Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

Atrial fibrillation is a type of irregular heartbeat. If you have it, your doctor will classify yours by the reason for it and on how long it lasts. When your heartbeat returns to normal within 7 days, on its own or with treatment, it’s known as paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.It can happen a few times a year or as often as every day. It often becomes a permanent condition that needs regular treatment.

Symptoms:

Heat palpitations — a flutter in your chest or rapid heartbeat
Chest pain or pressure
Confused
Weak or short of energy
Dizzy
Short of breath
Like you have to pee more often
Like it’s hard to exercise
Tired

You may feel chest pain or pressure. If you do, call 911 right away. You may be having a heart attack.

Causes & Risk Factors

Doctors don’t always know what causes paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. It often happens because things like coronary heart disease or high blood pressure damage your heart. If that damage affects the part of your heart that sends the electrical pulses that control your heartbeat, those pulses can come too fast or at the wrong time.

Treatment

There are several options to control AFib, or maybe stop it altogether.

Medications

If your problem comes from a condition like an overactive thyroid gland or high blood pressure, your doctor will give you medications to control those issues.

Generally, your doctor will try to keep your heartbeat steady and prevent problems like blood clots.

Heart rate control: The most common way to treat atrial fibrillation is with drugs that control your heartbeat.

Electrical Cardioversion:The doctor gives your heart a shock to regulate your heartbeat. She’ll use paddles, or she’ll stick patches called electrodes to your chest.

Surgery: Cardiac Ablation

option 1: Cathedral Ablation

Option 2: Surgery ablation

Option3: AV node ablation

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