Atrial Fibrillation

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Treatments
Maladies
Medications

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Dr. Philip Joseph

Cardiologist

Hamilton, ON

Dr. Sacha Bhatia

MD, MBA, FRCPC

Cardiologist

Toronto, ON

Dr. Michael Platonov

MD FRCP(C) Director of Arrhythmia program

Cardiologist

Mississauga, ON

Dr. Kumaraswamy Nanthakumar

Director of Arrhythmia Program

Cardiologist

Toronto, ON

Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is indeed an irregular heartbeat or arrhythmia that can lead to various complications. In a normal heart rhythm, the electrical signals coordinate the contractions of the atria and ventricles, allowing for efficient blood flow.
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True/False - Quiz: Do You Understand Atrial Fibrillation?

Quiz: Do You Understand Atrial Fibrillation?

Test your knowledge by answering the following questions:

Questions

True

False

0

The goal of atrial fibrillation treatment is solely to restore your normal heart rate and rhythm.

Explanation:

The goal of atrial fibrillation treatment is to restore your normal heart rate and rhythm and prevent blood clots.

1

Rate control slows down the heartbeat to make it less rapid and less irregular.

Explanation:

The rate control strategy is to slow your heart down with medications that are relatively easy to take and safe.

2

Rhythm control involves treatments to get the heartbeat back to beating normally.

Explanation:

The rhythm control strategy involves getting the heartbeat regular and back to normal, often with medications called antiarrhythmic drugs.

3

Ablation is a very effective atrial fibrillation treatment for any patient.

Explanation:

Ablation can be a very effective atrial fibrillation treatment, but it isn’t for all patients.

4

Cardioversion uses small, very safe electrical shocks to the heart to restore a normal rapid heartbeat.

Explanation:

Cardioversion restores a normal rapid heartbeat with small, very safe electrical shocks to the heart of a patient who’s briefly put to sleep.

Atrial Fibrillation Treatment Options

There are two primary treatment strategies for AF: rate control and rhythm control.Rate control focuses on managing the rapid and irregular heartbeat associated with AF. The goal is to slow down the heart rate to a more normal range, typically between 60 and 100 beats per minute at rest.

Medications such as beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and digoxin are commonly used to achieve rate control. Slowing down the heart rate can help relieve symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, and fatigue.