Download - Understanding Atrial Fibrillation
UNDERSTANDING ATRIAL
FIBRILLATION Elizabeth MorseOhio University
What Is Atrial Fibrillation?■ Atrial fibrillation (also
called AFib or AF) is a quivering or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
■ Can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications.
■ At least 2.7 million Americans are living with AFib.
What happens during AFib?■ Normally, your heart
contracts and relaxes to a regular beat.
■ In atrial fibrillation, the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) beat irregularly (quiver) instead of beating effectively to move blood into the ventricles.
Symptoms■ Rapid and irregular
heartbeat■ Palpitations■ Fluttering or “Thumping” in
the Chest■ Shortness of Breath and
Anxiety■ Dizziness, Faintness, or
Confusion■ Chest Pain or Pressure
What Causes AFib?
Management
■ Restoring the heart to a normal rhythm
■ Reducing an overly high heart rate
■ Preventing blood clots■ Managing risk factors for Stroke
■ Preventing Clots with Medication – Antiplatelets – Anticoagulants
■ Heart Rate Controlling Medications – Beta Blockers– Calcium Channel Blockers– Digoxin
■ Heart Rhythm Controlling Medications– Potassium Channel Blockers– Sodium Channel Blockers
Non-Surgical Treatment Options
■Electrical cardioversion– The Rhythm Reset
■Catheter Ablation
Surgical Treatment Options
■Pacemaker■Open Heart Maze
Procedure