Atrial Fibrillation Specialist

What is atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation is a term used to describe an irregular heartbeat. In atrial fibrillation cases, the beats created by the upper chambers in your heart are chaotic and out of sync with your lower chambers.

Atrial fibrillation affects at least 2.7 million Americans and, when left untreated, it increases your risk of having a stroke. You may be at risk of developing atrial fibrillation if you have a medical history of high blood pressure or coronary artery disease, which may damage the chambers of your heart and create the abnormal beat.

Congenital conditions that affect the structure of your heart may also lead to atrial fibrillation.

What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation doesn’t always cause symptoms and is most often diagnosed during a routine checkup. If your irregular heartbeat is causing symptoms, you may experience:

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Inability to keep up with your regular exercise routine
• Palpitations
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath

Many people with AFib also report feeling as though their heart is racing or flip-flopping in their chest.

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, contact Premier Cardiac and Vascular today for an evaluation.

How is atrial fibrillation diagnosed?

Atrial fibrillation is most often found during a routine physical exam. To confirm a diagnosis, Dr. Banerjee may recommend additional testing such as an echocardiogram, which is a noninvasive test that allows her to evaluate your heart’s pumping mechanism.

Dr. Banerjee may also order additional testing to confirm or rule out that your irregular heartbeat isn’t due to an arrhythmia, which is a cardiac condition in which the electrical activity of your heart is uncoordinated, creating an irregular or rapid heartbeat.

What is the treatment for atrial fibrillation?

Dr. Banerjee creates individualized treatment plans for the management of atrial fibrillation based on the seriousness of your condition and your medical history. The goal of your treatment is to improve your heartbeat and decrease your risk of having a stroke.

Your treatment may include medication to help control the rate or reset the rhythm of your heartbeat. In some cases, a pacemaker is recommended to improve heart rhythm and lower your risk of having a stroke. The pacemaker is an implanted device that sends a weak electrical impulse to reset the rhythm of your heart.

For management of your atrial fibrillation from a cardiac specialist, contact Premier Cardiac and Vascular by phone or online today.