At least 2.7 million Americans have a type of arrhythmia called atrial fibrillation, also known as AFib or AF. Akash Makkar, MD, and Mohamad Abdelrahman, MD, at Arizona Heart Arrhythmia Associates perform a variety of AFib treatments at seven convenient locations in Phoenix, Avondale, Tempe, Chandler, Sun City, Dewey, and Prescott Valley, Arizona. Without treatment, AFib can lead to serious complications like stroke and heart failure. Call the office nearest you or book an AFib consultation online today.
Atrial fibrillation is a common type of arrhythmia, which means it causes an irregular heartbeat.
Normally, your heart beats at a steady interval. When you have AFib, the heart contracts and relaxes erratically, often leading to a quivering, rapid heartbeat.
Although AFib itself isn’t usually life-threatening, it can lead to medical emergencies like blood clots, strokes, and heart failure. Many effective treatments are available at Arizona Heart Arrhythmia Associates to control your heart rhythm and prevent complications of AFib.
You can have AFib without having any symptoms. When AFib does cause symptoms, they may include:
If you don’t have symptoms, your primary care physician may discover AFib during a routine physical exam.
The likelihood of getting AFib increases with age. Other factors that may increase your risk for AFib include:
These conditions involve damage to or dysfunction in the heart’s structure. However, some people get AFib without the presence of heart damage.
Arizona Heart Arrhythmia Associates reviews your symptoms and medical history and performs a physical exam. To confirm a diagnosis of AFib, they may take one or more in-office tests, such as:
They may also send you home with a portable Holter monitor or event monitor. A Holter monitor records the electrical activity of your heart for 24-48 hours. An event monitor is similar, but you wear it for a week to a month.
Arizona Heart Arrhythmia Associates creates an individualized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. Depending on the cause and severity of your AFib, treatment may include:
Catheter ablation involves treating AFib with a long, thin tube that your provider inserts into a blood vessel and threads through until it reaches your heart.
To learn more about effective atrial fibrillation treatments, call Arizona Heart Arrhythmia Associates or book an appointment online today.