ATRIALFIBRILLATIONANSWERSAF Answers. A Patient Education Handbook on Electrophysiology

WHAT IS ATRIAL FIBRILLATION?
Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) is the most common type of abnormal heart rhythm (or arrhythmia) and is found in
approximately 33 million people around the world.1 AFib is a fast and disorganized heartbeat that occurs in theupper chambers of the heart (the atria). During AFib, the atria may beat between 350 and 600 times per minute,making them appear to quiver (fibrillate) rather than beat regularly. As a result, the heart loses its ability to pumpblood efficiently.

WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS OF AFIB?
COMMON AFIB SYMPTOMS INCLUDE:• Racing, pounding heart• Erratic pulse• Feeling worn out, fatigued• Shortness of breath• Trouble with normal exercise and activities• Chest pain or pressure• Lightheadedness, dizziness and fainting
Yet many people who have AFib do not experience these outward symptoms. Regardless, anyone with AFib is at
risk for one of its most dangerous side effects: stroke.
Because of the extremely fast quivering of the atria, the heart’s pumping action does not work properly and blood
is not completely emptied from the heart’s chambers. This can cause the blood to pool and form blood clots. If
a clot breaks free, it may result in a stroke. People who have AFib are FIVE TIMES more likely to have a strokethan people who do not have AFib.2

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS FOR AFIB:CAUSES FOR DEVELOPING AFIB INCLUDE:• Existing heart disease, heart failure and congenital defects• High blood pressure• Diabetes, obesity or metabolic syndrome• Hyperthyroidism• Chronic lung disease• Excessive alcohol and stimulant use• Smoking and caffeine consumption• Stress or illness• Sleep apnea• Prior open-heart surgery• Use of certain medications

AF Answers. A Patient Education Handbook on Electrophysiology

HOW WILL MY PHYSICIAN DETERMINEIF I HAVE AFIB?
The first step in diagnosing AFib is a thorough medical history and physical exam. It is important to let yourphysician know about your symptoms and provide information on when they began, how long they last andwhat they feel like.
In addition, your physician may choose to use one or more tests. These may include:

ELECTROCARDIOGRAM (ECG OR EKG)This is a basic test that typically takes place in your doctor’s office. The test is pain free and consists of placing
sticky patches on your wrists, ankles and chest to record your heart’s electrical activity. The test provides thephysician with timing and duration of your heartbeat.
HOLTER MONITOR
This device is a small portable ECG monitor that you wear around your neck or in a pocket to automatically record
your heart’s activity. It records your heart rhythm as you go about your daily activities for 24 to 48 hours, and provides
your doctor with information about changes in your heart rhythm over that period of time.
BLOOD TESTYour doctor may conduct a blood test to rule out other conditions that may cause arrhythmias. For example,
hyperthyroidism — overproduction of the thyroid hormone — and other chemical abnormalities in the blood
may trigger AFib episodes.
ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY STUDY
An electrophysiology study takes place in a lab or hospital and is performed by an electrophysiologist or EP.
An EP is trained in heart rhythm disorders. The EP will access the heart through a blood vessel. A catheter
will enter the vessel and be placed in your heart where diagnostic devices are used to evaluate your heart anddetermine how best to treat it. Treatment may consist of medication, medical procedure or an implanted device.
IMPLANTABLE CARDIAC MONITOR
An implantable cardiac monitor provides monitoring for up to three years, giving your doctor information aboutchanges in your heart rhythm during daily activities. An implantable cardiac monitor can capture valuable
diagnostic information during AFib and other cardiac arrhythmia episodes. This device allows physicians todiagnose the causes of arrhythmias and provide the appropriate patient care.

WHAT TREATMENTOPTIONS ARE
AVAILABLE?

The primary goals of an AFib treatment plan are to:• Control your heart rate
• Reduce your stroke risk
• Control your symptoms by restoring a normalheart rhythm• Help you return to a healthy, active lifeYour physician will work with you to develop atreatment plan. The treatment prescribed will dependon the severity of your AFib, your symptoms andyour lifestyle. Treatment options can be placed intwo categories: SUPPRESSIVE AND CURATIVE.
Suppressive therapies work to suppress, or control,
symptoms; curative therapies are designed toeliminate the cause of the condition and have thepotential to cure the disease.

www.AFanswers.com

AF Answers. A Patient Education Handbook on Electrophysiology

AVAILABLE
TREATMENTOPTIONS

SUPPRESSIVE THERAPIESARRHYTHMIA MEDICATION
While taking medication will not cure an arrhythmia,
it may help control an irregular heart rate or restore
and/or maintain a normal heart rhythm. For example:• Antiarrhythmic medications such as beta blockers,
when used as prescribed, can reduce episodes oftachycardia (fast heartbeat). They can also slow
down your heart during an episode.
• If you have AFib, your doctor may prescribe bloodthinner medication to help reduce the risk of bloodclots forming and causing a stroke.
ELECTRICAL CARDIOVERSION
Occasional episodes of AFib can be treated electricallywith a procedure called a cardioversion. During theprocedure, an electrical shock is delivered to your heart
to stop AFib and restore a normal heart rhythm. The
procedure is performed at the hospital under anesthesia.
DEVICE PROCEDURE
Pacemakers (treat slow or irregular rhythms) or
implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs; treatdangerously fast rhythms) have special featuresdesigned to help patients with AFib. As with all AFib
management options, device-based therapy should bemonitored on a regular basis by your doctor.

POTENTIALLYCURATIVE THERAPIESCARDIAC ABLATION
The doctor will access the heart through a bloodvessel. A catheter (a long, steerable tube) will enter thevessel and be placed in your heart where diagnostic
devices will be used to determine the area of theheart that needs to be treated. The doctor will use theablation catheter to apply energy to the targeted hearttissue. This will isolate the area from the rest of theheart to prevent AFib episodes.

AF Answers. A Patient Education Handbook on Electrophysiology

HOW
CATHETERABLATION
WORKS

There are many different types of arrhythmias.
One method available to diagnose and treat anarrhythmia is an EP study and ablation. An EP
study can help determine the origin of a patient’sarrhythmia and may indicate a patient’s potential
response to therapy. Precision and extreme accuracy
in EP testing are crucial to providing arrhythmia
patients with an accurate diagnosis.
During an EP study, a physician inserts several
catheters, which are long, steerable tubes with wires
and multiple electrodes, into the heart. These catheters
are inserted into the heart via blood vessels near thepatient’s groin. These catheters will collect electricalinformation from inside the heart and then display thisdata on several monitors for the physician to see.
Once the arrhythmia is diagnosed, the physician will
determine the best treatment strategy for ablation.
During an ablation procedure, a catheter applies highfrequency energy on the inside of the heart, creating
a lesion or scar. As a result, this tissue is no longer
capable of conducting or sustaining the arrhythmia.

SUPERIOR VENA CAVAAORTAPULMONARY ARTERYSINOATRIAL(SA) NODERIGHTATRIUMCATHETER INSERTEDTHROUGH A BLOOD
VESSEL IN THE ARM
CATHETER INSERTEDTHROUGH A BLOOD
VESSEL IN THE GROINATRIOVENTRICULAR(AV) NODELEFTATRIUMLEFTVENTRICLE
RIGHT
VENTRICLEINFERIOR VENA CAVAPULMONARY
VEINS

AF Answers. A Patient Education Handbook on Electrophysiology

CATHETER ABLATION RISKS
Because a catheter ablation procedure requires your doctor to insert catheters into your body, there are risks,
including:• Swelling or bruising where the catheters were inserted• Infection• Damage to the heart or blood vessels• Damage to your heart’s electrical system; if this happens, your doctor may need to implant a pacemaker• Side effects from the anesthesia, which can vary and depend on a number of health factors
Consult with your doctor about risks before you undergo your procedure.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE CATHETER ABLATIONPROCEDURE?
• The procedure is minimally invasive.
• It may permanently interrupt the triggers of the heart arrhythmia; many patients require no further treatment.
• For some patients, it brings freedom from long-term use of blood-thinning medications.
• Recovery is relatively fast; most patients leave the hospital after one or two days and resume normal activities afew days after the procedure.
This information is intended as a general overview. Your experience may differ. Please talk with your physician
for specifics regarding your case.

IMMEDIATE RECOVERY AFTER CATHETER ABLATION
After your procedure, your medical team will move you to a recovery area. Depending on your condition, you may
be able to go home the same day of your procedure, or you may need to stay in the hospital for a longer period. Your
doctor may prescribe blood-thinning or other medication for a period of time after your procedure. Always rememberthat your doctor is your best source of information about what to expect during your immediate recovery process.
PATIENT RESOURCES
To learn more about AFib, talk to your physician. Below are other resources you may find useful:www.arrhythmiaanswers.com
American Heart Associationwww.americanheart.org
Heart Rhythm Society
www.hrsonline.org
Mayo Clinic
www.mayoclinic.org

FREQUENTLY ASKEDQUESTIONSWHAT ARE ATRIA?
The atria are the two upper chambers of the heart. They are referred to as the left atrium and the right atrium.
WHAT ARE VENTRICLES?
The ventricles are the two lower chambers of the heart. They are referred to as the left ventricle and theright ventricle.
WHAT ARE HEART PALPITATIONS?
Heart palpitations are described as a pounding, racing or fluttering of the heart.
IS AFIB GENETIC?
AFib can occasionally be genetic, meaning transmitted through the genes, and therefore occurs often in a given family.
IS AFIB A PRELUDE TO A HEART ATTACK?
No. A heart attack is a sudden event in which a portion of the heart muscle stops working because it no longer
receives blood, usually due to a blockage in the coronary arteries, whereas AFib is primarily an electricalproblem that causes the heart to beat too fast.
CAN I DIE FROM AFIB?
Most episodes of AFib are not life-threatening, but AFib is a progressive disease and tends to get more severeover time. The biggest danger from AFib is the increased risk for heart disease and stroke, both leading causes ofdeath in the United States.
WHAT DOES AN ELECTROCARDIOGRAM (ECG OR EKG) RECORD?
An ECG records the heart’s electrical activity.
CAN AFIB GO AWAY BY ITSELF?
On occasion this does happen. In a process called spontaneous remission, the heart adjusts to whatever caused
the AFib and starts beating normally. This is very rare, however, and you should continue being supervised byyour physician.
CAN AFIB BE CURED?
While today there is no cure for AFib, many physicians are achieving improved success in the treatment of thisdisease. Because AFib is easier to treat in its earlier stages, you should not wait to explore your treatment options.

www.AFanswers.com

AF Answers. A Patient Education Handbook on Electrophysiology

TALKING ABOUT YOUR HEART ARRHYTHMIA TREATMENT
Receiving an arrhythmia diagnosis and learning about your treatment options can feel overwhelming.
However, talking with your doctor and medical team is extremely important, especially as you learn about
your doctor’s recommended treatment. Always take time to prepare for your conversations with your doctor
about your heart arrhythmia treatment.

BEFORE YOU MEET WITH YOUR DOCTOR:• Write down questions to bring with you• Gather your medical records to share• Be ready to take notes to help you remember important points• Consider bringing a friend or family member to your appointment or procedure
WHEN YOU MEET WITH YOUR DOCTOR, ASK ABOUT:• The severity of your condition• The implications of your symptoms
WHAT KIND OF TREATMENT MAY BE BEST FOR YOU:
• What to expect during treatment
DURING YOUR DISCUSSION, YOUR DOCTOR SHOULD GIVE YOU:
• A clear explanation of your condition, diagnostic tests and treatment options, as well as the risks andbenefits of treatments• Referrals to appropriate specialists when necessary

Always consult your doctor with questions about AFib, symptoms, or best treatment options.

WWW.AFANSWERS.COM

References
1.

High Blood Pressure, AFib and Your Risk of Stroke. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/
atrial-fibrillation/why-atrial-fibrillation-af-or-afib-matters/high-blood-pressure-afib-and-your-risk-of-stroke.

2.

Chugh, S. S., Havmoeller, R., Narayanan, K., Singh, D., Rienstra, M., Benjamin, E. J., … Murray, C. J. (2014). Worldwide
Epidemiology of Atrial Fibrillation. Circulation, 129(8), 837–847. doi: 10.1161/circulationaha.113.005119© 2021 Abbott. All Rights Reserved.
MAT-1901554 v4.0 | Item approved for global use.