[By Alfonso F.J. Prieto, MD, FACC, FHRS, Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiologist, and Robert S. Phang, MD, FACC, FHRS, Director, Electrophysiology Lab at St. Peter’s Hospital — both with Albany Associates in Cardiology, a member of St. Peter’s Health Partners Medical Associates.]
February is American Heart Month, a good time to talk about your heart’s rhythm. With every heartbeat, there is an electrical signal that originates in the top part of the heart (atria) and this allows the heart to contract sequentially with every beat. Normal heart rhythm is regular and, if working properly, you should not be aware of your heart beating.
Although most heart rhythm disorders are benign, some of these conditions require careful evaluation and follow-up to prevent potential, serious complications including stroke. One of the conditions that needs prompt evaluation and treatment is atrial fibrillation (AFib). AFib is a chaotic rhythm originating in the left atrium that causes the heart to beat in an irregular fashion.
AFib is one of the most common arrhythmias we see, especially in an aging population. Sometimes AFib is asymptomatic, meaning patients are not aware they have the condition. However, some people experience early warning signs or symptoms of atrial fibrillation including:
- Palpitations – an awareness of the heart beat (racing, pounding, fluttering)
- Lightheadedness
- Fatigue or reduced stamina
- Shortness of breath
- Fainting (rarely)
AFib is associated with an increased risk of stroke. Some patients require blood thinning medications to reduce their risk, but for some patients the long-term use of blood thinning medications could be risky and cause bleeding complications. For those patients, we have the option of left atrial appendage closure devices. These small, implantable devices (Boston Scientific WATCHMAN) reduce stroke risk and eliminate the need for long-term blood thinners.
Another option for treating AFib is to try to restore the rhythm back to normal (rhythm control strategy), which can include one or more of the following options:
- Using special medications called antiarrhythmic drugs.
- Performing a “cardioversion,” which is a quick, safe procedure done under sedation where an electrical shock is delivered to the patient’s chest to interrupt the AFib and restore the rhythm back to normal.
- Catheter ablation, which is when a catheter is threaded through the large veins from the groin into the heart and energy is used to create tiny scars in the left atrium, preventing the faulty electrical signals that cause AFib.
Recent advances in AFib ablation have allowed us to treat AFib more efficiently and with increased safety, called pulsed-field ablation (PFA). St. Peter’s Hospital is proud to be the first hospital in the Capital Region to offer PFA, using the Boston Scientific FARAPULSE system. This cutting-edge technology is helping us provide safer, shorter procedures, and successful results.
The ultimate goal of AFib treatment is to achieve fewer symptoms and avoid any potential complications. Careful follow-up with your cardiologist and/or electrophysiologist is recommended to make sure your treatment for AFib has been optimized.
If you are having non-life-threatening cardiac symptoms, Albany Associates in Cardiology (AAC), part of St. Peter’s Health Partners Medical Associates (SPHPMA), has walk-in cardiac clinics with same-day appointments in two convenient locations in Albany and Clifton Park. SPHPMA also has additional walk-in clinic locations in Schenectady and Gloversville. These clinics provide comprehensive cardiology services and advanced imaging suites to detect complex heart conditions.
To learn more about our AFib program, visit https://www.sphp.com/services/cardiovascular-care/cardiology/arrhythmia-care or call 518-458-2000. To take our FREE heart risk assessment, visit https://www.sphp.com/heart-clinics.
