There are two main ways to care for Afib: rhythm maintenance and rate control.
Rhythm maintenance: Restores and maintains a normal heart rhythm (sinus rhythm).
Rate control: Lets Afib continue but controls the heart rate, often with medicine.
Treatment options
There are pros and cons to all treatment options. You will talk about these with your electrophysiologist at your first visit.
Antiarrhythmic medicine
Ablation
Cardioversion
Blood clot and stroke risk
Blood clots and your risk of a stroke need to be addressed for both rate control and rhythm maintenance. Anticoagulant medicine is the most common tool to protect against stroke, but there are other options.
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