Key Takeaways
Atrial fibrillation is a cardiac condition that causes blood clots, heart failure, and malfunctions.
Conventional treatment for AFib consists of heart rate control, anticoagulants, heart rhythm control, and cardioversion.
The latest treatment for this condition includes Catheter Ablation, Left Atrial Appendage Closure, and Imaging techniques.
The latest advancements in this field ensure personalized treatment for patients.
AFib, or Atrial fibrillation, is an arrhythmia (a quivering or erratic heartbeat). It is often known as AFib or AF. It is a cardiac condition that can cause blood clots, stroke, heart failure, and other consequences.
This condition makes you more likely to have a cardiac attack or a failure.
This article will explain the conventional treatments for atrial fibrillation and what are the latest treatments in this field. In addition to these treatments, medication such as Xarelto 2.5 mg tablet treats Afib efficiently.
Do You Know?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, says that every 40 seconds, someone has a stroke in the USA, and 1 out of 7 strokes is caused by Afib.
The Conventional Treatments for Afib
The conventional treatment options for AFib focus on controlling the heart rate, restoring normal heart rhythm, and how to prevent stroke with atrial fibrillation.
Heart Rate Control
Controlling the heartbeat rate will prevent excessively fast beats that contribute to AFib symptoms. The medicines to control it are:
- Beta-Blockers: These are blood pressure medications. The medications will not cure AFib, but they alleviate your symptoms and make your pulsation slow.
- Calcium Channel Blockers: Calcium aids in the contraction of blood vessels and the cardiac organ to transport oxygenated blood throughout the body.
Calcium is less able to enter the cells of your heart muscle and blood arteries when you use calcium channel blockers. This results in soothing the respective vascular organ.
These medicines slow down the vascular organ’s rate and improve its efficiency. These medications help alleviate symptoms like palpitations, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
Heart Rhythm Control
The next step is to treat the irregular cardiac rhythm with medicines to return it to normal when your heart rate increases.
Two categories of channel blockers regulate the beat of the cardiac organ:
- Sodium channel blockers decrease its ability to transmit electricity, which promotes regular heartbeat.
- Potassium channel blockers improve cardiac (heart) rhythm by delaying electrical signals that induce AFib.
Anticoagulants
Anticoagulants reduce the capacity of your blood to clot and are AFib caused by stress, AFIB caused by heart valve problems. They accomplish this by allowing your body to break down existing clots or prevent new ones from developing.
Anticoagulants are administered via injections, intravenous (via veins), and orally. They frequently treat and prevent life-threatening illnesses caused by blood clots, such as strokes and cardiac attacks.
Cardioversion
Cardioversion is a process used to put your heartbeat back to regular. It is performed by healthcare professionals in two ways:
- Electrical Cardioversion: A defibrillator shocks your heart using electrode patches on your chest and back or handheld paddles.
- Chemical Cardioversion: Your doctor administers oral or intravenous medication. It usually takes minutes, hours, or sometimes even days to complete.
The Latest Treatments for Afib
When it comes to the Afib treatment, a question arises “What is the latest treatment for atrial fibrillation”? Below are some of the latest treatment options:
Catheter Ablation
Catheter ablation is a treatment in which radiofrequency energy (similar to microwave heat) is used to kill a small portion of its tissue producing rapid and irregular heartbeats.
This treatment is emerging as a vital rhythm-control approach, and it is by far the most commonly done cardiac ablation surgery worldwide.
The technique is currently recommended in symptomatic patients with chronic atrial fibrillation and who are intolerant to antiarrhythmic medications. The further advancements aim to improve outcomes and procedural safety while shortening operation duration.
Types of Catheter Ablation
Catheter ablation scars heart tissue by using either hot or cold energy. Your physician will select the way that is most comfortable for them and is appropriate for your condition.
During the process, you will be given general anesthesia and will not feel any extremes of heat or cold.
Catheter ablation techniques include:
- Radiofrequency Ablation: Radiofrequency energy is used to heat cardiac tissue.
- Cryoablation: It is a procedure that uses cold energy to freeze and scar heart tissue.
Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC)
The left atrial appendage (LAA) is a small sac or bag made of muscle in the wall of your heart’s left atrium, which is the upper-left chamber. It is a potential source of blood clots that result in strokes.
A surgical or minimally invasive technique to close your left atrial appendage (LAA), is known as left atrial appendage closure. Removing the LAAC lowers your stroke risk and eliminates the need for anticoagulant medicines.
Laac is done using a catheter-inserted closure device named Watchman Device.
WATCHMAN Device
It looks like a parachute and has a plastic cap that is attached to it. The Food and Drug Association (FDA) has approved this device to help patients suffering from this condition
The Procedure of the Watchman Device
General anesthesia is used to do the operation. A vein in the leg is used to put the delivery tube into the body of the patient. After the tube has been put into the bloodstream, it reaches the upper right chamber of the respective organ.
To gain access to the left atrium, the doctor makes a small incision in the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart. The delivery catheter is then utilized to drive the device through the left atrial appendage, where it unfolds and remains permanently.
After the gadget is implanted, it takes roughly 45 days for a skinny layer of tissue to cover it. This prevents blood clots from spreading outside the left atrial appendage.
Imaging Techniques
Advanced imaging techniques have considerably improved the diagnosis and treatment of individuals with atrial fibrillation such as:
- Cardiac MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): A cardiac MRI is a noninvasive method that creates comprehensive images of your heart and arteries using a magnetic field and radiofrequency radiation.
- 3D Electroanatomical Mapping: 3D EAM shows the position of catheters on a computer screen in real-time. It rebuilds the 3D surface anatomy of a given cardiac chamber.
- Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE): TEE creates detailed images of your cardiac organ and the arteries, using high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound).
In addition to these latest techniques and atrial fibrillation exercise guidelines, medicines that treat Afib are available online at the best Canadian online pharmacy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many advancements in the treatment options for patients suffering from this condition. Conventional treatments like heart rate control, heart rhythm management, anticoagulants, and cardioversion are effective.
But do you know what is the latest treatment for atrial fibrillation, and how does it make a difference in AFIB patients’ lives?
The latest treatment options, such as catheter ablation, left atrial appendage closure, and advanced imaging, help provide personalized treatments to patients.
