LIVING WITHATRIALFIBRILLATIONFAQS

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 anddisorganized heartbeat that occurs in the upper chambers of the heart (the atria). A normal
heart beats between 60-100 times per minute. During AFib, the atria may beat between
350 - 600 times per minute, making them appear to quiver (fibrillate) rather than beat. As aresult, the heart loses its ability to pump 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 pressureLightheadedness, dizziness and fainting

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 hence recurrent ina 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 artery, whereas AFib is primarily
an electrical or rhythm problem 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 severe over time. The biggest danger from AFib is the increased risk for heart disease andstroke, both leading causes of death in the United States.

WHAT DOES AN ECG RECORD?
An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) 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 towhatever caused the AFib and starts beating normally. This is very rare, however, and you should
continue being supervised by your physician.

CAN AFIB BE CURED?
While today there is no cure for AFib, many physicians are achieving improved success in thetreatment of this disease. Because AFib is easier to treat in its earlier stages, you should not wait toexplore your treatment options.

WHAT TREATMENT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE?
Your physician will work with you to develop a treatment plan. The treatment prescribed will depend on theseverity of your AFib, your symptoms and your lifestyle. Treatment options can be placed in two categories:
SUPPRESSIVE AND CURATIVE. Suppressive therapies work to suppress, or control, symptoms; curativetherapies are designed to eliminate the cause of the condition and have the potential to cure the disease.

SUPPRESSIVE THERAPIESARRHYTHMIA MEDICATION
While taking medication will not cure an arrhythmia, it may help control an irregular heart rate orrestore and/or maintain a normal heart rhythm.
ELECTRICAL CARDIOVERSION
Occasional episodes of AFib can be treated electrically with a procedure called cardioversion. During
the procedure, an electrical shock is delivered to your heart to stop AFib and restore a normal heartrhythm. The procedure is performed at the hospital under anesthesia.
DEVICE PROCEDURE
Pacemakers (treat slow or irregular rhythms) or implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs; treat
dangerously fast rhythms) have special features designed to help patients with AFib. As with all AFib
management options, device-based therapy should be monitored on a regular basis by your doctor.

POTENTIALLY CURATIVE THERAPIESCARDIAC ABLATION
The doctor will access the heart through a blood vessel. A catheter (a long, steerable tube) will enterthe vessel and be placed in your heart where diagnostic devices will be used to determine the area ofthe heart that needs to be treated. The doctor will use the catheter to apply energy to the targeted
heart tissue. This will isolate the area from the rest of the heart and prevent it from producing AFib.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE CATHETER ABLATION PROCEDURE?
• The procedure is minimally invasive.
• It may permanently interrupt the triggers of the heart arrhythmia; many patients require nofurther 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 a few days after the procedure.
• This information is intended as a general overview. Your experience may differ. Please talk withyour physician for specifics regarding your case.

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

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References
1.

Morillo, C. A., Banerjee, A., Perel, P., Wood, D., & Jouven, X. (2017). Atrial fibrillation: the current epidemic. Journal ofgeriatric cardiology : JGC, 14(3), 195–203. https://doi.org/10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2017.03.011© 2020 Abbott. All Rights Reserved.
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