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- Patient information: Atrial fibrillation
- Patient information: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators
- Patient information: Radiofrequency catheter ablation
- Patient information: Warfarin (Coumadin®)
- Antiarrhythmic drugs to maintain sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation: Recommendations
- Anticoagulation prior to and after restoration of sinus rhythm in atrial fibrillation
- Antithrombotic therapy to prevent embolization in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation
- Atrial fibrillation in heart failure and cardiomyopathy
- Cardiac resynchronization therapy in atrial fibrillation
- Control of ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation: Nonpharmacologic therapy
- Control of ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation: Pharmacologic therapy
- Epidemiology of and risk factors for atrial fibrillation
- Lone atrial fibrillation
- Overview of the evaluation and management of atrial fibrillation
- Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
- Presentation and management of new onset atrial fibrillation
- Radiofrequency catheter ablation to prevent recurrent atrial fibrillation
- Restoration of sinus rhythm in atrial fibrillation: Recommendations
- Restoration of sinus rhythm in atrial fibrillation: Therapeutic options
- Rhythm control versus rate control in atrial fibrillation
- Risk of embolization in atrial fibrillation
- Role of echocardiography in atrial fibrillation
- Stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation
- Surgical approaches to prevent recurrent atrial fibrillation
Patient information: A guide to atrial fibrillation
Contents of this article
ATRIAL FIBRILLATION OVERVIEW
Atrial fibrillation (also called AF or "a-fib") is an abnormal rhythm of the heart. Some people have no symptoms of AF while others have unpleasant heart palpitations, chest discomfort, lightheadedness, or even severe shortness of breath.
Atrial fibrillation is diagnosed with an EKG (electrocardiogram). It is sometimes treated with medicines or a procedure to return the heart rhythm to normal. In other people, a medicine is given to prevent the heart from beating too fast, but the abnormal heart rhythm is not treated. Most people with atrial fibrillation are given a medicine to prevent blood clots from forming inside the heart.
UPTODATE ATRIAL FIBRILLATION RESOURCES
Patient information — UpToDate has a number of articles for family members and patients living with atrial fibrillation. These articles are available on the internet at www.uptodate.com/patients.
(see "Patient information: Atrial fibrillation")
(see "Patient information: Radiofrequency catheter ablation")
(see "Patient information: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators")
(see "Patient information: Warfarin (Coumadin®)")
Premium subscription information — More detailed information is also available by subscription.
(see "Antithrombotic therapy to prevent embolization in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation")
(see "Epidemiology of and risk factors for atrial fibrillation")
(see "Lone atrial fibrillation")
(see "Overview of the evaluation and management of atrial fibrillation")
(see "Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation")
(see "Presentation and management of new onset atrial fibrillation")
(see "Rhythm control versus rate control in atrial fibrillation")
(see "Anticoagulation prior to and after restoration of sinus rhythm in atrial fibrillation")
(see "Atrial fibrillation in heart failure and cardiomyopathy")
(see "Cardiac resynchronization therapy in atrial fibrillation")
(see "Control of ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation: Nonpharmacologic therapy")
(see "Control of ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation: Pharmacologic therapy")
(see "Radiofrequency catheter ablation to prevent recurrent atrial fibrillation")
(see "Restoration of sinus rhythm in atrial fibrillation: Recommendations")
(see "Restoration of sinus rhythm in atrial fibrillation: Therapeutic options")
(see "Risk of embolization in atrial fibrillation")
(see "Role of echocardiography in atrial fibrillation")
(see "Stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation")
(see "Surgical approaches to prevent recurrent atrial fibrillation")
