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Get Smart About AFib®
Diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)?
Know your options. Make an informed decision by learning about your treatment options and by talking to an AFib specialist (cardiac electrophysiologist).
Your heart can’t wait.
AFib Prevalence
How common is AFib?
Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart arrhythmia.
- 43 million people are impacted by AFib worldwide.
- 1 in 4 adults over 40 are at risk of AFib.
- If left untreated, AFib can lead to other conditions including heart failure, stroke and death.
What does AFib feel like?
Know the symptoms of AFib. Here’s what others with AFib are saying.
Michael
Retired US Navy Veteran
“I felt light-headed, got sweats really bad, felt my heart pounding… next thing I knew I was in an ambulance. I was scared, I was nervous, I didn’t know what was going on. That was an eye-opener—to be somewhere and not know how you got there.”
Jacqueline
Retired Data Analyst, Active Great Grandmother
“I woke up in the morning feeling really sick… My heart started beating really fast… it just felt like I was dying…. So I went and laid down and tried to meditate to get my heart rate back down, and when that wasn’t working I asked my husband to take me to the emergency room.”
Sam
Executive Chef, TV Host, Author
“I was on a flight, and all of the sudden I just felt really weird. My heart was racing. I got scared and nervous, and asked the flight attendant if there was a doctor on board… and when I landed I called my doctor and he told me to go straight to the emergency room, right away.”
Patients not paid for their testimonials. These symptoms are not exclusive. You may experience symptoms that are different from those described here. Contact your doctor or go to your nearest emergency room if you have, or experience a sudden onset, of these or other worrying symptoms.
AFib Treatment Options
How is AFib treated?
Everyone’s AFib experience is unique.
Medications
Most people with AFib are first put on medications to restore their heart rhythm, manage the symptoms of AFib, and minimize their risk of stroke. Medications may cause unwanted side effects and may not work for everyone.
~50% of patients do not respond to or cannot tolerate medications.1
Cardioversion
Cardioversion is a controlled low-dose electric shock your doctor delivers to your heart to restore its natural rhythm. Your electrophysiologist may suggest this as an additional treatment to combine with your medications. Cardioversion is usually not a permanent fix.
Cardiac Catheter Ablation
Cardiac catheter ablation is a minimally invasive procedure performed by heart rhythm specialists with benefits including improvement in quality of life, permanent symptom relief and elimination of the long-term risk of stroke and death normally associated with AFib.*
*Data is based on physician guidance documents and patient study <1000 patients treated with catheter ablation.
Find an AFib Specialist
Your heart can't wait
AFib becomes harder to treat as symptoms become more severe so it is important to diagnose and seek treatment early.
- AFib increases a person’s risk of stroke or heart failure by 5 times.
- 1 in 5 patients progress from paroxysmal, or occasional AFib to persistent AFib in 1 year.2
Cardiac Catheter Ablation
Ready to take the next step in treating your AFib?
If you're struggling with unwanted side effects from medication and cardioversion isn't for you, there's more you can do.
Take control of your health and get your life back with cardiac catheter ablation.
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