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Atrial Fibrillation Association
Telephone: (843) 415 1886
Website: www.afa-us.org
Email: [email protected]
AF A
www.afa-us.org
Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial Fibrillation (also referred to as AFib) is
an abnormality in the rhythm of the heart
(arrhythmia). It involves irregular beating of the
heart’s upper chambers, the atria. During Atrial
Fibrillation the pulse becomes irregular.
For some patients Atrial Fibrillation starts and
stops on its own lasting minutes to a couple of
days. This is called Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation.
In other patients Atrial Fibrillation will continue
indefinitely unless it is converted back to normal
rhythm by their doctor (see the AFA Cardioversion
leaflet), this type is called Persistent Atrial
Fibrillation. Finally in some patients the rhythm is
always in fibrillation: this is called Long Standing
Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.
There are many different causes of Atrial
Fibrillation. These include lung disease such
as chronic bronchitis and pneumonia, disease
of the heart valves, high blood pressure, heart
failure, an over-active thyroid gland or too much
alcohol. In many patients there is no obvious
cause of Atrial Fibrillation. Atrial Fibrillation can
increase the risk of stroke, the irregular heart
rhythm causes the blood to pool and this may
There are various ways to treat Atrial Fibrillation
and these can be summarized in to two groups:
1. Rate Control: Some patients will require
rate controlling therapy in which medical
treatments slow the speed of the pulse. For
this the doctor may prescribe a beta blocker
(such as bisoprolol), or a calcium channel
blocker (such as diltiazem) or digoxin.
2. Rhythm Control: Some patients will require
rhythm control in which attempts are made to
alter the electrical properties of the heart in
order to return the heart to sinus rhythm. An
electric shock can be passed through the heart
during a procedure called a Cardioversion
(performed under general anesthetic). This
can return the heart to normal rhythm but does
not permanently alter the heart’s electrical
properties and therefore does not prevent the
heart from starting to fibrillate again.
Medications such as flecainide, dronedarone,
dofetilide, sotalol, amiodarone or others can
be taken to help prevent Atrial Fibrillation.
For further information contact Atrial Fibrillation Association
Trustees: Prof. A John Camm, Prof. Richard Schilling,
Dr Adam Fitzpatrick, Mrs Jayne Mudd, Arrhythmia Nurse
Non-profit organization 501(C)(3) © AFA 2016
Affiliated to
www.stars-us.org
Endorsed by
Atrial Fibrillation - Patient Information
Atrial Fibrillation is the most common form
of arrhythmia, affecting four out of every 100
people over the age of 65. Some patients
experience palpitations (feeling the heart
beating in the chest), shortness of breath or
chest pains. Others feel no symptoms at all
and only become aware of Atrial Fibrillation when
told about it by a physician.
cause a blood clot to form. The clot can then
be carried to the small blood vessels in the
brain where it blocks the blood flow causing a
stroke. To reduce the risk of stroke the doctor will
assess whether or not additional stroke risk
factors exist (in addition to Atrial Fibrillation).
Aspirin or a blood thinning medication such as
Warfarin may be prescribed (see AFA Blood
Thinning leaflet).
Atrial Fibrillation Association
Telephone: (843) 415 1886
Website: www.afa-us.org
Email: [email protected]
AF A
www.afa-us.org
Atrial Fibrillation - Patient Information
Finally there are interventional procedures
where catheters (wires) are placed into the
heart via blood vessels (no knives or stitches
are required). Using these wires doctors
are able to measure the electrical activity of
the heart and heat small areas of the heart
creating scar tissue which does not conduct
electricity. The way that electricity can spread
through the heart is altered in order to reduce
the likelihood of Atrial Fibrillation.
For further information contact Atrial Fibrillation
Association.
Authors:
Dr Matthew Fay
Peter Spector, MD
Endorsed by: Hugh Calkins, MD
Kalyanam Shivkumar, MD PhD
For further information contact Atrial Fibrillation Association
Trustees: Prof. A John Camm, Prof. Richard Schilling,
Dr Adam Fitzpatrick,Mrs Jayne Mudd, Arrhythmia Nurse
Non-profit organization 501(C)(3) © AFA 2016
Affiliated to
www.stars-us.org
Endorsed by