Atrial Fibrillation
The most common type of arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation (pronounced A-tree-uhl fih-bruh-LAY-shun) causes an irregular heartbeat that can increase your risk for stroke and heart failure.
Atrial fibrillation, or AF, results from faulty signals that are produced by our hearts electrical system. The faulty signals cause the upper portion of the heart, called the atria, to fibrillate, which means to contract rapidly and irregularly. When this happens, you may feel weak, dizzy and tired.
AF upsets the rhythm between the atria and the lower parts of the heart, called the ventricles. The irregular heartbeat can cause blood to gather in the atria, making us more susceptible to having a stroke. Furthermore, AF can cause the ventricles to not fill properly, which causes heart failure when the heart can't pump enough blood to meet our bodys demands.
Recently Answered
- Q Are there alternative treatments for atrial fibrillation?
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Dr. Douglas Severance, Family MedicineWhile there are no medically-approved alternative methods for treating atrial fibrillation, lifestyle changes that treat underlying heart problems are essential. You may need to lose weight, get more exercise, follow a diet to control high blood... Full Answer
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- Q Is open heart surgery ever used to treat atrial fibrillation?
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Sometimes doctors will perform open heart surgery to treat atrial fibrillation, but only if other treatments don't work or if open heart surgery was going to be performed for other problems as well. Open heart surgery is very invasive, which is why... Full Answer
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- Q How can a pacemaker help my atrial fibrillation?
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Pacemakers may help atrial fibrillation (AF) in several ways, depending on where the pacemaker is placed. Here is what is expected in various types of procedures: Atrial pacing: Studies are being done to find out if pacing with a... Full Answer
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- Q Is a pacemaker used to treat atrial fibrillation?
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Dr. Michael Roizen, Internal MedicineSometimes, but not always. If you have atrial fibrillation, you may need a pacemaker implanted if you undergo a treatment known as catheter ablation. During this procedure, the tissue that controls the rhythm of your heartbeat is destroyed. Since the... Full Answer
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- Q How are energy sources used during surgery for atrial fibrillation?
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There are several energy sources that are used for the same purpose: to create lesions and therefore scar tissue in the areas of the heart where the abnormal electrical impulses that cause atrial fibrillation occur. These include heat sources... Full Answer
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- Q When is surgery necessary to treat atrial fibrillation?
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Candidates for surgery include people with chronic atrial fibrillation that cannot be effectively treated with medications or other procedures, as well as patients with a-fib who are having heart surgery to correct other cardiac conditions. Full Answer
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- Q What is the surgical maze procedure for chronic atrial fibrillation?
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The surgical maze procedure is a highly successful method of controlling chronic atrial fibrillation. During open-heart surgery, doctors create scar tissue in the atria by making a series of cuts. Scar tissue is not a conductor of electricity, so it can... Full Answer
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- Q Can chronic atrial fibrillation be treated with surgery?
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Not all people with chronic atrial fibrillation benefit from cardioversion. Some people's hearts cannot be reset to a normal rhythm. A surgical option that might be appropriate for them is atrioventricular (AV) node ablation, a procedure that destroys... Full Answer
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- Q What antiarrhythmic medications may be used to treat atrial fibrillation?
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Some common antiarrhythmic medications used to treat atrial fibrillation (AF) are: Amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone). Amiodarone takes four to six weeks to reach its full effect. Amiodarone is a strong medication with side effects that can be... Full Answer
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- Q What is the most common drug treatment for atrial fibrillation?
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The cornerstone of therapy is Coumadin- until recently, the only available oral anticoagulant. Pradaxa is a new oral anticoagulant. For controlling rates, beta-blockers and calcium blockers are used. For trying to minimize atrial fibrillation,... Full Answer
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