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Atrial fibrillation management

There are different ways to treat Atrial fibrillation (AFib) depending on your symptoms and the information gathered from your diagnostic tests. Your doctor will discuss the best options for you.

Lifestyle modifications

Whatever treatment plan is chosen for your atrial fibrillation (AFib or AF), you should support it with good lifestyle choices that are well recognised to have a positive impact on heart health and general wellbeing.1

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Exercise regularly

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Eat a healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight

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Restrict/eliminate alcohol and caffeine

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Stop smoking

For more information on what you can do to improve your heart health and overall wellbeing, download our guide to healthy living.

Cardioversion

Icon image of cardioversion can be a scheduled procedure or used in emergencies.

Cardioversion can be a scheduled procedure or used in emergencies. It involves delivering low-energy shocks to the heart in order to quickly restore a normal heart rhythm. Cardioversion can also be conducted with medication. Cardioversion is typically used as a short-term solution

Learn more about cardioversion

Medications used to treat Atrial fibrillation (AFib)

Drug therapy is often the first course of treatment for atrial fibrillation. A variety of different drug treatments are available, which fall into two main types:

  • Anti-arrhythmia drugs, such as sodium channel blockers and beta blockers, intended to control the rhythm and speed at which your heart beats
  • Blood-thinning drugs intended to reduce the risk of stroke by limiting the blood’s ability to clot

Your doctor will assess how well you tolerate the drugs, how they impact your lifestyle and how well they are controlling your atrial fibrillation and risk of stroke.

  • Purpose: These medications help control the heart rate, ensuring it doesn't beat too fast, help to reduce symptoms and improve heart function.

  • Common medications:

    - Beta-blockers (e.g., Metoprolol, Atenolol)

    - Calcium channel blockers (e.g., Diltiazem, Verapamil)

    - Digoxin

  • Purpose: Once your heart rate is under control, the next consideration is to treat the abnormal heart rhythm with medications to restore it to normal. These medications help restore and maintain a normal heart rhythm. They are particularly useful for patients who experience significant symptoms from AFib.

  • Common medications:

    - Sodium channel blockers: (e.g.,Flecainide, Propafenone, Quinidine)

    - Potassium channel blockers: (e.g., Amiodarone, Sotalol, Dofetilide, Dronedarone)

  • Purpose: Anticoagulants help lower this risk by preventing clot formation. It’s important to take them exactly as prescribed by your doctor, as taking more than the recommended dose may increase the risk of bleeding.

  • Common medications:

    - Warfarin

    -  Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs): (e.g., Apixaban, Rivaroxaban, Dabigatran, Edoxaban)

  • Purpose: Depending on your overall health and the presence of other conditions, additional medications might be prescribed.

  • Examples:

    - ACE inhibitors or ARBs

    - Diuretics

Learn more about medications

Cardiac ablation

Cardiac ablation is a procedure that aims to identify and eliminate the source of disruption to the heart’s normal electrical system

There are 3 types of cardiac abltion available- radiofrequency, cryoablation and pulsed field ablation.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) uses high-frequency energy to create extreme heat to neutralise target tissue

Cryoablation

Cryoablation uses extreme cold to neutralise target tissue

Pulsed field ablation (PFA)

Pulsed field ablation uses microsecond electrical pulses to neutralise target tissue

Learn more about cardiac ablation

Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC)

Some people with atrial fibrillation (AF or AFib) who are at high risk of stroke and are not able to take oral anticoagulants may require a minimally invasive procedure called Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC). The LAAC procedure permanently closes off the left atrial appendage, which is known to be the main source of blood clots in patients. Closing off the LAA may reduce the risk of stroke in these patients as it prevents the migration of the blood clots to the brain.

Pacemakers to monitor Atrial fibrillation and treat abnormal heart rhythm

Not all patients with Atrial Fibrillation require a pacemaker. But if a patient with Atrial Fibrillation has a slow heart rate, their doctor might recommend to have a pacemaker implanted. A pacemaker is designed to monitor and treat your abnormal heart rhythm.

Pacemakers are used to treat a condition called bradycardia. Bradycardia is an abnormally slow heartbeat, typically fewer than 60 beats per minute. AFib causes an irrgeular heart rate.  In some patients this can be a slow heart rate. If the chambers of your heart don’t contract often enough to supply enough blood, your body doesn’t get enough oxygen and nutrients to function properly. As a result, you may feel tired or dizzy, have shortness of breath or have fainting spells. A pacemaker stimulates your heart with electrical impulses to restore a normal rhythm.

Learn more about pacemakers

Stop wondering about AFib

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Understand your symptoms by taking this short quiz

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  1. Isabelle C. Van Gelder et al. 2024 ESC Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation developed in collaboration with the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS). European Heart Journal (2024) 00, 1–101 https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehae176.

Results from case studies are not necessarily predictive of results in other cases. Results in other cases may vary.  All images are the property of Boston Scientific. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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