Living with atrial fibrillation (Afib) is a reality for millions. This heart condition can be effectively managed, allowing individuals to maintain their daily routines and pursue their interests. Understanding Afib and its management options helps people navigate their health with confidence and live fulfilling lives.
Understanding Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is a common irregular heart rhythm, or arrhythmia, where the heart’s upper chambers, the atria, beat chaotically. Instead of a steady, coordinated contraction, the atria quiver, causing them to beat out of sync with the lower chambers, the ventricles. This disorganization often leads to a faster heart rate.
Some individuals experience no symptoms, with the condition sometimes discovered during a routine check-up. For those with symptoms, they can include a fast, fluttering, or pounding heartbeat (palpitations), fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, lightheadedness, and reduced ability to exercise.
Managing Life with Atrial Fibrillation
Managing atrial fibrillation often involves a combination of medication, lifestyle adjustments, and sometimes medical procedures. A primary goal of treatment is to prevent blood clots, slow the heart rate, or restore a normal heart rhythm.
Medications play a significant role. Blood thinners, or anticoagulants, such as apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, or warfarin, are often prescribed to reduce the risk of stroke by preventing blood clot formation. To control the heart’s rate, medications like beta-blockers (e.g., carvedilol, metoprolol), calcium channel blockers (e.g., diltiazem, verapamil), or digoxin may be used, which allow the ventricles enough time to fill with blood. For rhythm control, antiarrhythmic drugs like amiodarone, dofetilide, or flecainide can help restore and maintain a regular heart rhythm.
Beyond medication, lifestyle adjustments are important in managing Afib and can help prevent its progression. Maintaining a healthy weight, limiting or avoiding alcohol and stimulants like caffeine, and quitting smoking are beneficial. Regular physical activity, managing stress, and adopting a heart-healthy diet, such as the DASH eating plan, which focuses on reducing salt intake, can also contribute to better heart health.
When lifestyle changes and medications are not enough, various procedures may be considered:
Electrical cardioversion uses low-energy shocks to reset the heart’s rhythm back to normal.
Catheter ablation is a minimally invasive procedure where thin tubes are guided through blood vessels to the heart to destroy or create scar tissue that blocks abnormal electrical signals.
In some cases, a Maze procedure, or surgical ablation, may be performed, often alongside other heart surgeries.
For individuals who cannot tolerate blood thinners, a left atrial appendage closure device may be implanted to seal off a part of the heart where blood clots commonly form, reducing stroke risk.
Potential Health Complications
While many individuals with atrial fibrillation lead normal lives, it is important to understand the potential health complications if the condition is not properly managed. The most serious risks are stroke and heart failure. Proper diagnosis and ongoing management are important in reducing these risks.
One of the primary concerns with Afib is the increased risk of stroke. When the atria quiver chaotically instead of contracting effectively, blood can pool in these chambers, particularly in a small pouch called the left atrial appendage. This pooling can lead to the formation of blood clots. If a clot breaks off and travels to the brain, it can block blood flow, causing an ischemic stroke, which deprives brain cells of oxygen. People with untreated Afib have a significantly higher risk of stroke, potentially three to five times greater than those without the condition.
Afib can also lead to or worsen heart failure, a condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. The rapid and irregular heartbeat associated with Afib can make the heart work harder over time, potentially weakening the heart muscle. This inefficient pumping can contribute to the development or progression of heart failure. Studies indicate that heart failure is a common complication, with a lifetime risk of 41% among those with Afib, which is twice the lifetime risk of stroke.
Living Well and Long-Term Outlook
Many people diagnosed with atrial fibrillation can lead full and active lives with adherence to a personalized treatment plan. The long-term outlook for individuals with Afib is positive when the condition is well-managed through appropriate medical care and lifestyle adjustments. While Afib can present challenges, a stable quality of life is achievable.
Maintaining regular follow-up appointments with healthcare providers is important to ensure the management plan remains effective and to address any changes in symptoms or condition. Staying informed about one’s specific type of Afib and its management strategies empowers individuals to take an active role in their health. With consistent care and commitment to treatment, individuals with Afib can continue to engage in their daily activities and enjoy a good quality of life.