Atrial fibrillation treatment

Your plan may combine medicines, treatment of contributing conditions, lifestyle changes and a rhythm procedure. The right combination depends on symptoms, the pattern of atrial fibrillation, heart health, clot and bleeding risks, and your preferences.

Rate-control medicines slow how quickly the lower chambers beat. Rhythm-control treatment tries to restore or maintain a regular rhythm and can include medicine, electrical cardioversion or catheter ablation. Neither approach replaces a separate assessment of whether anticoagulation is appropriate.

Care may also address high blood pressure, heart failure, thyroid disease, sleep apnoea, alcohol use, smoking, weight and physical activity. Managing these factors can support symptom control and wider cardiovascular health.

Take each medicine at the prescribed time and check before using over-the-counter products or supplements that might interact. Do not double a missed dose unless your medicine instructions specifically say to do so, and never stop anticoagulation on your own.

Track palpitations, breathlessness, dizziness, tiredness and any medicine effects. At reviews, bring the record and a complete medicine list. Monitoring may include pulse and blood pressure checks, an electrocardiogram, blood tests or longer rhythm recording, depending on the treatment used.

Call emergency services for chest pain, severe breathlessness, fainting, or sudden facial weakness, arm weakness, speech difficulty, confusion or vision change. Do not wait for these symptoms to pass before seeking help.

Obtain urgent advice for vomiting blood, black stools, uncontrolled bleeding or a significant head injury while taking an anticoagulant. A new persistent rapid heartbeat, worsening dizziness or a major drop in exercise tolerance also deserves prompt assessment.

Ask whether the current goal is rate control, rhythm control or both; why anticoagulation is or is not advised; which adverse effects require action; and when monitoring is due. If symptoms continue, ask what finding would prompt cardioversion, ablation or a medicine change.