Atrial fibrillation occurs when your heart has an irregular rhythm. It increases your risk of stroke, heart failure, clots forming in your heart, as well as other heart-related diseases.
If you have atrial fibrillation, you may experience symptoms such as:
- Palpitations
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
Some people may not show any symptoms. Your doctor may only pick up the disease during an examination and confirm the symptoms by ordering additional tests, such as an electrocardiogram.
If you show symptoms of atrial fibrillation and suspect you may have the condition, send us an enquiry to have your symptoms confirmed.
Treating Atrial Fibrillation
The treatment plan for atrial fibrillation largely depends on how long you have had the condition, its cause, and the amount of discomfort you experience. In general, treatment for atrial fibrillation aims to:
- Control your heart rate
- Prevent blood clots from forming
- Decrease your risk of stroke
At Raffles Heart Centre, we offer the following treatments to help manage your condition:
Medications
Your cardiologist may prescribe antiarrhythmic drugs to restore your heart rhythm. Depending on your condition, the medication may be administered orally or intravenously.
Cardioversion
An electric shock is delivered to your heart using paddles, which momentarily stops it. Ideally, your heart should resume its normal rhythm when it begins beating again. Your cardiologist may prescribe antiarrhythmic drugs before the procedure to restore normal heart rate.
Catheter ablation
If medications or cardioversion do not work, your cardiologist may recommend catheter ablation to remove heart tissues that are causing the irregular heartbeats.
Implanting a pacemaker
To help regulate your heartbeat, your cardiologist may recommend implanting a pacemaker. It works by sending out electrical pulses to keep your heart beating at the right pace.
These treatments may be done by itself, or in combination with each other to manage your condition.
Make An Appointment
Make an appointment to consult a heart specialist / cardiologist at Raffles Heart Centre. Select "Specialist Appointment". Under Specialist Appointment Details, select "Cardiology" or "Cardiothoracic Surgery".
Make an enquiry. We will get back to you within 2 working days. You can reach us at 6311 2260.