Atrial Fibrillation

It's hard to say exactly what your treatment for atrial fibrillation will be, because it depends so much on your symptoms and your risk for other health problems.

Treatments are aimed at helping you feel better and preventing future problems, especially Reference stroke Opens New Window and Reference heart failure Opens New Window. There are three main types of treatment:

• Treatment to control your heart rate.
• Treatment to control your heart rhythm.
• Treatment to prevent stroke.

Treatment to control your heart rate

Rate-control medicines are used if your heart rate is too fast.

They usually do not return your heart to a normal rhythm—in other words, your heartbeat will still be irregular. But these medicines can keep your heart from beating at a dangerously fast rate.

Treatment to control your heart rhythm

Treatment to control your heart rhythm is done to try to stop atrial fibrillation and keep it from returning. It may also help your symptoms. Treatments include:

• Rhythm-control medicines, also called antiarrhythmics.
• Reference Electrical cardioversion. This procedure uses a low-voltage electrical shock to return the heart to a normal rhythm.

  Opens New Window Atrial Fibrillation: Should I Try Electrical Cardioversion? Opens New Window

• Reference Catheter ablation. This might be done if your medicine hasn't brought back a normal heartbeat, or it's too hard to live with the side effects of medicine.

  Opens New Window Heart Problems: Should I Have Catheter Ablation? Opens New Window

• Reference Maze procedure. This is usually done during open-heart surgery. It creates scar tissue that blocks excess electrical impulses from traveling through your heart.

Treatment to prevent stroke

Atrial fibrillation is dangerous because if the heartbeat isn't strong and steady, blood can collect, or pool, in the Reference atria Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window. And pooled blood is more likely to form clots. Clots can travel to the brain, block blood flow, and cause a stroke.

If you are at an average to high risk of having a stroke, your doctor may prescribe long-term use of an anticoagulant medicine, such as Reference warfarin, to lower this risk.

If you are at low risk of having a stroke or you cannot take an anticoagulant, you may choose to take daily aspirin.

For more information, see Reference Medications.

© 1995-2011, Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.