Atrial Fibrillation Medical Reference
Holiday Heart Syndrome: What to Know
- Atrial Fibrillation
If you’ve been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, you’ll probably have some questions. Here are a few to ask your doctor.
- Left Atrial Appendage Percutaneous Closure Surgery
Left atrial appendage surgery could help lower your risk for stroke if you have atrial fibrillation (AFib).
- Atrial Fibrillation: By Age, Sex, and More
Learn more about this condition, including who’s more likely to get it and why, and available treatments.
- Calcium Channel Blockers for AFib: What to Know
Calcium channel blockers are often the first treatment for controlling heart rate in people with atrial fibrillation (AFib).
- Atrial Fibrillation With Low Blood Pressure: What to Know
Learn more about these two conditions, including why they sometimes happen together, risk factors, and how they’re treated.
- Atrial Fibrillation vs. Supraventricular Tachycardia: What You Should Know
If you have heart palpitations and lightheadedness, you may wonder if these are symptoms of AFib or SVT. It could be SVT or AFib. Here’s how both stack up.
- Radiation for Ventricular Tachycardia: What to Know
If other treatments aren’t working, you might be eligible for experimental radiation therapy to treat your ventricular tachycardia. What to know about how it works.
- Rhythm Control Strategies for Atrial Fibrillation
You may hear a lot about rate control strategies for AFib, but rhythm control is just as important. Here are some medications and treatments that can help.
- Medications You Should Avoid With Atrial Fibrillation
If you have atrial fibrillation, here’s a list of medications you should avoid and why.
- Does an Endocrine Disorder Raise Your AFib Risk?
Having an endocrine disorder, such as diabetes or thyroid disease, may raise your risk for atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm problem. Learn more.
- Atrial Fibrillation vs. Ventricular Fibrillation
Learn the similarities and differences between atrial fibrillation and ventricular fibrillation, two common types of irregular heart rhythms.
- Clinical Trials for Atrial Fibrillation
What’s new in atrial fibrillation research? We take a look at the latest clinical trials.
- Are Direct Thrombin Inhibitors Effective for AFib?
Direct thrombin inhibitors are a blood thinner that treats atrial fibrillation and other conditions that can lead to stroke. Learn about these medications.
- AFib Treatments: ACE Inhibitors and ARBs
ACE inhibitors and ARBs (angiotensin-receptor blockers) both have protective effects against atrial fibrillation, or AFib. Learn how they work to lower blood pressure and protect your heart.
- AFib and Coronary Artery Disease: What's the Link?
Atrial fibrillation and coronary heart disease have a lot in common. If you’ve been diagnosed with one, treating it effectively can help you avoid developing the other. Here’s why and how.
- Atrial Fibrillation in Older Adults
AFib is the most common type of abnormal heart rhythm condition in older adults. As you age, your risk of AFib goes up. Learn more here.
- Atrial Fibrillation and Inflammation
AFib is related to your body’s inflammation. Some experts believe that this inflammation can cause or worsen AFib. Learn more about the link.
- Heart Rate Control for Atrial Fibrillation
With AFib, it’s important to keep your heart rate in check, not just your heart rhythm.
- Hybrid Surgical-Catheter Ablation for AFib
People with hard-to-treat cardiac AFib may benefit from a hybrid procedure to regulate their heartbeat. Treatment involves surgical and catheter techniques inside and outside the heart.
- Does Fish Oil Help AFib?
Could something fishy prevent or treat atrial fibrillation? Here’s the latest word on fish oil and the common irregular heartbeat.
- Coffee and Atrial Fibrillation: Is There a Link?
Coffee may be considered risky for people with AFib, but the newest research says it doesn’t hurt and might even help.
- Atrial Fibrillation in Younger People
Atrial fibrillation happens more often later in life. But it also occurs in younger people, potentially with greater impact on their lives.
- How to Sleep Better With Atrial Fibrillation
If you have atrial fibrillation, use these tips to get a better night’s sleep.
- Atrial Fibrillation in the Black American Population
Black people have lower rates of atrial fibrillation (AFib). But with AFib, their stroke risk may be higher. Learn why and what it means for you.
- AFib and Cardiogenic Shock: What to Know
Cardiogenic shock is a deadly medical emergency. If you have AFib or get it during your hospital stay, it may affect your outcome. Learn more.
- Factor Xa Inhibitors for AFib
These newer blood thinners reduce the risk of stroke from atrial fibrillation (AFib) with fewer side effects than warfarin. See if they’re right for you.
- Cardioversion vs. Ablation for AFib
Cardioversion and ablation are two minimally invasive procedures used to treat AFib. Find out how they work and whether they’re right for you.
- What to Know About AFib and Your Mental Health
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) often goes along with depression and anxiety. Learn more about the link and what you can do to improve your mental health.
- Disparities in Diagnosis and Treatment of AFib
AFib: How race, gender, and socioeconomic factors affect diagnosis and treatment.
- AFib: Long-Term Blood Thinner Use
Blood thinners can lower your risk of stroke when you have AFib. Here's what to know about the risks and benefits of using these drugs long-term.
- AFib and Diabetes: What’s the Link?
You’re more likely to develop AFib if you have diabetes. The risk is even greater if you have type 2. How are they linked?
- Resources for Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)
Get to know about nonprofit organizations, blogs, and online communities that focus on atrial fibrillation.
- AFib and Your Relationships
Just as atrial fibrillation affects your life, it affects your partner, family, and friends. Learn how to talk to your loved ones about AFib and how to get the support you need.
- The Costs of Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)
Get an overview of the treatment costs for atrial fibrillation (AFib) and resources to help manage those expenses.
- What Are Holter and Event Monitors?
Get an overview of the two main types of portable devices -- Holter and event monitors -- for recording your heart’s activity.
- AFib and Stroke
Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) and stroke share a strong link. Learn their relationship and ways you can prevent each of them.
- Working When You Have AFib
After an episode of atrial fibrillation (AFib), you may need to make some changes before you get back to work.
- Conditions You May Have Along With AFib
When you have atrial fibrillation (AFib), there’s a chance you could have an ongoing (chronic) health condition with it. Here are some problems to be aware of.
- When AFib Progresses
If you have AFib, you may not need any treatment, or you may be able to manage it with medication. But this condition almost always is progressive and often requires lifelong treatment. At first, your AFib episodes might be more spaced out and less intense. But over time the problem can become worse and it can happen more often.
- Surgery and Other Procedures for AFib
If you have atrial fibrillation (AFib), your doctor might suggest that you have surgery or another kind of procedure to treat the condition. There are a few different ways to treat AFib other than through regular medication.
- Newly Diagnosed With AFib: What to Know
An AFib diagnosis may bring up a lot of emotions. Here’s what you need to know to lower your stress and improve your heart health.
- When to See Your Doctor About Your Heart
Heart issues can happen to anyone for many reasons. Learn about the red flags that you should talk to your doctor about.
- Beta-Blocker Medications for AFib
Atrial fibrillation is a condition in which your heart beats too fast. Beta-blockers are a good treatment option to slow down your heart rate.
- Conditions That Can Look Like AFib
AFib causes an uneven and sometimes rapid heart rate. But the symptoms can feel like those of other conditions. Learn more about the disorders that may have similar warning signs and how to tell them apart from AFib.
- Latest Research on Atrial Fibrillation
Researchers are hard at work on finding ways to treat, manage, and prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here’s what the most recent research says.
- AFib: Prognosis and Life Expectancy
Learn what might affect your outcome if you have atrial fibrillation (AFib).
- Atrial Fibrillation and Blood Clots
Atrial fibrillation can cause blood clots that can lead to strokes. Find out the symptoms of blood clots, how to prevent a stroke, and how to care for someone with atrial fibrillation.
- What Is Lone AFib?
You may have heard of atrial fibrillation (AFib), but what about a special form of AFib called lone AFib? There's a bit of controversy around it. Learn the facts.
- Wandering Atrial Pacemaker
A wandering atrial pacemaker is a relatively rare condition that is often mistaken as atrial fibrillation, or AFib. Learn more.