Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)

If you want to improve your atrial fibrillation symptoms — and your quality of life — turn to Virtua. We offer treatments to restore your heart rhythm and reduce your risk of stroke and other complications.

AFib Symptoms

Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is a type of irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). It occurs when the top two chambers of your heart don’t beat in sync with the bottom two chambers. This causes an irregular heart rhythm that makes it harder for blood to flow through your heart.

Although not everyone with AFib has symptoms, some of the most common signs include:

• A fluttering or quivering feeling in your chest
• A racing, pounding heartbeat
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath, even during minor activities

These symptoms can be persistent, or they may come and go.

Why you should seek care for AFib

If you’re concerned about your heart rhythm, talk to your Virtua primary care provider, cardiologist, or electrophysiologist. Having AFib increases your risk of heart failure and stroke. This is true even if your symptoms are mild or infrequent.

Fortunately, with the right treatments (and the right health care partner) you can get your AFib under control. And you’ll find the treatments and expertise you need at Virtua.

In fact, we’ve helped many people with hard-to-treat arrhythmias who haven’t found relief elsewhere.

AFib Diagnosis at Virtua

It’s important to confirm whether your symptoms are caused by AFib or another type of arrhythmia. That’s because different arrhythmias require different treatments. And when left untreated, some arrhythmias — like AFib — can cause life-threatening complications.

AFib tests we offer

Depending on the type, frequency, and severity of your symptoms, you may have one or more of the following:

• Electrocardiogram (EKG, ECG): Using sticky metal discs (electrodes) attached to your chest, we record your heart’s electrical activity.
• Heart rhythm monitoring: Wearable or implantable devices let us track your heart rhythm for days or weeks. These include Holter monitors, event recorders, and loop recorders. You may need this type of monitoring if your AFib spells are infrequent or unpredictable.
• Provoked tests: If you have unexplained fainting or an irregular heartbeat during exercise, we may try to trigger an AFib episode. For example, we might monitor your heart rhythm while you undergo an exercise stress test or tilt table test.

Atrial Fibrillation Treatment at Virtua

We’re here to get your heart rhythm back to normal — and get you back to your regular activities.

Our approach to AFib treatment

With atrial fibrillation, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all treatment. To understand what options may work best for you, you’ll have a thorough discussion with one of our AFib specialists. This discussion may include:

• Any recent test results
• Your current symptoms and how they affect your quality of life
• Your current treatments and their effectiveness
• Any other treatments you’ve tried in the past

If you’re undergoing AFib treatment for the first time — or trying a new treatment — we’ll also discuss:

• Which treatment options are available to you
• The risks and benefits of each
• Your treatment goals and preferences
• What your recovery period may be like if you have a procedure

The full range of AFib treatments

At Virtua, we offer the full range of treatments you might need to get your AFib under control. We offer:

• Medications: Some medicines restore or slow your heart rate. Others help keep your heart rhythm normal. We also use blood thinners to reduce your stroke risk.
• Cardioversion: This procedure resets your heart rhythm with medicine (chemical cardioversion) or a mild electric shock (electrical cardioversion).
• Pacemaker placement: If you have AFib and a dangerously slow heart rate, you may need a small device called a pacemaker. Once implanted in your chest, it helps restore your heart rate when it drops too low.
• Cardiac ablation: We apply extreme heat or cold — or an alcohol solution — to the part of your heart sending abnormal electrical signals. This damages the heart tissue, so it can no longer produce the abnormal signals that cause AFib.
• Heart surgery: During a type of surgery called the Maze procedure, we create a “maze” of scar tissue in the heart. This scar tissue acts as a barrier, stopping the abnormal electrical signals that cause AFib.