What Atrial Fibrillation Treatment Options Are Available?

Written By: Hann Wang

The heart is perhaps one of the most important organs in the body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to the rest of the body by pumping blood through the vessels. However, as with any organ in the body, the heart is also susceptible to a number of health conditions. One of these is atrial fibrillation, which is characterized by an irregular heartbeat. The condition affects approximately 2.7 million Americans and can be potentially fatal as it can result in blood clots or stroke.

Fortunately, there are treatment options available, but the actual course of action will depend on a number of factors. The main objective of treatment is to reset the heart’s rhythm and prevent blood clots. Here we take a closer look at atrial fibrillation treatment options and what you can expect.

Returning the Heartbeat to Normal

Doctors rely on a procedure called cardioversion to reset the heart’s rhythm to normal. This is done in one of two ways:

• Electric shocks: Patches are placed on the chest which then deliver an electric shock to momentarily stop the heart. Once the heart starts beating again, it will (hopefully) return to normal.
• Drugs: Cardioversion can also be done through medications called anti-arrhythmics to reset the heart’s rhythm. This is generally administered in the hospital so as to monitor your condition.

Other medications may also be prescribed to control heart rate. Additional medications for atrial fibrillation may be needed, depending on the individual.

Surgical Procedures

In some cases, medications or cardioversion may not work at returning the heart’s rhythm back to normal. Your doctor may recommend surgery as an alternative, which involves destroying part of the heart tissue that is responsible for sending erratic electrical signals.

One operation is known as the surgical maze procedure, which is conducted through open-heart surgery and creating a pattern of scar tissue in the upper chambers of the heart. The tissue interferes with electrical impulses so the procedure has a high success rate. Because the operation requires surgery, this option is generally reserved for those who do not respond well to cardioversion or medications.

These are some of the many treatment options that are available for atrial fibrillation.