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Atrial fibrillation (AFib)

Hybrid catheter ablation offers people with AFib faster recovery times and fewer complications.
Afib Banner

Atrial fibrillation (AFib)

Hybrid catheter ablation offers people with AFib faster recovery times and fewer complications.

Feeling your heart flutter can be unsettling. It often isn’t serious but if it becomes more severe, our experts are here to help restore your heart’s natural rhythm.

Atrial fibrillation, often called AFib, is one of the most common heart rhythm conditions. That’s why we have specialized atrial fibrillation (AFib) centers at many of our hospitals across Wisconsin so you can get the help you need close to home. And at the Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Center at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center in Milwaukee, our specialists provide groundbreaking hybrid procedures to correct even the most complex atrial fibrillation (AFib) conditions.

Recover faster with groundbreaking procedures

Our specialist teams join together to combine two atrial fibrillation (AFib) treatments into one minimally invasive procedure so you can regain your healthy rhythm and recover more quickly. Find out about combined hybrid catheter ablation from Dr. David Kress, one of our cardiothoracic surgeons.

What is atrial fibrillation (AFib)?

Knowing what atrial fibrillation (AFib) is will help you identify the symptoms so you can seek medical treatment sooner.

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a type of rapid, irregular heartbeat. Afib is caused when a storm of electrical impulses spreads through your heart. During atrial fibrillation, this storm causes the chambers of the heart, or atria, to quiver or contract rapidly.

Sometimes atrial fibrillation (AFib) may only last a short time but comes back over and over. Other times, atrial fibrillation can become permanent. This is known as chronic atrial fibrillation (AFib).

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) symptoms

Many times, atrial fibrillation (AFib) symptoms such as feeling your heart fluttering and other sensations don’t indicate anything serious. But when Afib symptoms come back or are severe, it’s a good idea to see your doctor.

You may experience these atrial fibrillation (AFib) symptoms:

  • Fluttering sensation
  • Chest pain
  • Confusion or dizziness
  • Fatigue and weakness, especially with physical exertion
  • Heart palpitations, a feeling that your heart is skipping a beat or beating too hard or fast
  • Shortness of breath
  • Swelling in your feet
  • Awakening at night, sweating and feeling anxious

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) causes & complications

As you age, atrial fibrillation (AFib) can become more common. Other risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AFib) include:

  • High blood pressure
  • Heart conditions, such as coronary artery disease or congenital heart disease
  • Health conditions, such as obesity or thyroid disease

If it isn’t treated, atrial fibrillation (AFib) can lead to other health issues. These complications can include:

  • Blood clots: Atrial fibrillation (AFib) can cause blood clots, which can lead to a stroke, including mini-stroke and silent stroke. Research shows that up to 20% of strokes are caused by atrial fibrillation (AFib).
  • Heart failure: Atrial fibrillation (AFib) can weaken the lower chambers of your heart. This weakening can result in heart failure and other conditions.

Heart health tips to help prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib)

  • See your primary care provider at least once a year for heart, thyroid and blood pressure checks
  • Exercise regularly
  • Achieve and maintain a healthy weight
  • If you have high blood pressure or thyroid disease, take your prescribed medication

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) diagnosis

You may first notice atrial fibrillation (AFib) as a fluttering sensation in the chest. If this happens, talk with your doctor about your possible atrial fibrillation symptoms. Sometimes your doctor may detect atrial fibrillation (AFib) from tests or treatment you received for other conditions. Either way, to diagnose atrial fibrillation (AFib), your doctor will start with a thorough physical exam and listen to your heart with a stethoscope to check for a heart murmur or other sign of an irregular heartbeat. We may also order additional atrial fibrillation tests, such as:

  • Laboratory testing to check your electrolyte levels or thyroid hormone levels to look for a cause of your atrial fibrillation (AFib)
  • Radiographic imaging such as a chest X-ray to examine the structure of your heart and lungs
  • Echocardiogram
  • Electrocardiogram (EKG)
  • 4D ultrasound
  • Portable monitoring, which includes two main types:
    • Holter monitoring uses a small, battery-powered EKG that continuously monitors your heart rate and rhythm, usually for 24 to 48 hours.
    • Event monitoring records heart rhythms when symptoms occur, usually over about a month.

Find out more about our heart and vascular testing and diagnosis.

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) treatment

In designing your treatment plan for atrial fibrillation (AFib), we’ll look at how often you have symptoms, the severity of your symptoms, what’s causing your atrial fibrillation (AFib) and if you already have heart disease. We may prescribe one or more atrial fibrillation treatments, such as:

  • Lifestyle changes: These may include diet, exercise, calming activities and treatment of sleep apnea.
  • Medications: To help reduce risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), these may include prescriptions to treat high cholesterol, high blood pressure and thyroid disease. Others may control your heart rate and rhythm, and oral anticoagulants may help to prevent stroke.
  • Electrical cardioversion: In this procedure, we place electrodes on your chest that send small electrical pulses to your heart. It takes just a few seconds, and you’ll usually go home within one or two hours.
  • Cardiac ablation: This procedure uses gentle burning or freezing to treat the small areas of heart muscle that may be causing your atrial fibrillation (AFib).
  • Hybrid ablation procedure: This innovative procedure combines catheter-based ablation with a minimally invasive surgical approach for treating complex atrial fibrillation (AFib).
  • Left atrial appendage closure device: These devices help to lower your risk for stroke if you can’t take blood thinners (anticoagulants) or they cause bleeding problems.
  • AFib support groups, programs and education
  • Endoscopic laser balloon ablation: This new advanced treatment option allows for faster procedure times through a pulmonary vein isolation, providing many benefits for patients without sacrificing quality or safety.

Are you at risk for heart disease?

Knowing your risk factors of heart disease – the leading cause of death in the U.S. – can help you lower your chances of developing it. Our heart health quiz estimates your risk, determines which of your risk factors are controllable and gives you an idea what to do next based on your results.

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