Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation occurs in up to 6.1 million Americans each year. At Florida Heart, Vein and Vascular Institute, with offices in Plant City, Riverview, Lakeland, Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills, Florida, the skilled cardiology team offers diagnostic testing to confirm atrial fibrillation and assess your heart health. The practice’s providers also create a treatment plan to regulate your heart’s rhythm and lower your risk for stroke and other serious cardiovascular complications. Call the Florida Heart, Vein and Vascular Institute office nearest you to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for symptoms of atrial fibrillation or book an appointment online today.

What is atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation (Afib) is a type of arrhythmia that causes an irregular heartbeat. The condition affects the upper chambers of your heart (atria) and occurs when there’s dysfunction in the electrical signals that regulate your heart’s rhythm. Signal dysfunction can be the result of hypertension (high blood pressure) or coronary artery disease (CAD).

Paroxysmal Afib typically lasts less than a week and goes away without treatment. You can also experience persistent Afib that lasts longer than a week or long-standing Afib that persists for more than a year. Both of these conditions require treatment to prevent serious medical complications, including stroke.

Florida Heart, Vein and Vascular Institute provides customized care plans to manage symptoms of atrial fibrillation. The cardiology team focuses on restoring a healthy heart rhythm and provides stroke prevention services to lower your risk for heart damage.

What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation?

You can have atrial fibrillation without having any symptoms. When your heart beats rapidly, it can lead to symptoms like:

• Heart palpitations
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Persistent fatigue
• Syncope (fainting)
• Chest pain

Schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Florida Heart, Vein and Vascular Institute if you have symptoms of atrial fibrillation. The team confirms Afib after a physical exam, blood work, and cardiac tests like electrocardiogram (EKG) and echocardiogram.

They also offer implantable loop recorders, a device that records irregular heartbeats as they occur. Your specialist implants the device just beneath the skin in your chest to record your heart’s electrical activity for up to three years.

How is atrial fibrillation treated?

Florida Heart, Vein and Vasculart Institute provides customized treatment plans that focus on regulating your heart’s rhythm and reducing your risk factors for stroke.

The team may recommend medications to control the rhythm and rate of your heart. They also offer cardioversion therapy, a procedure that uses electric shocks or medications to reset your heart’s rhythm, and pacemaker implantation.

Stroke prevention resources are available to protect your long-term heart health. The team can recommend diet changes and exercises to maintain a healthy weight. They can also help you quit smoking and stay on top of conditions like hypertension and diabetes.

The cardiologists also offer Watchman™ device implantation to prevent blood clots from leaving your heart and causing a stroke. 

Call the Florida Heart, Vein and Vascular Institute office nearest you to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for atrial fibrillation symptoms or book a consultation online today.