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Atrial fibrillation (also called A-Fib or AF) is a common rapid heart rhythm condition in which the electrical impulses that control muscle contractions in the upper chambers of the heart, or atria, become rapid and chaotic.
A-Fib is also the most common heart rhythm disorder in the United States, with over 160,000 new cases being diagnosed each year. In response, St.Vincent Heart Center of Indiana has developed an A-Fib Center of Excellence that provides a total care approach for patients with atrial fibrillation. In addition to providing comprehensive services, the A-Fib Center of Excellence serves as a resource to referring physicians, patients, and their families to help them understand A-Fib and the variety of treatment options available.
The signs and symptoms of A-Fib vary from person to person. For some, it feels like a sudden flutter or tremor of the heart, while others feel nothing unusual at all. Many people say that they are aware of exactly when their heartbeat becomes irregular and more rapid than normal. They also may experience anxiety and fear, especially the first few times they feel an episode of A-Fib. Other symptoms experienced by some patients are:
While A-Fib is uncommon among young people, it can occur in people of any age. However, the likelihood of developing A-Fib increases as we age. After age 65, between three and five percent of people have atrial fibrillation. Approximately nine percent of people age 80 or older have the condition.
If you are experiencing the symptoms of A-Fib, you need to see a physician immediately.
Your physician will most likely diagnose the condition through a combination of checking your pulse and recording an electrocardiogram (ECG). If your pulse is irregular and faster than 100 beats per minute, the physician may suspect A-Fib. The diagnosis will be confirmed with the ECG, which is a simple, painless test to record the heart’s electrical activity through electrodes attached temporarily to your chest, arms, ad legs. The ECG test is usually performed in the doctor’s office, although some patients are asked to wear a small portable device to record a series of ECGs over a period of 24-48 hours.
The St.Vincent Heart Center’s A-Fib Center of Excellence provides a wide range of treatments for A-Fib. To prevent stroke, anticoagulant therapy may be used. To treat the arrhythmias, the following treatments are available:
In all cases, St.Vincent Heart Center cardiologists and surgeons work together to determine the best treatment options for patients.
For more information, please call 317-338-AFIB.