Another treatment option for AFib is AFib ablation. A heart rhythm specialist called an electrophysiologist performs an ablation. For this procedure, the doctor inserts an instrument into your groin that goes through the femoral vein and up into the areas of the heart where AFib originates, which is the left atrium.
Then, they ablate to try to electrically isolate the source of the abnormal rhythm. Not everyone with AFib is treated with blood thinners. If you have ongoing AFib, your doctor most likely will prescribe blood-thinning medications such as non-vitamin K direct oral anticoagulants DOACs or warfarin Coumadin to prevent blood clots.
Staying healthy is key to living a normal, active life with AFib. Common risk factors for developing AFib are underlying conditions, such as:. Atrial fibrillation has a number of treatment options, including natural and alternative therapies, plus lifestyle changes you can make.
Learn more. The four types of atrial fibrillation can have different symptoms and treatment options. Learn their similarities and differences. From medications and surgery to other procedures, you have several treatment options for atrial fibrillation.
We'll go over them in detail. Alcohol, caffeine, or any stimulant can have profound consequences for anyone living with AFib. Learn about the risks, as well as questions to ask…. Atrial fibrillation can increase your chance of developing dangerous blood clots. We'll talk about how to lower your risk of this serious complication. While A-fib itself is not usually life-threatening, people should take this medical condition seriously because it can lead to complications, such as heart failure and stroke.
In fact, the AHA estimate that A-fib occurs in up to 1 in 5 people who have strokes. There are several methods that may help stop an episode of paroxysmal or persistent A-fib once it starts.
Slowly drinking a glass of cold water can help steady the heart rate. This tip is especially useful for those whose A-fib episode has been brought on by dehydration. Some people report feeling better after exercising. A case study , published in the New England Journal of Medicine , found that a year-old athlete with paroxysmal A-fib stopped symptoms by engaging in a low impact aerobic activity. In this case study, the athlete used an elliptical machine or a cross-country skiing machine.
People wishing to try this method of dealing with an A-fib attack should speak to their doctor first. Yoga is known to relax those who practice it by focusing on the breathing. This could be beneficial for those with A-fib — both to stop a current episode and as a preventative technique. In , a study published in the Journal of Arrhythmia reported that people with A-fib who undertook twice-weekly yoga sessions over a 3-month period enjoyed significant reductions in high blood pressure and heart rate.
Participants also reported a better quality of life. Biofeedback techniques can have a calming effect on people during an A-fib episode. While preliminary research on biofeedback suggests that it can be used to decrease episodes of fibrillation, more controlled research is necessary.
These techniques may stop a paroxysmal A-fib episode. Vagal maneuvers involve doing things to trigger the vagus nerve, a nerve that impacts heart function. Examples of such maneuvers include coughing, or engaging the muscles as if having a bowel movement. AFib patients are often prescribed oral blood-thinning medications to reduce their stroke risk and medications to control their heart rate.
Some patients take medications daily, while others take them only as needed if they experience rapid heart rate with an AFib episode. If an AFib episode lasts 24 to 48 hours with no break or if symptoms worsen, call your physician, Armbruster says. Call or go to the emergency room immediately if you experience any symptoms of a stroke, which are sudden weakness or numbness or difficulty speaking or seeing.
Although patients with AFib can develop chest pain with an AFib episode, chest pain that persists for more than five to 10 minutes and is not clearly associated with an AFib episode can also be from a heart attack.
Seek urgent medical attention. February 5, Cardiology , Heart Health. Getting to the Root Cause While AFib is a common, treatable condition, it is important to get proper treatment. It also challenges the traditional concept that a blood clot forms due to a period of atrial fibrillation and then a forceful contraction from the upper heart chamber dislodges it.
These two studies bring us to the latest trial, published this month. In another analysis of the ASSERT trial the investigators tried to determine if there is a correlation between when atrial fibrillation occurs and when a stroke develops. This is an important study since by tradition we assume an episode less than 48 hours may not be as risky as one that is longer.
Unfortunately, in only 8 percent of patients was atrial fibrillation within the 30 days before the stroke. In only 35 percent of the patients was atrial fibrillation detected at any time before the stroke.
Then in 16 percent of patients, atrial fibrillation was diagnosed only after the stroke had occurred. The 16 percent of patients that were later diagnosed with atrial fibrillation show us that risk factors for developing the abnormal heart rhythm such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure, and sleep apnea are also important contributors in stroke risk. What do these studies teach us? The use of these medications needs to be based on traditional stroke risk factors until we fully understand the mechanisms of stroke.
Next, atrial fibrillation occurs more often than both physicians and patients realize, so trying to use how much atrial fibrillation that you feel or experience as a guide to use blood thinner medications is also not a good option.
Finally, if you have risk factors of atrial fibrillation and experience a stroke, it is very important to use long-term monitors to detect if you have atrial fibrillation that may be present even if you are not experiencing symptoms. Important: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not Everyday Health.
0コメント