All About the Latest Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation

BY TEAM FOURTH FRONTIER DESK

Medications:

Blood thinners, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and antiarrhythmics are commonly used to treat AFib.

Quitting smoking, managing stress, getting regular exercise, and eating a healthy diet can help manage AFib.

Lifestyle Changes:

Ablation and pacemaker insertion are two procedures that may be used to treat AFib when medications and lifestyle changes are not effective.

Procedures:

This procedure involves inserting a thin, flexible tube (catheter) into a blood vessel and threading it to the heart. Radiofrequency energy is used to destroy the abnormal tissue causing the irregular rhythm.

Catheter Ablation:

This procedure uses a balloon filled with extremely cold gas to freeze and destroy the abnormal tissue causing AFib.

Cryoballoon Ablation:

This procedure uses laser energy to destroy the abnormal tissue causing AFib.

Laser Ablation:

This is a surgical procedure that involves creating a series of incisions in the heart to create a "maze" of scar tissue that helps regulate the heart's rhythm.

Maze Procedure:

This procedure involves closing off the left atrial appendage, a small pouch in the heart that is a common source of blood clots in people with AFib.

Left Atrial Appendage Closure:

This procedure involves isolating the pulmonary veins, which are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the heart.

Pulmonary Vein Isolation:

Several newer medications, such as novalysin and edoxaban, are being studied for their effectiveness in treating AFib.

Newer Medications:

We recommend that you monitor your heart rate and work with a healthcare provider to determine the best treatment plan for AFib.