Atrial Fibrillation Specialist

What is atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation is a heart rhythm disorder that causes an irregular or rapid heartbeat.

With atrial fibrillation, the upper chambers of the heart — the atria — beat irregularly and chaotically, causing them to be out of sync with the lower chambers — the ventricles. 

Though atrial fibrillation may not cause serious health problems, the irregular heartbeat may allow blood to pool in the upper chamber of the heart and form blood clots. These blood clots may block the flow of blood, causing a heart attack or stroke. 

What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation?

Symptoms of atrial fibrillation vary, and some people may not have any symptoms at all. With atrial fibrillation, you may experience:

• Heart palpitations
• Rapid heartbeat
• Skipped heartbeats
• Fatigue
• Low exercise tolerance
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain

Your symptoms may occur occasionally or regularly. No matter the severity or frequency of your symptoms, if you suspect your heartbeat is out-of-sync, schedule a consultation at Cardiac Care Consultants.

Heart rhythm disorders are serious but treatable heart conditions.

How is atrial fibrillation diagnosed?

The team at Cardiac Care Consultants conducts comprehensive evaluations to diagnose atrial fibrillation. During your visit, your physician reviews your symptoms and medical history and conducts a physical exam.

Cardiac Care Consultants is a state-of-the-art cardiology practice and offers many on-site diagnostic tests, which your provider may run to confirm or rule out atrial fibrillation. Testing may include:

• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Echocardiogram
• Stress tests
• Holter monitoring
• Event monitoring

The EKG, echocardiogram, and stress test are in-office tests. With Holter and event monitoring, the team has you wear a heart rhythm recording device while you engage in your normal daily activities outside the office. 

How is atrial fibrillation treated?

Treatment for atrial fibrillation depends on the severity and frequency of your symptoms. Treatment may include:

• Drug or electrical cardioversion to reset the rhythm of your heart
• Medication to maintain heart rhythm
• Medication to manage heart rate
• Anticoagulant management
• Ablation
• Placement of a pacemaker

Your physician also recommends lifestyle changes to improve heart health, such as eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and smoking cessation.

To find out if your irregular heartbeat is atrial fibrillation, schedule a consultation at Cardiac Care Consultants by calling the office nearest you or booking an appointment online today.