Common types include:. Beta blockers are the most common type of rate control medication. Beta blockers prevent adrenaline speeding up your heart and lower your blood pressure. If you have heart failure , beta blockers can stop it from getting worse.
Usually your doctor will start you on a low dose of beta blocker and increase it slowly. You should only change the dose if your doctor tells you to. Often these side effects will reduce as your body gets used to the medication.
But if you're experiencing erectile dysfunction or other side effects lasting longer than a few weeks, talk to your doctor about changing the medication. Do not stop taking a beta blocker without first consulting your doctor. It is also important you don't run out of medication, or forget to take your pills on holiday. Stopping beta blockers suddenly can cause:.
Calcium channel blockers are commonly used to treat high blood pressure. Two of these medications, diltiazem and verapamil, are also used to help slow down the heart rate in patients with atrial fibrillation.
They do this by reducing the number of electrical impulses that pass through the atrioventricular AV node into the lower heart chambers ventricles.
You should avoid grapefruit or grapefruit juice while taking diltiazem, because a chemical in the fruit prevents the absorption of the drug which can cause side effects. You should have your blood pressure and heart rate monitored regularly at your GP practice. Verapamil should not be used with a beta blocker as this combination may make the heart go too slowly. Digoxin is used to slow the heart rate and increase the pumping force contraction of the heart. It can help to reduce symptoms of atrial fibrillation, such as breathlessness and palpitations.
If you have severe AF symptoms, or if it's your first episode of AF, your doctor may attempt to restore your heart rate to its normal rhythm sinus rhythm. To do this, doctors use a procedure called cardioversion. Electrical cardioversion also called direct current DC cardioversion, is a short procedure which uses a defibrillator to provide an electrical shock to the heart. It is performed in a hospital under sedation or anaesthetic.
The defibrillator sends an electrical impulse through your chest wall, via pads or electrodes which are placed on your chest. This impulse disrupts the abnormal rhythm for a split second, allowing your heart to resume a normal rhythm. The procedure takes a few minutes and because of the sedation you shouldn't feel any discomfort.
Most people are able to go home from hospital the same day. Pharmacological cardioversion, also known as chemical cardioversion, uses medicines called anti-arrhythmics to restore a normal heart rhythm.
Your healthcare professional may give you these anti-arrhythmics in an oral form tablet or intravenously through a vein. This procedure will also be carried out in hospital and your heart rhythm will be monitored closely throughout. It is also important to remember that cardioversion doesn't always work.
More research is needed to determine whether alternative treatments can help alone, so stick to your medical plan. Talk with a doctor how you can effectively incorporate natural treatments into your current AFib treatment plan. The official guidelines for AFib, according to the American Heart Association , outline the treatment options based on your existing condition and medical history. In general, a combination of lifestyle habits and medications can help you prevent heart failure and stroke.
Age, sex, and overall health will also determine individual risk factors. Sometimes, AFib can be confused with flutters. The symptoms are similar, including rapid heart rate and irregular pulse. While both affect the same heart chambers and result in arrhythmias, these are two different conditions. Atrial flutters happen when electrical signals in the heart quicken. The symptoms and risk factors are similar with AFib. Healthy lifestyle habits and medications can help both conditions. A doctor will help you distinguish between AFib and atrial flutters so you can treat each one accordingly.
Exercising with AFib has its risks, but it can help you live better when approached the right way. We'll show you how to exercise safely with the…. Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation is one possible type of irregular heart rhythm.
Learn more about the symptoms, causes, and treatment options. According to a new study, people who work night shifts have a 12 percent higher risk of atrial fibrillation AFib , an irregular heart rate, compared…. New research from the U. Those who practice…. Avoiding or limiting certain foods can reduce the risk of an AFib episode. Take care to sidestep these food items if you live with the condition.
New guidelines are recommending newer drugs due to concerns over potential severe bleeding from warfarin use. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect.
If left untreated, AFib can be deadly. Atrial fibrillation symptoms. Inefficient pumping can also cause another, but less common, condition called heart failure. In this case, the heart beats inefficiently, causing blood to back up in the heart and resulting in fluid in the lungs, says Calkins.
In addition to heart failure, atrial fibrillation has been linked to dementia. This may be related to multiple small strokes that affect the memory centers of the brain. About 2. Not all cases of atrial fibrillation can be prevented. By taking steps to avoid coronary artery disease or high blood pressure , however, you can help avoid developing A-fib due to these causes. The basics include not smoking, following a heart-healthy Mediterranean-style diet high in plant-based foods, fruits and vegetables, and low in saturated fats , being physically active and keeping to a normal weight as indicated on a body-mass index chart.
Atrial fibrillation is a progressive condition that tends to worsen over time. The condition may be diagnosed after complaints of symptoms lead to an examination and tests, or it may be discovered during testing for other heart conditions. While wearing the monitor, you go about your normal activities.
Some monitors can be worn for longer an event monitor is usually work for four weeks — they start tracking when irregular activity in the heart is detected. Echocardiogram transthoracic echocardiogram : This test uses sound waves to create a moving picture of the heart and evaluate the size of the atria and the overall heart function.
Chest X-ray : An X-ray is used to see complications of A-fib in the heart and lungs. Blood tests : The results may be used to evaluate heart markers, like cholesterol, as well as thyroid and electrolyte levels. How atrial fibrillation is treated depends on the underlying cause, and on the frequency and severity of symptoms. In general, your doctor aims to:. Reduce your risk of stroke. Normally, only 1 medicine will be tried before catheter ablation is considered.
Read the patient information leaflet that comes with the medicine for more details. The way the heart beats in atrial fibrillation means there's a risk of blood clots forming in the heart chambers.
Find out more about complications of atrial fibrillation. Your doctor will assess your risk and try to minimise your chance of having a stroke. They'll consider your age and whether you have a history of any of the following:. Depending on your level of risk, you may be prescribed warfarin or an anticoagulant , such as dabigatran , rivaroxaban , apixaban or edoxaban.
If you're prescribed an anticoagulant, your risk of bleeding will be assessed both before you start the medicine and while you're taking it. Aspirin is not recommended to prevent strokes caused by atrial fibrillation. People with atrial fibrillation who have a high or moderate risk of having a stroke are usually prescribed warfarin , unless there's a reason they cannot take it. There's an increased risk of bleeding in people who take warfarin, but this small risk is usually outweighed by the benefits of preventing a stroke.
It's important to take warfarin as directed by your doctor. If you're prescribed warfarin, you need to have regular blood tests and, after these, your dose may be changed. Many medicines can interact with warfarin and cause serious problems, so check that any new medicines you're prescribed are safe to take with warfarin.
While taking warfarin, you should be careful about drinking too much alcohol regularly and avoid binge drinking. Drinking cranberry juice and grapefruit juice can also interact with warfarin and is not recommended. Rivaroxaban , dabigatran , apixaban and edoxaban are alternatives to warfarin. NICE also states that you should be offered a choice of anticoagulation and the opportunity to discuss the merits of each medicine.
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