How Are Atrial Fibrillation Treatment Options Determined?

Clinical practice guidelines are recommendations for treating a specific health condition. They help health care professionals make decisions about your care. They can also help you understand your condition and treatment options. The American Heart Association and other heart health groups published guidelines for diagnosing and managing atrial fibrillation in November 2023.

Health care professionals, scientists, caregivers and people living with AFib reviewed the latest AFib research. They discussed the studies and wrote recommendations for the best and safest ways to prevent, diagnose and treat AFib. This includes details about AFib’s possible causes, symptoms and how it affects people and their families.

The guidelines also highlight three topics for you and your health care professionals to discuss. You can remember them with the abbreviation SOS:

• Stroke risk assessment and treatment, if needed.
• Optimization of all risk factors that can be changed. This means lifestyle changes to lower your risk of AFib or improve your symptoms.
• Symptom management using medications or procedures that manage your heart’s rate and rhythm. Controlling your heart rhythm early is important for AFib treatment.

Treatments will vary based on your diagnosis and may include:

• Medications
• Nonsurgical procedures
• Surgery
• Lifestyle changes

Top 10 takeaways from the latest AFib guidelines

1. AFib is the most common type of irregular heart rhythm. There are over 5 million people in the U.S. with AFib. More people are being diagnosed with AFib in the U.S. due to:
   • Its aging population
   • Better ways of detecting AFib
   • Better survival rates in people with past episodes of AFib or other heart diseases
2. The most common AFib symptoms are:
   • Racing heartbeat or abnormal heart palpitations
   • Shortness of breath
   • Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
3. A wearable heart rhythm monitor can detect AFib. This technology is becoming more reliable, so health care professionals view the results seriously.
   
   
4. Clinical guidelines give health care professionals new information on diagnosing and treating AFib. The guidelines also focus on three key topics, nicknamed SOS, for you and your care team to talk about.
   
   
5. The biggest AFib health concern is stroke. During AFib, your heart pumps blood abnormally. This can cause the blood to pool in the heart and form clots. These clots can travel to your brain and cause a blockage, leading to stroke.
   
   
6. Blood thinners can guard against stroke. Direct oral anticoagulants (PDF) are newer medications for AFib. They are safer and easier to take than warfarin.
   
   
7. Your treatment may change as your AFib symptoms change. You should talk about symptom changes with your health care team.
   
   
8. In most cases, AFib can be treated with medications that manage the heart’s rhythm and/or slow the heart rate. Procedures such as electrical cardioversion and ablation can also help manage AFib.
   
   
9. You are your best advocate. Ask questions about your care, including how much things cost. Discuss your treatment goals and preferences with your health care team. This will help them create your care plan.
   
   
10. You can manage AFib better by:
    • Working with your health care team
    • Taking medications as prescribed
    • Making smart lifestyle choices

This sheet, Partnering in Your Treatment (PDF) | Spanish (PDF), can help you talk to your health care professionals about your goals and options.