Atrial Flutter & Atrial Fibrillation Treatment in Sugar Land

What Happens with Atrial Fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation is characterized by a rapid, irregular heart rate that compromises the body’s blood flow. Atrial fibrillation occurs when the heart’s upper chambers, known as the atria, quiver rather than contract regularly. The quivering is caused by a surplus of electrical impulses from different areas rather than one single area known as the sinoatrial node.

Irregular Electrical Impulses

As a result of a quivering atria, blood cannot properly pump into the ventricles, reducing blood flow by 10%. This may not be immediately problematic to individuals without pre-existing heart disease. However, when left untreated, these chaotic electrical impulses enter the ventricles too rapidly, leading to an elevated heart rate which can worsen with physical activity.

What Happens with Atrial Flutter?

With the rapid heart rate of atrial flutter, not every electrical impulse has the chance to be conducted into the atrioventricular node in order to reach the ventricles. For individuals with untreated atrial flutter, approximately every second electrical impulse reaches the ventricles, producing a ventricular rate of around 150 beats per minute.

Atrial Fibrillation Causes

Atrial fibrillation can be brought on with or without pre-existing heart conditions. Some of the leading causes of atrial fibrillation include:

• Coronary artery disease
• Disorders that compromise the mitral and/or tricuspid heart valves
• Alcoholism
• Hyperthyroidism
• Heart birth defect
• High blood pressure

Atrial Flutter Causes

 Atrial flutter causes are often the same as those of atrial fibrillation. Similarly to atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter may be the result of an underlying heart condition. Furthermore, it can be linked to cardiac surgery complications. Atrial flutter causes are often associated with disorders that cause atrial enlargement, such as heart valve or blood pressure conditions.

Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter Risk Factors

 There are certain risk factors associated with atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. Individuals over 65 are more likely to develop these conditions. Furthermore, lifestyle factors—including excessive alcohol consumption, tobacco use, and obesity—can contribute to atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.

Blood Clots

With atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter, the atria cannot fully empty the blood into the ventricles. As a result, blood will begin getting caught within the atria, leading to blood clots over time. When the normal heart rate is restored through treatment or natural causes, clots may enter the bloodstream, causing blocked arteries that heighten the risk of stroke.

Decreased Heart Output

Individuals with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter have excessive heart rates that prohibit the ventricles from filling entirely with the available blood supply. As a result, the heart begins pumping less blood (approximately 10% less). With reduced blood being pumped, one’s blood pressure will begin to fall and, in severe cases, this can lead to heart failure.

Anticoagulants and Echocardiography

Although atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter may restore on their own, most patients require medical intervention to convert the arrhythmia and regulate the heart rate. To mitigate the risk of blood clots, anticoagulants may be prescribed, or an echocardiography may be requested in conjunction with heart medication or prior to pursuing an arrhythmia conversion procedure.

Blood Clot Risk Factors

 Patients without risk factors may be given aspirin prior to arrythmia conversion. However, those with risk factors that put them at a higher risk of stroke are prescribed anticoagulants. The blood clot risk factors include:

• Age (65 and older)
• High blood pressure
• Heart failure
• Diabetes
• History of stroke
• Blood vessel diseases
• Female

Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter Treatment Options

Depending on the severity of a patient’s atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, there are various treatment paths our cardiologists may recommend. For patients with severe cases or those who are not reacting well to heart medication, we provide several arrythmia conversion procedures. These procedures are used to restore the regular heart rhythm.

Non-Surgical Arrythmia Conversion Procedures

 Non-surgical arrythmia conversion procedures are used to reverse irregular heart rhythms. These procedures include the following:

• Electrical cardioversion to stimulate a normal heart rate
• Catheter ablation using radio waves to alleviate irregular heart tissue that may be compromising electrical impulses.

Electrical Cardioversion

Electrical cardioversion, also referred to as electrical shock is used to effectively treat heart arrythmias. The electrical shock is given at strategic periods during the heart’s electrical activity to deter ventricular fibrillation. This method is proven successful in up to 90% of patients with atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.

Ablation Procedures

In instances where heart medication and electrical cardioversion are insufficient, ablation procedures may be pursued to diminish the atrioventricular node. During these treatments, radiofrequency waves, electrical currents, or lasers apply freezing temperatures to irregular atrial tissue using a catheter inserted into the heart.

Lifestyle Management

In conjunction with atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter treatment, it’s important to modify your lifestyle. Some of the recommended lifestyle modifications our cardiologists recommend include:

• Improved diet with reduced salt and saturated fats
• Regular, moderate physical activity as defined by your cardiologist
• Stress management techniques
• Proper sleep schedule

Choose Complete Cardiology Care

Choose Complete Cardiology Care for your atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter treatment in Sugar Land, TX. Our highly trained cardiologists are backed by time-honored experience, allowing us to provide comprehensive care in our state-of-the-art facility. Combining a patient-centered approach with advanced cardiology technology, we create personalized treatment plans that promote optimal cardiac health for our patients.