Atrial fibrillation (also know as A. fib) is a common heart disorder that is found in over 2 million Americans, During an episode of atrial fibrillation, the two small upper chambers of the heart (the atria) quiver rather than efficiently beating. During this period of "quivering," blood is not entirely pumped out of the atria, so the blood can pool and clot. If a portion of a blood clot in the atria is pumped out of the heart, it may become lodged in an artery of the brain, resulting in a stroke. Roughly 15 percent of strokes occur in persons with atrial fibrillation.
The potential for developing atrial fibrillation increases with age. Between three and five percent of persons over the age of 65 suffer from atrial fibrillation.
Methods of treating atrial fibrillation:
There are a few different approaches to preventing and treating arrhythmias (abnormal heart beats):
-Medications are often used to slow a rapid heart rate related to A fib. These medicines may include drugs like digoxin, calcium antagonists (verapamil, diltiazan), amiodarone, disopyramide, beta blockers (atenolol, metoprolol, propanolol), sotalol, flecainide, propafenone, procainamide, quinidine, etc.
-Electrical cardioversion may be utilized to electrically shock the heart into a normal sinus rhythm, when medication is unable to improve the situation.
-Intravenous drugs (like ibutilide) can also be used to return the heart to a normal rhythm. These drugs are only administered under direct medical supervision. They are delivered through an IV line, typically into the vein of a patient's arm.
-Radiofrequency ablation is effective in some patients when medication is unable to regulate the heart beat. For this procedure, thin, flexible tubes are introduced through a blood vessel directed into the heart muscle. Once in the region of the heart, a bust of energy in the form of radiofrequency is administered to destroy the tissue that is causing the abnormal electrical signals or to block abnormal electrical pathways.
-Atrial pacemakers can be implanted under the skin to moderate the heart beat.
-Surgery can also be used to break up pathways that cause episodes of atrial fibrillation.
Treatment of atrial fibrillation is an important step in stroke prevention. For this reason, the American Heart Association recommends aggressive treatment of this particular heart arrhythmia.
Medications are also used to reduce the risk of stroke in people with atrial fibrillation. Antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs are used to thin blood and make it less likely to clot. Warfarin is the anticoagulant most commonly used for this purpose, and Aspirin is the most common antiplatelet drug. Long-term use of warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation along with other risk factors for stroke can reduce the occurrence of strokes by 68 percent.
-Health professionals differ on the choice of medications used to prevent embolic stroke (stroke caused by blood clot). While warfarin is more effective than aspirin against this type of stroke, warfarin has considerably more side effects than aspirin. Some potential side effects of warfarin include ulcers and possible bleeding problems.
-Patients thought to be at a high risk for stroke should likely be treated with warfarin, unless there are clear reasons why warfarin should not be used.
-Aspirin is the accepted treatment for patients with a low risk for stroke and under the age of 75.
The potential for developing atrial fibrillation increases with age. Between three and five percent of persons over the age of 65 suffer from atrial fibrillation.
Methods of treating atrial fibrillation:
There are a few different approaches to preventing and treating arrhythmias (abnormal heart beats):
-Medications are often used to slow a rapid heart rate related to A fib. These medicines may include drugs like digoxin, calcium antagonists (verapamil, diltiazan), amiodarone, disopyramide, beta blockers (atenolol, metoprolol, propanolol), sotalol, flecainide, propafenone, procainamide, quinidine, etc.
-Electrical cardioversion may be utilized to electrically shock the heart into a normal sinus rhythm, when medication is unable to improve the situation.
-Intravenous drugs (like ibutilide) can also be used to return the heart to a normal rhythm. These drugs are only administered under direct medical supervision. They are delivered through an IV line, typically into the vein of a patient's arm.
-Radiofrequency ablation is effective in some patients when medication is unable to regulate the heart beat. For this procedure, thin, flexible tubes are introduced through a blood vessel directed into the heart muscle. Once in the region of the heart, a bust of energy in the form of radiofrequency is administered to destroy the tissue that is causing the abnormal electrical signals or to block abnormal electrical pathways.
-Atrial pacemakers can be implanted under the skin to moderate the heart beat.
-Surgery can also be used to break up pathways that cause episodes of atrial fibrillation.
Treatment of atrial fibrillation is an important step in stroke prevention. For this reason, the American Heart Association recommends aggressive treatment of this particular heart arrhythmia.
Medications are also used to reduce the risk of stroke in people with atrial fibrillation. Antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs are used to thin blood and make it less likely to clot. Warfarin is the anticoagulant most commonly used for this purpose, and Aspirin is the most common antiplatelet drug. Long-term use of warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation along with other risk factors for stroke can reduce the occurrence of strokes by 68 percent.
-Health professionals differ on the choice of medications used to prevent embolic stroke (stroke caused by blood clot). While warfarin is more effective than aspirin against this type of stroke, warfarin has considerably more side effects than aspirin. Some potential side effects of warfarin include ulcers and possible bleeding problems.
-Patients thought to be at a high risk for stroke should likely be treated with warfarin, unless there are clear reasons why warfarin should not be used.
-Aspirin is the accepted treatment for patients with a low risk for stroke and under the age of 75.