treatment with medications or procedures. You may be able to take some steps to help ease symptoms when they start, such as a combination of prescribed medication and deep breathing. But if you believe you have AFib, you should see a medical provider as soon as possible for treatment. AFib can become persistent. At that point, you may need more complex treatments. Talk to your doctor about what's safe and makes sense for you. Atrial Fibrillation: When to Call 911 With some symptoms, you might not be able to call for emergency help when you need it. If you have these symptoms, or notice someone else with these signs, call 911 right away. Symptoms of a heart attack. This could include pain , pressure, or discomfort in the middle of your chest or upper belly area. You may also notice fullness, squeezing, heartburn, other types of indigestion, or a pain running through your left arm. If you notice these symptoms, call 911. You could be having a heart attack . Females may have other, extra signs of a heart attack like: • Shoulder, jaw, or back pain • Shortness of breath • Feeling more tired than normal • Nausea and vomiting Symptoms of a stroke. The sooner you...