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Atrial fibrillation

Fibrillatio atriorum · Fibrilace síní

What it is

The atria quiver instead of beating; clots form and can flick to the brain.

Symptoms & signs

  • Irregular racing pulse
  • palpitations
  • breathlessness
  • fatigue
  • dizziness
  • often symptomless

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Face drooping, arm weakness or slurred speech
  • call 112 / 911 now Racing pulse with chest pain, fainting or severe breathlessness
  • see a doctor soon Black stools, blood in urine or bleeding that won't stop on blood thinners
  • see a doctor soon New irregular pulse or palpitations

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Anticoagulation (apixaban, rivaroxaban) — prevents about two-thirds of strokes; bleeding is the main harm
  • rate control (beta blocker, digoxin)
  • rhythm control (flecainide, amiodarone)
  • catheter ablation
  • left atrial appendage occlusion
  • pulsed-field ablation — FDA-approved 2023, earlier in Europe

Natural & lifestyle

  • Losing 10% of weight or more cut AF sharply in the LEGACY study
  • alcohol reduction
  • treat sleep apnoea
  • endurance-exercise moderation
  • potassium and magnesium repletion

Emerging & experimental

  • AI-guided rotor mapping
  • wearable-detected early treatment

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Magnesium and potassium repletion — fewer episodes after heart surgery in trials mixed evidence
  • Yoga — small trials show fewer episodes and better quality of life early / small studies
  • Acupuncture — small trials after cardioversion early / small studies
  • Fish oil — large trials found slightly more atrial fibrillation, not less not confirmed in trials
  • Hawthorn, motherwort — traditional heart herbs; untested for this anecdotal / traditional

ICD codes