What is atrial fibrillation?

At first, episodes of atrial fibrillation may come on suddenly and last a short time. They may go away on their own or with treatment. Over time, the episodes may last longer and occur more often. If this continues, they may not go away on their own.

Some people feel symptoms when they have episodes of atrial fibrillation. But other people don't notice any symptoms.

If you have symptoms, you may feel:

• A fluttering, racing, or pounding feeling in your chest called palpitations.
• Weak or tired.
• Dizzy or lightheaded.
• Short of breath.
• Chest pain.

You may notice signs of atrial fibrillation when you check your pulse. Your pulse may seem uneven or fast.

Treatments for atrial fibrillation can help you feel better and prevent future problems. The main types of treatment slow the heart rate, control the heart rhythm, and help prevent stroke. You will likely take medicine. You may have a procedure, such as electrical cardioversion or catheter ablation.

To see if you have atrial fibrillation, you will have an electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG). An EKG is a test that checks for problems with the heart's electrical activity. Your doctor will do a physical exam. You may have other tests that check the health of your heart.

When you know what your stroke risk is, you and your doctor can talk about your options. You'll decide whether or not to take medicine, called an anticoagulant, to help prevent blood clots.

These medicines are often called blood thinners, but they don't actually thin your blood. Instead, they increase the time it takes for a blood clot to form.

Blood thinners lower the risk of stroke in people who have atrial fibrillation. But how much your risk will be lowered depends on how high your risk was to start with.

There are risks to taking a blood thinner. When your blood clots more slowly, you have a higher risk of bleeding problems. These problems include bleeding problems in and around the brain, bleeding in the stomach and intestines, bruising and bleeding if you are hurt, and serious skin rash.

You and your doctor can compare your risk of stroke with your risk of bleeding from the medicine. You can also discuss how you feel about taking medicine every day.

Many people are able to live full and active lives with atrial fibrillation. You can live well and help manage your condition by having a heart-healthy lifestyle, taking medicine properly, and managing other health problems. You can work with your doctor to help manage your symptoms.

A risk factor is anything that increases your chances of getting sick or having a problem. Risk factors for atrial fibrillation include:

• Age older than 60.
• Being white and male.
• Obesity.
• Sleep apnea.
• A family history of atrial fibrillation.
• Other health problems that can cause atrial fibrillation. These include high blood pressure and certain heart problems.

Other things that can increase the risk for atrial fibrillation include:

• Long-term, heavy alcohol use, or drinking a large amount of alcohol at one time (binge drinking).
• Smoking.
• Not being active.

What are the options for treating atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation (say "AY-tree-uhl fih-bruh-LAY-shun") is a kind of uneven heartbeat. It can make you feel dizzy, tired, or short of breath. It also can make you more likely to have a stroke.

To treat it, you may:

• Have electrical cardioversion.
• Try other treatments to restore a normal heart rhythm and relieve your symptoms. You might try catheter ablation. Or you may take medicines to control your heart rate or rhythm.

Use this information to help you and your doctor decide if cardioversion may be a good option for you.

How does cardioversion treat atrial fibrillation?

Electrical cardioversion is one treatment option to try to stop atrial fibrillation and keep it from coming back. It can also relieve symptoms of atrial fibrillation.

First, you'll get medicines through a vein. They will block pain and make you sleepy (I.V. sedation). Then your doctor will put patches on your chest or your chest and back. The patches send a brief electric shock to your heart. This resets your heart rhythm.

Your doctor may have you take rhythm‐control medicines before and after cardioversion. These are called antiarrhythmics. They can make it more likely that your heart rhythm will get back to normal and stay there. You will probably take a blood-thinner medicine (anticoagulant). This is to prevent blood clots before and after the procedure. This medicine lowers your risk of a stroke.

For most people, this treatment restores a normal heart rhythm right away. But atrial fibrillation often comes back. If it does, talk with your doctor about your next treatment options. You may be able to have cardioversion again. Or your doctor might have you try a different treatment, such as catheter ablation. Or you might take medicines to control your heart rate or rhythm.

What are key points about this decision?

• Cardioversion can return your heart to a normal rhythm. This helps relieve symptoms of atrial fibrillation.
• For most people, cardioversion restores a normal heart rhythm right away. But atrial fibrillation often comes back. Many things can affect how long the heart stays in a normal rhythm. Your doctor can help you understand how well this treatment might work for you.
• Cardioversion is just one way to treat atrial fibrillation. If atrial fibrillation returns after this procedure, you may try cardioversion again. Or you can choose another treatment.
• Cardioversion does have some risks. These range from minor burns from the patches to a stroke. Your doctor can help you weigh your risks against the possible benefits.
• No matter what treatment you choose, you will need to take steps to prevent a stroke, manage other health problems, and have a heart-healthy lifestyle.

Your decision

What you decide will depend on how you feel about the benefits and risks of your options. Talk to your doctor about what matters most to you. Together, you can make the decision that's right for you.

Atrial fibrillation (say "AY-tree-uhl fih-bruh-LAY-shun") is a type of irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). The heart's upper chambers (atria) quiver, or fibrillate. The lower heart chambers may also beat fast and without a regular rhythm.

Atrial fibrillation is caused by health problems that damage or strain the heart and its electrical system. These problems include high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, and heart failure. Other causes include heart surgery, lung disease, or an overactive thyroid gland.

Normally, the heart beats in a regular, steady rhythm. In atrial fibrillation, the two upper parts of the heart (the atria) quiver, or fibrillate, and the heart does not beat in a regular rhythm. Your heart rate also may be faster than normal.

An episode is not usually dangerous. But because the heartbeat isn't regular and steady, blood can collect, or pool, in the heart. And pooled blood is more likely to form clots. Clots can travel to the brain, block blood flow, and cause a stroke.

A stroke can cause sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body. Strokes can also cause sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, or even trouble seeing in one or both eyes. Strokes can even cause death.

Atrial fibrillation increases your stroke risk. But not everyone with atrial fibrillation has the same stroke risk.

A heart-healthy lifestyle includes being active, staying at a weight that is healthy for you, and eating heart-healthy foods. Avoid alcohol if it triggers symptoms. Try to quit or cut back on smoking. Try to get enough sleep, manage stress, and manage other health conditions.