Advances in AFib Treatment and Prevention

Even if you’ve been living with atrial fibrillation (AFib) – bouts of an irregular heartbeat – for a while,  the way you manage it may still need tweaks based on the most current research. Here’s some of the latest data about treating and preventing the condition.

An ablation procedure scars tissue in your heart to block irregular signals. This new form uses electrical pulses instead of heat or cold to do the job. A March 2023 study in Circulation showed it was effective in two-thirds of people with AFib who got the procedure.

For this procedure, a doctor guides a tiny balloon through a flexible tube that leads from your groin to your heart. Once it’s in place, the doctor fills the balloon with freezing cold liquid. Scar tissue develops in the frozen spot and disrupts the abnormal electrical signals causing your AFib. This method has fewer side effects than medicine and improves quality of life.

Most people with AFib need blood thinners to reduce their risk of stroke. If you don’t do well with blood thinners, there may be an alternative option. A procedure called left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) closes off the part of your heart where blood clots most often escape into your bloodstream.

Past research finds a link between high blood pressure and AFib. But a new study points more strongly to high blood pressure as a clear cause of the condition. That means that in many cases medication and lifestyle changes to reduce blood pressure could control your AFib.

Doctors typically record your heart’s electrical activity on an electrocardiogram (EKG) to diagnose and monitor AFib. Now a smartwatch can do that. The FDA has recognized several watches as accurate monitors of heart activity. You can send the reading to your doctor, who can review it and adjust treatment as needed.

A recent study that tracked 11,445 people for 23 years looked at how excessive fatigue, lack of energy, increased irritability, and sleep disturbances contribute to AFib. The researchers found that these stressors raise your risk for the condition.

Alcohol has an immediate effect on heart rhythm. A recent study found that in people who already have AFib, just one drink can double the odds of an event within the next 4 hours.

A study of 44,000 people in China found that weight loss could greatly reduce the time you spend in AFib. People kept AFib at bay when they either took a few inches off their waist, lost 10% of their body weight, or lowered their body mass index (BMI).

A recent study zeroed in on the ideal amount of sleep to prevent AFib: more than 6 and less than 8 hours a night lowers your risk for the condition. If you have sleep apnea and you already have AFib, getting it under control helps prevent further episodes.