Individuals suffering from atrial fibrillation find their treatment options depend on many factors. First, the doctor must learn the symptoms and attempt to find an underlying cause of the condition. In addition, the medical team will ask how long the person has been having these symptoms and when they were first diagnosed, if that step has been taken. With this information, they determine which AFib Treatment will be most effective.
Treatment Goals
The goal of the treatment is to reset the rhythm of the heart while controlling the heart rate. In addition, the treatment should prevent the formation of blood clots that can bring about a stroke. This may involve the use of medications, cardioversion, or surgery.
Medication Options
The doctor may prescribe medications to restore a normal heartbeat. In addition, they may prescribe a medication to prevent the formation of blood clots. These medications include beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and digoxin. Anti-arrhythmic medications and blood thinners could also be used as part of a patient's treatment plan.
Cardioversion Therapy
Patients at AFib treatment centers may receive cardioversion therapy. This is commonly done when this is the first time the patient has experienced AFib or when they are bothered by the symptoms. This procedure works to reset the heart rhythm and may be done through electrical cardioversion or with the help of medications.
In most cases, the doctor schedules this procedure, but it might be done in an emergency situation. If the procedure is scheduled, the patient will often be given a blood thinner to take for a few weeks following the cardioversion therapy. In addition, anti-arrhythmic medications are often prescribed following electrical cardioversion, and the patient will take them indefinitely.
Surgery or Catheter Procedures
When a patient doesn't respond to medications or cardioversion therapy, the doctor might recommend a cardiac ablation. During this procedure, the doctor uses heat or cold to promote scar tissue formation in the heart. This scar tissue blocks abnormal electrical signals to restore the patient's normal heartbeat. The doctor may perform this procedure using a catheter or open-heart surgery.
The cardiac ablation procedure used is determined by the patient's overall health, the symptoms they are experiencing, and whether another heart surgery is to be conducted. This Treatment for AFib doesn't always resolve the issue, and the patient may experience atrial fibrillation again. When this happens, the doctor might recommend another cardiac ablation or another treatment option. Patients often find they must take blood thinners for the rest of their lives to prevent the formation of blood clots.
Discuss all treatment options with the doctor to determine which is the best choice. The doctor can explain why one treatment is preferred over another and why that treatment is the best option. The more a patient knows, the more comfortable they will be that the prescribed treatment will restore a normal heartbeat.
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