What is AFib and how is it treated?

Has a doctor diagnosed you with AFib, or atrial fibrillation? You’re not alone — the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says an estimated 12.1 million people in the United States will have AFib by 2030. 

If you have received an AFib diagnosis, you’re lucky, in a way: Because its symptoms can be subtle, many people don’t realize they have it until it has caused problems.  

When you have AFib, the top two chambers of your heart — the atria — beat irregularly, out of rhythm with the lower chambers. For some people, it’s only temporary, while for others, it’s a permanent condition.  

AFib can cause heart failure, but the most important reason to pay attention to AFib is the increased risk for strokes. The CDC says AFib causes about one in seven strokes. Worse, the strokes caused by AFib tend to be more severe. If you ever suspect you’re having a stroke, seek emergency help immediately. The faster you are treated, the less likely you are to have severe complications. 

But you don’t have to sit around waiting to have a stroke if you have AFib. There are several different treatment options — sometimes a combination of treatments works best. Your cardiologist will work with you to help you decide which will work best for you. Healthy lifestyle changes can help manage risk factors like obesity, alcohol overuse and smoking. You can take medicines to control your heart’s rhythm and rate, and blood-thinning medication to prevent blood clots, which reduces your risk of stroke. 

There are also some simple surgical interventions that can get your heart beating with a normal rhythm. A pacemaker is a common option. At advanced centers such as the TidalHealth Guerrieri Heart & Vascular Institute, there are minimally invasive options as well. Cryoablation is performed via a thin catheter that goes through your blood vessels to the heart, where it freezes out the cells causing the abnormal rhythm. 

The Watchman device, a relatively new option, is a minimally invasive, one-time procedure designed to reduce the risk of strokes for people with AFib who can’t take blood thinners. A small device is implanted that closes a spot where blood clots can commonly form. 

Your treatment will depend on your own health and needs — talk to your cardiologist. You can explore treatment options and learn more about them at tidalhealth.org/heart.