Although atrial fibrillation can be a dangerous condition, there are several treatment options available to help manage the disease and control the risks associated with it. The type of treatment you receive will depend on several factors, some of which include; the length of time you`ve had atrial fibrillation, the underlying cause of the disorder, as well as how bothersome the symptoms are.
The 2 main goals your doctor may be looking to achieve when treating atrial fibrillation are:
- Preventing blood clots from forming thus reducing the risk of stroke associated with atrial fibrillation
- Controlling or re-setting the irregular heart rhythm produced by atrial fibrillation
In some instances, atrial fibrillation can be triggered by a specific incident or condition such as a thyroid issue, asthma, or sleep apnea. In these cases, if the original condition that produced atrial fibrillation can be treated, the heart rhythm may be resolved without further intervention.
Cardioversion
Cardioversion is a treatment meant to correct the irregular heart beat produced by atrial fibrillation. There are 2 types of cardioversion; medicinal, and electrical. With medicinal cardioversion your doctor may either use intravenous or oral medication to help restore the normal rhythm of your heart. These medications are traditionally administered in a hospital where your heart rate can be closely monitored.
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