Atrial Fibrillation

• Untreated hypertension
• Abnormal mitral valve function
• Heart surgery
• Coronary heart disease
• Excessive alcohol consumption (“binge drinking”)

In turn, untreated AF can precipitate further damage to the heart by weakening the muscles of the ventricles. This weakened condition of the ventricles is termed cardiomyopathy, which in turn leads to an end-stage condition called heart failure.

The descriptions below are for informational purposes only. For specific treatment advice, consult a qualified medical professional.

• Medication – beta blockers work by slowing the heart rate, as do calcium channel blockers. Additionally some calcium blockers act to correct the electrical pathways of the heart. Digoxin, from the digitalis class, is useful for two reasons: it slows electrical conduction from the atria to the ventricles; it also strengthens ventricular pumping, making it is useful in AF patients with heart failure.

• Cardioversion – in this technique, the physician attempts to convert the heart to a normal rhythm. Several drugs are available to do this, although the degree of success with these medications can vary. An external defibrillator, applied to the chest while the patient is sedated, works in principal by a sudden electrical shock to the heart, which can induce a normal rhythm. Like medications, this procedure has variable results.

• Ablation – this procedure uses radiofrequency energy to destroy abnormal electrical pathways in heart tissue. The energy emitting probe (electrode) is placed into the heart through a catheter. The practitioner first “maps” an area of the heart to locate the abnormal electrical activity before the responsible tissue is eliminated. Ablation is a newer technique and has shown some promise for cases unresponsive to conventional treatments.