Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the world. In the United States, it’s responsible for more than 650,000 deaths each year.
Some of the most common conditions include coronary artery disease, heart attack, heart failure, and stroke.
Atrial fibrillation is relatively common as well, especially in those of European descent.
Were you recently diagnosed? Want to learn more about the different atrial fibrillation treatment options? If so, you’ve come to the right place.
We’ll be going over the atrial fibrillation treatment guidelines in detail below. Keep reading to learn more!
Table of Contents
What Is Atrial Fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of arrhythmia or irregular heart rhythm. It occurs when the heart is bombarded with electrical signals from outside the SA node; this causes the upper chambers of the heart to beat irregularly, which causes rapid and disorganized contractions.
Over time, this can cause blood to pool in the upper chambers of the heart. Not only that, but it can also lead to clots and if they break free, they can travel to the brain and cause a stroke.
Atrial Fibrillation Treatment Drugs
The goal of treatment is to prevent blood clots, restore a normal heart rate, and normal heart rhythm. There are several medications that can do this including:
Blood Thinners
These drugs will prevent blood clots from forming or becoming larger, which will lower your risk of a stroke. Depending on what your doctor prescribes, you may need regular blood tests.
Common side effects include bleeding gums, nosebleeds, heavy periods, and prolonged bleeding from a cut.
Beta-Blockers and Calcium Channel Blockers
These medications will help restore your normal heart rate—both at rest and during activity. Beta-blockers work by blocking the effects of adrenaline while calcium channel blockers work by lowering blood pressure (by preventing calcium from entering the heart).
While they’re generally safe, they can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, cold feet and hands, and difficulty sleeping.
Antiarrhythmic Medications
These drugs will help restore a normal heart rhythm. There are two main types: potassium channel blockers and sodium channel blockers. They work by slowing down the rate and amplitude of electrical signals in your heart.
Compared to other medications, however, they tend to cause more side effects.
For example, they can cause issues with your kidneys, liver, thyroid, or lungs. They can also cause arrhythmias to occur again or more often.
Catheter Ablation
An atrial fibrillation ablation may be necessary if medications aren’t effective. The doctor will insert a small catheter through a blood vessel into your heart, which will use radiofrequency energy to destroy tissue cells; this will help block abnormal electrical signals.
That way, the heart’s normal signal will be able to take over and create a normal rhythm.
While you may feel a little sore after the procedure, it shouldn’t last more than a few days.
Treating Atrial Fibrillation
The bottom line is, there are several atrial fibrillation treatment options. At the end of the day, it depends on the severity of your symptoms as well as the underlying cause. When in doubt, talk to your healthcare provider.
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