Don’t Let Atrial Fibrillation Get in the Way of Doing the Things You Love

A Fib is the most common heart arrhythmia.

Atrial fibrillation, also known as A Fib or AF, is defined as an irregular heartbeat that can lead to various heart-related complications like blood clots, stroke, and heart failure. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are currently 6 million patients in the U.S. diagnosed with A Fib. That number is expected to grow to more than 7 million by 2035.

Even though A Fib is the most common heart arrhythmia, many pre-existing conditions put certain populations at a higher risk of complications. The most common type of treatment for A Fib is drug therapy. This includes medicine to control the heart’s rhythm and rate and/or blood-thinning medication to prevent blood clots from forming and reduce stroke risk. Nearly half of all patients with A Fib, experienced symptoms while taking their medication and want something that would help improve their quality of life.

In those cases, the best course of action is to see a cardiac electrophysiologist. An electrophysiologist is a cardiologist with extensive training in heart arrhythmias and the electrical activities of the heart. They specialize in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of heart arrhythmias, including catheter ablation. Catheter ablation is a procedure which targets the areas of the heart generating faulty electrical pulses that cause a rapid heartbeat or A Fib. By neutralizing and blocking these areas, the pulses are controlled, and a normal heartbeat returns. Saint Alphonsus is the only hospital in the region to use Stereotaxis Robotic Magnetic Navigation. The Stereotaxis technology assists the surgeon and results in a significant reduction in the patient’s exposure to radiation and reduces the risk of complications.

Catheter ablation can improve quality of life and allow patients to get back to doing the things they love. Most patients who receive catheter ablation treatment experience a long-term reduction in both the number of episodes of arrhythmia and the severity of symptoms. Many achieve a permanent return to normal heart rhythm. As with any medical treatment, catheter ablation has potential rare risks. Serious complications are rare but can include damage to the heart or blood vessels, blood clots (which may lead to stroke), heart attack, or even death. The success of this procedure depends on many factors. These include a person’s physical condition and ability to tolerate the procedure. It is important for patients to have open discussions with their physicians and carefully select them based on their skill and experience.

For more information on the Saint Alphonsus Heart Institute visit www.saintalphonsus.org.

 

Dr. Adam Grimaldi is a Cardiac Electrophysiologist at Saint Alphonsus Heart Institute.