Atrial Fibrillation Treatment

For people who only experience occasional episodes, treatment for atrial fibrillation may be as simple as avoiding things that aggravate the condition (such as tobacco, alcohol, and caffeine). In more serious cases, treatment options may include medication, electrical cardioversion, and surgery. Even if your atrial fibrillation does not require treatment, careful monitoring can prevent it from worsening.

Treating Atrial Fibrillation: An Overview

Atrial fibrillation treatment recommendations will vary based on several factors. Your treatment options depend partly on your symptoms of atrial fibrillation, how severe they are, and how much they interfere with your life. They also depend on whether or not some other underlying disease is causing the condition.
 
The goals of treatment for atrial fibrillation usually include one or more of the following:
 
  • Return the heartbeat to a normal sinus rhythm, if possible
  • Control the heart rate
  • Prevent blood clots from forming by prescribing an anticoagulant (blood-thinning) medication, such as Coumadin®
  • Treat the underlying causes of the abnormal rhythm and any atrial fibrillation complications
  • Reduce the risk factors that may lead to a worsening of the condition.
     

Atrial Fibrillation Treatment for Occasional Symptoms

For people who have occasional episodes of atrial fibrillation (and no other health concerns associated with it), the only treatment needed may be to avoid the things that can cause the condition or make it worse, such as:
 
  • Stress
  • Tobacco products
  • Caffeine
  • Alcohol.
     

Atrial Fibrillation Treatment for More Serious Cases

For more serious cases, several treatments for atrial fibrillation are available, including:
 
  • Medication
  • Electrical cardioversion, in which the rhythm of the heart is reset with an electrical shock
  • Changes to diet and lifestyle
  • Surgical procedures.
     
(Atrial Fibrillation Treatment Continued: Page 2)
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
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