Atrial fibrillation (A-Fib or AF) is an abnormal heart rhythm that involves the atria (the two upper chambers of the heart). Instead of making a strong beat, the atria quiver or fibrillate. This is a problem because it causes the heartbeat to become irregular. Sometimes, your heartbeat with A-Fib goes too fast. Blood does not flow through the heart as well as it should, which may cause clots to form. These blood clots may leave the heart and enter the brain, where they can cause a stroke.
Risk Factors
Some risk factors for A-Fib are:
Heart disease
Lung disease
Heart surgery
Diabetes
Sleep apnea
Older age
High blood pressure
Birth or congenital conditions
Alcohol
Cigarettes
Street drugs
Some medicines
Unhealthy weight
Symptoms
Some people have no symptoms at all and do not know that they have A-Fib until it is found by their care team. Others may feel:
Lightheaded, faint, weak
Short of breath
Chest pain
Feel like your heart is beating very fast, skipping beats, or beating irregularly
Diagnosing A-Fib
A-Fib is diagnosed by an electrocardiogram (EKG). An EKG uses wires and stickers attached to your chest to graph the heart’s electrical activity. It is a simple, non-invasive test.
Treatment
The goals of treatment may include:
Keeping the heart out of A-Fib and in a regular rhythm (known as rhythm control).
Keeping the heart rate in a normal range of 60-100 beats per minute (known as rate control).
Preventing blood clots and stroke.
Preventing other heart problems.
There are many ways to treat A-Fib. Your care team will help decide what is right for you. Treatments could include:
Medicine: We may prescribe certain medicines to help slow down your heart rate. It is important to take your medicine as prescribed and tell your care team before adjusting or stopping.
Blood thinners: We may prescribe blood thinners to prevent a clot from forming in the heart. If you are prescribed a blood thinner, you may need blood tests to ensure the levels are okay and lower bleeding risks.
Cardioversion: This procedure uses a strong electrical impulse on the outside of your chest to try to put the heart back into a normal rhythm. We will give you medicine to make you sleepy, so you do not feel the impulse.
Ablation: Your clinician may want to try an ablation. This involves sending energy to parts of the heart that causes the A-Fib. Ablation is performed three different ways. We will use "heat" (radiofrequency) energy, "cool/freezing" (cryotherapy) energy, or by delivering short bursts of very strong (high-voltage) electrical energy pulses called pulse field ablation (or PFA). This will change the electrical pattern of the heart tissue and help the heart return to a normal rhythm. The visit is at a hospital. You are asleep so you will not feel it.
Lifestyle Changes
Some ways to help reduce the risk of A-Fib:
Do not smoke or use drugs.
Stay active. Aim for at least 30 minutes of activity on most days of the week. Talk to your care team about what type of level of exercise is safe for you.
Maintain a healthy weight. Lose weight if you need to.
Manage other health problems such as high blood pressure, sleep apnea high cholesterol, and diabetes.
Use your sleep apnea mask or get checked for sleep apnea.
Heart Healthy Diet
A heart healthy diet means:
Including vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans, lean meat, fish, and whole grains.
Limiting sodium, alcohol, and sugar.
Signs of Stroke
You should know the signs and symptoms of a stroke when you have A-Fib. You have a higher risk of stroke when you have A-Fib.
Signs of stroke include:
Face drooping
Arm weakness
Trouble speaking
The Risk for Stroke
Prior stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE)
65 years of age or older
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Heart failure
Vascular disease (peripheral arterial disease or aortic plaque)
Prior heart attack
Follow-up Visits
Follow up with your care team to discuss A-Fib treatment options.
When to Call
Call your care team if your A-Fib symptoms get worse. Call 911 if you notice:
Chest pain
Signs of Stroke
Who to Call
If you have questions, please contact your provider through MyChart or call your provider listed in your After Visit Summary or After Hospital Care Plan. For a list of UW Health Clinics, visit www.uwhealth.org/.
UW Health Heart and Vascular Clinic
Monday-Friday
8:00 am – 4:30 pm
(608) 915-0200.
After clinic hours, nights, weekends, and holidays, your call will go to our after hours answering service.