Atrial Fibrillation

AFib often has no symptoms, but it can cause symptoms when it is not treated. The following most common symptoms may resemble other conditions or medical problems, so it's always best to talk with your doctor if you experience:

• Heart palpitations: the sensation in which your heart is skipping beats or beating too hard.
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Confusion
• Swelling in the feet, ankles and legs

At INTEGRIS we use the most advanced imaging methods and diagnostic tools to determine the cause, severity and prognosis of your heart condition. Diagnosis starts with a medical history and physical exam, and you may be sent to a cardiologist for further evaluation and treatment. Diagnostic tests may include:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG): Health care providers use this very important diagnostic test to study the heart signal and rhythm. A skilled reader can find AFib using this test alone. If the AFib comes and goes, you might need an electrocardiogram over a longer period while wearing a Holter monitor or an event recorder to pick up the rhythm.
• Echocardiogram: Checks the heart's structure and function.
• Cardiac Stress Testing: Checks the blood flow in the heart.
• Blood Work: Checks for thyroid levels, diabetes and possible medical conditions.

Specific treatment for atrial fibrillation will be determined by your doctor based on your age, overall health, medical history, the extent of the disease and your tolerance for specific medications, procedures or therapies. Of course, your personal opinions and preferences will also be taken into consideration. In the long term, treatment focuses on either controlling the heart rate or preventing the abnormal rhythm. Treatments may include:

• Anticoagulation Medicines: What you are prescribed will depend on your risk for stroke. If you are at low risk, you may take daily aspirin. If you are at high risk, you will need a stronger blood thinner.
• Other Medicines: To slow the heartbeat (beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers), to help prevent AFib (antiarrhythmics) or to treat heart failure if present (like ACE inhibitors)
• Treatment for the main cause of AFib, if known
• Medicines
• Cardioversion: Your health care provider sends an electrical shock to your heart through the chest. This can help the heart get back into a normal rhythm. You are connected to an ECG monitor, which is also connected to the defibrillator.
• Ablation: An invasive but nonsurgical procedure done in the electrophysiology lab if medicines and cardioversion have not worked. The health care provider puts a thin, flexible tube (catheter) into your heart through a vessel in your groin or arm. The provider uses a method such as radio frequency ablation (which heats the tissue) or cryoablation (which freezes the tissue). Either way, the goal is to destroy the small patch of heart tissue which causes AFib. In some cases, the conduction node between the atria and the ventricles will be destroyed, preventing the problem signals from passing to the ventricles. A pacemaker is then put in to control heart rhythm.
• Maze Surgery: A number of incisions or burns are made on the left and right atria. This forms scar tissue, which does not conduct electricity, disrupting the path of abnormal electrical impulses, thus preventing AFib.
• Prothrombin Time: This test is needed if you take warfarin. It measures the time it takes for your blood to clot, then it records your reading as an international normalized ratio. Your doctor can then change your medicine if needed. Newer anticoagulant medicines may call for periodic monitoring of your kidney function.

Part of heart and vascular care includes managing heart disease and preventing further deterioration to help you live the fullest life possible. To accomplish that, we’ll provide you with education, continued care options and programs even after you are discharged including:

• Cardiac Rehabilitation
• Heart Education
• Anticoagulation Management Clinic
• Heart Care Program
• Integrative Medicine
• Palliative Care